Cubs Minor League Daily: Iowa’s Unlikely Record (Hint: Transactions)

Iowa set a new franchise record this season, one they have been setting fairly often in recent years. This time, though, they blew away the previous number.

The 2015 Iowa Cubs made a team record 207 player transactions (to date), easily beating the previous record of 172 (from 2013).

This is partly a result of a major league team that has been in contention all season long, and partly the result of a minor league system that has produced quite a few players who have passed through Iowa this season, but mostly this record is due to the way the Cubs treat Triple A.

While player development does happen at this level, I think the Cubs see Triple A more as a warehouse for major league insurance policies than a level primarily focused on teaching and training. That is why we have seen Iowa carry not-so-prospecty players like Adron Chambers, Mike Baxter, Chris Valaika, and Taylor Teagarden on the roster all season. If Chicago needed reinforcements in short order, the Cubs made sure that Iowa had those reinforcements ready, and then they restocked on those reinforcements via the waiver wire, minor league free agents, and from within the farm system. As a result, the Iowa to Chicago shuttle has been very, very busy this year.

In fact, so many players have passed through Iowa on their way to Chicago for stints both short and long this season that I strongly suspect none of you can name all of them without looking.

If you want to try, then don’t scroll down yet. I’ll put the complete list of players who have been called to Chicago from Iowa as the final item at the bottom of the page.  And no, I’m not going to tell you how many there are.  That would be making it too easy. If you think you know, then let’s just say you had better produce a long list.

Scores From Yesterday

Iowa – Iowa’s playoff hopes came to an end with this 11-3 loss.
Tennessee – Tennessee had the day off.
Myrtle Beach – The Pelicans were outhit, but not out scored. They won 4-2.
South Bend – In a game that got away late, the Cubs lost 10-1.
Eugene – Eugene’s early lead did not last as they lost 3-2.

Performances of Note

[Iowa] After the game was out of hand, both Zac Rosscup and Yoervis Medina pitched a hitless inning of relief. Rosscup struck out 2, and Medina one.

[Iowa] Taylor Davis doubled and finished with 3 hits. Emilio Bonifacio had 2 hits.

[Iowa] Arismendy Alcantara, playing right field in this game, also doubled.

[Myrtle Beach] Jeffrey Baez opened his High A career with a triple. Victor Caratini added a double.

[Myrtle Beach] Gleyber Torres finished 0 for 2 with a walk in his first game with Myrtle Beach.

[Myrtle Beach] Jonathan Martinez gave up 4 hits and 3 walks over 6 scoreless innings. He struck out 3.

[South Bend] Gioskar Amaya doubled twice and finished 2 for 4.

[South Bend] Charcer Burks also had 2 hits, including his 4th triple of the year.

[Eugene] Oscar De La Cruz gave up just one run on 3 hits over 6 innings. He struck out 4.

[Eugene] Andrew Ely doubled and finished with 3 hits. Donnie Dewees also doubled on his way to a 2 hit game.

Other News

Both Iowa and South Bend have now been eliminated from playoff contention. Eugene is the last team in the system whose playoff fate remains unknown.

Despite their loss, Eugene remains in sole possession of first place.

And now, are you ready for the complete list of players who have been called to Chicago from Iowa this season?

 

Are you sure you’re ready?

 

 

Really sure?

 

 

Really, really sure?

 

 

Ok, you asked for it.

In chronological order, and removing the players who didn’t spend any time on the roster but appeared just for procedural reasons before being moved on, and also noting the players who were called up more than once, we have: Brian Schlitter, Zac Rosscup, Kris Bryant, Gonzalez Germen, Addison Russell, Junior Lake, James Russell, Matt Szczur, Justin Grimm, Schlitter (again), Tsuyoshi Wada, Lake (again), Mike Baxter, Szczur (again), Schlitter (that’s three), Yoervis Medina, Szczur (three for him), Donn Roach, Neil Ramirez, Taylor Teagarden, Jorge Soler, Dallas Beeler, Kyle Schwarber, Rafael Soriano, Beeler (again), Medina (again), Beeler (third time), Ben Rowen, Clayton Richards, Szczur (four), Tommy La Stella, Rosscup (again), Szczur (five), Wada (again), Trevor Cahill, Javier Baez, Quintin Berry, Soriano (again).

 

Did you get them all?