Cubs Minor League Daily: Go World

I’m officially a fan of the World Team.

The 2013 Futures Game rosters have been announced, and the World Team is going to feature at least two Cub prospects. Hailing from the Dominican Republic and representing the Tennessee Smokies will be switch hitting shortstop/second baseman Arismendy Alcantara. And in the outfield will be Cuba native and current Daytona Cub Jorge Soler. Soler is one of the Cubs three best prospects (only three because Bryant has not yet officially signed) and Alcantara, after his breakout season this year, is very likely to feature in the Cubs Top 10 for a lot of analysts.

But the crop of Cubs could get even richer.

Even though the Cubs drafted him out of a Florida high school, Javier Baez is officially credited to Puerto Rico. That means he is eligible for the World Team roster. He is also one of five finalists on the ballot as fans vote for the final member of the roster.

Baez could use your vote. Carlos Correa is on that ballot, and he is also one of the best and best known prospects in all of baseball. The 2012 No 1 overall pick will not be easy to beat. If you want to see Baez in the Futures Game (and why wouldn’t you?) warm up your clicking finger and start voting.

The Futures Game will be played on July 14.

Scores From Yesterday

Iowa – Iowa had a travel day on Wednesday. They will open a series in Omaha tonight.
Tennessee – Great pitching and a big inning resulted in a nice win. The Smokies walked away victors, 6-0.
Daytona – Daytona was rained out.
Kane County – Kane County rallied for two in the bottom of the eighth, but they walked way the losers 5-4.
Boise – There was a doubleheader in Boise yesterday. In Game One the Hawks came from behind with two in the seventh to win 4-3. They lost Game Two, though, 3-2.
Arizona – The AZL Cub scored three times in the eighth and ended up  the 6-5 winners.

Performances of Note

• [Tennessee] Christian Villanueva is up to eight home runs. The latest was a two run shot that highlighted his 2 for 4 day.
• [Tennessee] Starter Kyle Hendricks did not have his best game, but eight shutout innings is still extremely nice to see. He struck out six and allowed just five hits and a walk.
• [Tennessee] Zach Rosscup struck out one in the final frame.
• [Kane County] A day after his fourth steal Dan Vogelbach was lifted for a pinch runner (Oliver Zapata). This was after Vogelbach had gone 4 for 4 with a double and a walk.
• [Kane County] Gioskar Amaya launched his third home run of the season as part of a 2 for 4 game.
• [Kane County] In 3.1 innings of relief, Justin Amlung struck out six and walked two without giving up a hit.
• [Boise] Jacob Hannemann picked up two more hits and a stolen base (his first) in Game One.
• [Boise] The starter in Game One, James Pugliese, gave up three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks while striking out four over five innings. Carlos Martinez-Pumarino allowed nothing but a walk in two innings of relief.
• [Boise] The starter in Game Two, Paul Blackburn, struck out eight in five innings. He gave up three runs (none of them earned) on four hits while walking one. He has yet to give up an earned run this year.
• [Boise] Tyler Bremer pitched the final two innings of Game Two. He allowed no one to reach base and struck out five.
• [Boise] Second baseman David Bote went 3 for 4 in Game Two and picked up his first stolen base.
• [Arizona] Erick Leal, one of the pitchers picked up in the Campana trade, struck out seven in five innings of one hit ball.
• [Arizona] Second baseman Francisco Sanchez doubled twice as part of his 3 for 4 game.
• [Arizona] 2013 draftee Giuseppe Papaccio went 3 for 4 and stole his first base.

Other News

• Kane County managed to lose on Wednesday despite outhitting Beloit 13-5, striking out just 5 times to Beloit’s 10, and picking up 4 extra base hits to Beloit’s 1. Beloit was able to string together 3 runs in the fourth, though, and despite all their chances the Cougars simply could not get a sustained rally going.