As I mentioned on Twitter, according to multiple sources: after just two years in suburban Chicago, the Chicago Cubs are moving their full-season Low-A minor league affiliation out of Kane County in favor of South Bend, Indiana.
I’ll have more on the move soon, and an update when it becomes official. Obviously this will leave a lot of folks surprised and disappointed, but these are the things we know right now:
- South Bend has wanted the Cubs for a long time.
- In terms of drive time, South Bend is only about 30 to 40 minutes further from Chicago than Geneva (where KC plays), depending on traffic.
- The Cubs have wanted certain player facility improvements at KC for a while now, and maybe weren’t getting exactly what they wanted/needed.
- Player development is the priority in these decisions, and the Cubs wouldn’t be leaving KC for South Bend unless they believed it would be a better development situation for their minor league players.
UPDATE: And the Cubs make it official:
#Cubs agreed with South Bend (Ind.) on a new Player Development Contract through 2018 to move the club’s Single-A Midwest League affiliate.
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 18, 2014
We’ve appreciated the opportunity to work with @KCCougars over the past two years, including winning this year’s Midwest League title.
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 18, 2014
Hooray, I had a scoop! (Hugs self for encouragement.)
Like I said above, there’s good and bad in this decision, and I’m sure there are some disappointed folks. Watching the Cubs out in Kane County was a fun experience.