We are starting to see signing reports of various Cubs’ draftees from the 2015 draft appear here and there, including this one on Ian Happ, but it is generally good to regard these reports with some caution until they are official. It is not common a player winds up not signing even after he goes on social media to indicate he will, but it does happen. And it also happens that a player states he will not sign only to accept the offer and report to camp a few days later. For that reason, until the physical has been passed and the Cubs’ have announced the contract, some small amount of reserve is in order.
If you want an easy place to keep track of all the signings and dollar amounts, other than Bleacher Nation of course, then keep an eye on the Baseball America draft database. MLB Pipeline is also maintaining a list of bonuses through at least the first ten rounds.
Scores From Friday
Iowa – Not only did the Cubs sweep this doubledheader, they pitched a shutout in both games. The Game One final was 2-0, and the final in Game Two was 1-0. Tennessee – This was also a shutout, but one the Smokies lost. The final was 2-0. Myrtle Beach – Myrtle Beach also lost a shut out, 1-0. South Bend – The Cubs were swept in a doubleheader. The first game ended 5-3, and the second 6-5.
Performances of Note
[Iowa] Felipe Paulino scattered 3 hits and 2 walks over 6 innings in the first contest. He struck out 3 before handing the ball to Brian Schlitter to finish things.
[Iowa] Carlos Pimentel allowed 3 hits and struck out 3 over 6 innings in Game Two. C.J. Edwards finished up that one.
[Iowa] Alcantara added a triple in the second game, and Matt Szczur picked up 2 more steals while reaching on a walk.
[Tennessee] Frank Batista did not pitch his best game, but he kept the Smokies in it. Over 7 innings he allowed 2 runs on 9 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4. Corey Black allowed a hit and a walk while finishing the game.
[Tennessee] A Kyle Schwarber double was the only hit for Tennessee.
[Myrtle Beach] Tyler Skulina turned in a very good performance for the Pelicans. Over 7 scoreless innings he struck out 7 while allowing just 2 hits and 4 walks.
[South Bend] Trevor Clifton was hit hard in his 2 innings on the mound, but Daniel Lewis and Brad Markey each pitched 2 scoreless innings to keep the game close.
[South Bend] Yasiel Balaguert doubled for the only extra base hit in the first contest.
[South Bend] Rashad Crawford, who had the only multi-hit game in the second contest, did not steal any bases.
Scores From Saturday
Iowa – The offense never got on track in this 4-1 loss. Tennessee – The Smokies reeled off one big inning after another in this 12-3 triumph. Myrtle Beach – The Pelicans were on the wrong side of this blowout. They lost 14-5. South Bend – The Smokies twice lost a late lead as they pushed this game to sixteen innings before taking the 7-6 loss.
Performances of Note
[Iowa] Donn Roach allowed 4 runs on 7 hits over 6 innings in this one. He walked one and struck out 3.
[Iowa] Rafael Lopez doubled and finished 2 for 3 with a walk. He also stole a base for the 3rd time.
[Tennessee] Ivan Pineyro walked 3 and struck out 2 while allowing a run on 6 hits over 4 innings. Tayler Scott pitched 2 innings of relief and allowed a run on a hit and 4 walks.
[Tennessee] Jacob Hannemann hit 2 doubles, a triple (his 2nd) and a home run (also his 2nd), scored twice and drove in 6. I think that qualifies as a good day.
[Tennessee] Other homers were drilled by Billy McKinney (his first for Tennessee) and Stephen Bruno (his 2nd). Bruno also doubled and finished 3 for 5.
[Tennessee] Dan Vogelbach got back into gear with this 2 for 5 game that included another walk.
[Myrtle Beach] Zach Cates was the fourth pitcher to enter this game, but he was the only one to exit without giving up a run. He walked one and struck out one in his hitless inning of work.
[South Bend] Jeremy Null struck out 3 and walked one as he allowed 3 runs on 6 hits over 6 innings.
[South Bend] A game this long required that someone in the bullpen did some heavy lifting. In this game it was Ryan McNeil (3 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K) and Brad Markey (3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K) who ate up some necessary innings.
[South Bend] Despite the extended game, only two Cubs had more than one hit. David Bote finished 2 for 7 with a double and his 2nd homer, and Jason Vosler double and tripled on his way to a 2 for 7 game.
[South Bend] The Cubs were moving on the bases in this one as well. Charcer Burks swiped his 15th, Jeffrey Baez his 8th, Rashad Crawford his 8th, and Cael Brockmeyer his first.
[Iowa] John Andreoli (who, by the way, is now hitting .292/.398/.416) finished 2 for 3 with 2 walks and 2 steals. He now has 18 steals this year.
[Iowa] In addition to his double, Villanueva also hit his 8th homer of the year. Taylor Teagarden added his 4th.
[Iowa] Once again the strikeouts were coming for Dallas Beeler. He did allow a run on 7 hits in his 5 innings, but he also struck out 6 and walked no one.
[Tennessee] Albert Almora doubled and finished 2 for 5. Stephen Bruno also had 2 hits.
[Tennessee] Steals in this game went to Bruno (his 6th), Rademacher (his 3rd), Schwarber (his first), and Vogelbach (his first).
[Tennessee] Jacob Turner allowed just 2 hits and one walk in his 5 innings on the mound. He struck out 3 and cut loose one wild pitch.
[Tennessee] Jeffry Antigua (2 IP, 2 K) and Corey Black (2 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 WP) finished off the game. Black’s run was not earned.
[Myrtle Beach] Jonathan Martinez struck out one and allowed a run on 2 hits in his 6 innings of work.
[Myrtle Beach] Mark Zagunis doubled and finished 2 for 5. Pin-Chieh Chen and Trey Martin also had 2 hits each.
[Myrtle Beach] Victor Caratini had one just one hit, but that hit was his first homer.
[South Bend] Erick Leal allowed 3 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5. Jordan Minch pitched the remaining 3.1 innings in scoreless fashion, allowing one hit and walking one.
[South Bend] Gleyber Torres had a monster of a game. He doubled and hit his first homer on the way to a 5 for 5 day at the plate.
[South Bend] Yasiel Balguert doubled and finished 3 for 5. Andrew Ely also doubled as one of his 2 hits.
[South Bend] Additional homers were provided by Cael Brockmeyer (his 5th) and Rashad Crawford (his first).
Other News
That’s right, Schwarber and Vogelbach both stole a base in the same game. Off the same pitcher. At the same time. And it was a straight double steal. If you want to see this marvel for yourself and are a MiLB.tv subscriber, check out the 2:22 mark here. I have to say, Schwarber made it down the line to third faster than I would have expected.
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NEWSLETTER
We are starting to see signing reports of various Cubs’ draftees from the 2015 draft appear here and there, including this one on Ian Happ, but it is generally good to regard these reports with some caution until they are official. It is not common a player winds up not signing even after he goes on social media to indicate he will, but it does happen. And it also happens that a player states he will not sign only to accept the offer and report to camp a few days later. For that reason, until the physical has been passed and the Cubs’ have announced the contract, some small amount of reserve is in order.
