Cubs Minor League Daily: Happy Javier Baez Day, Donnie Dewees Breaking Out, More

javier baez featureIf today is the day that Javier Baez returns to the majors, and signs point in that direction, then he leaves on a relatively high note. In his very short Iowa rehab assignment he doubled, homered, stole a base, played three positions, and struck out just four times in fifteen trips to the plate. He did just about everything we could have asked for except walk.

It will be interesting to watch Maddon find playing time for Baez on an already crowded roster, but I do think this is the right move. Baez has nothing left to prove in Iowa. Last season in 313 plate appearances he struck out just 24.3% of the time, posted an OBP of .385, an SLG of .527, launched 13 homers, and stole 17 bases in 20 tries. He could hang out in Iowa and continue to put up nice looking offensive numbers, but I’m not sure it would accomplish very much. Regular playing time would certainly be nice, but I think being challenged would be nicer. That challenge waits in Chicago, not Iowa.

Triple A: Iowa Cubs
Iowa 4, New Orleans 2
It took a while to get the first win, but Iowa has now won three of their last four.

  • Tyler Ihrig: 4 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 3 K
  • Brandon Gomes: 2 IP, 2 BB, 4 K
  • Javier Baez: 2 for 4, SB
  • Dan Vogelbach: 2 for 4
  • Albert Almora: 2 for 4
  • Kristopher Negron: 2 for 4, 2B
  • John Andreoli: 0 for 3, BB, 2 SB[adinserter block=”2″]
  • Double A: Tennessee Smokies
    Birmingham 5, Tennessee 3
    The Smokies gave up three runs in the last two innings as this one slipped away.

  • Brad Markey: 5 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 4 BB, 2 K
  • Corey Black: 2 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 4 K
  • Jeimer Candelario: 1 for 4, 2B
  • Mark Zagunis: 1 for 3, BB
  • Billy McKinney: 0 for 3, BB, outfield assist at home. McKinney was playing right field in this one.
  • High A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
    Carolina 3, Myrtle Beach 2
    The Pelicans wasted all kinds of chances in this one. Committing three error didn’t help.

  • Zach Hedges: 6.2 IP, 3 R (1 ER), 7 H, 3 BB, 1 K
  • Daury Torrez: 1.1 IP, 2 K
  • Jason Vosler: 2 for 4, 2B, 3B
  • Jeffrey Baez: 2 for 4, 2B, SB, outfield assist at second base.
  • Rashad Crawford: 1 for 5, 2B
  • David Bote: 1 for 2, 2 BB
  • Low A: South Bend Cubs
    Fort Wayne 10, South Bend 2
    If we throw out the first two innings, the Cubs only lost 2 to 1.

  • Justin Steele: 2 IP, 8 R, 7 H, 2 BB, 3 K
  • Donnie Dewees: 2 for 3, 2 3B, BB (he already has four triples on the year)
  • Tyler Alamo: 2 for 3, BB
  • P.J. Higgins: 1 for 3, BB[adinserter block=”1″]
  • Other Notes

  • Tyler Ihrig got the start for Iowa yesterday. When we last saw Ihrig, he was a left handed reliever going on the disabled list for Myrtle Beach. I suspect he got the start because the I-Cubs needed an arm in a hurry after Jokisch was claimed by Mimai. He may stay in Iowa, and he may head back down the system if the Cubs promote a pitcher from Tennessee. We’ll see.
  • Willson Contreras and Arismendy Alcantara are both nursing seven game hitting streaks. Not bad considering the season is just eight games old.
  • Donnie Dewees, through his first seven games in the Midwest League, is hitting .464/.500/.821 with two doubles, four triples, three walks, two strikeouts, and two stolen bases. When a guy has twice as many triples as strikeouts, you know something is going right.
  • written by

    Luke Blaize is the Minor League Editor at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @ltblaize.

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