Cubs Minor League Daily: Bruno Flashes Power, Hancock Debuts, Cease Dazzles

An Iowa infielder put on a slugging display in Salt Lake City last night, finishing 2 for 4 with a pair of home runs. It wasn’t Jeimer Candelario (who was in St. Louis), and it wasn’t Ian Happ (who also had a nice game).

The fireworks in this one was provided by Stephen Bruno, a small utility infielder type who has put up some pretty good offensive numbers throughout his minor league career. The 26-year-old is now within one long ball of matching his career high for homers.

Triple A: Iowa Cubs
Salt Lake 13, Iowa 11
When we say the Pacific Coast League is hitter-friendly, games like this out west are the reason.

  • Alec Mills: 3 IP, 5 R (1 ER), 3 H, 2 BB (had been on the DL)
  • Zac Rosscup: 2 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 5 K
  • John Andreoli: 1 for 5, 2B
  • Bijan Rademacher: 1 for 4, BB
  • Mark Zagunis: 2 for 4, 2B, HR, BB
  • Ian Happ: 3 for 5, 2B
  • Victor Caratini: 1 for 4, 3B, BB
  • Chris Dominguez: 2 for 3, 2 2B, BB
  • Taylor Davis: 2 for 4, 2 2B, BB
  • Stephen Bruno: 2 for 4, 2 HR
  • Double A: Tennessee Smokies
    Tennessee 7, Jackson 2
    Yet another encouraging outing for Smokies’ pitching.

  • Zach Hedges: 7 IP, 2 R, 7 H, 2 BB, 6 K
  • Justin Hancock: 1 IP, 2 K
  • Ian Rice: 2 for 5
  • Yasiel Balaguert: 1 for 4, 2B, BB
  • Jeffrey Baez: 3 for 4, 2B, SB
  • Carlos Penalver: 1 for 3, BB
  • Cael Brockmeyer: 1 for 1, 2B
  • High A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
    Lynchburg 3, Myrtle Beach 1
    Three errors hurt the Pelicans.

  • Justin Steele: 5 IP, 3 R (0 ER), 5 H, 3 BB, 3 K
  • Tommy Thorpe: 3 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 K
  • Daniel Spingola: 1 for 3, 2B, and two outfield assists
  • Matt Rose: 1 for 3, 2B
  • Low A: South Bend Cubs
    South Bend 4, Peoria 3
    Seven more strikeouts for Cease.

  • Dylan Cease: 3.2 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 1 BB, 7 K
  • Matt Swarmer: 3.2 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 3 BB, 3 K
  • Zack Short: 1 for 3, 2 BB, SB
  • Alberto Mineo: 2 for 4, 2B, BB
  • Other Notes

  • Given the sheer depth at the top of the Cubs’ organization, I don’t see Bruno getting a shot in Wrigley this year or next. With some thinner organizations, though, he could be viable as a 25th man type. I could also imagine a few seasons in Asia in his future.
  • Rosscup has recorded 35 outs, and 20 of them have been strikeouts.
  • His hitless inning yesterday marked the Cubs’ debut for Justin Hancock. He was the return in the Matt Szczur deal.
  • Cease was pulled at 89 pitches yesterday. So, despite tossing under four innings, he still hit his usual pitch count. It was the fourth inning that bogged him down:
  • 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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