Game: 5/11 Tennessee Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits
Final: Smokies 5, Biscuits 0
Summary: The Smokies No-Hit the Biscuits
Peyton Remy, Danis Correa, and Eury Ramos combine for a no-hitter as the Tennessee Smokies beat the Montgomery Biscuits 5-0. After piggybacking to start the year, Peyton Remy made his first start of 2022 and threw 6 innings, striking out 8, walking two batters, and giving up no hits or runs. Danis Correa went two innings striking out 3, and walking 1 batter. Eury Ramos threw the last inning flawlessly, striking out 2. At the plate, Alexander Canario, Andy Weber, Bryce Ball, and Chase Strumpf all had two hits. Ball also added 3 RBI’s and hit his 4th home run of the year.
Player of the Game: Peyton Remy
I wrote about Peyton Remy on my Ten Guys to Watch that Didn’t Make Any Lists list before the season started. He commands the zone well, throws a good changeup that he can locate behind in the count, a curveball that can get some swings and misses, and a slider. This is the second no-hitter Remy has combined to throw in the Cubs organization. The first was in 2019 with Derek Casey, and he only needed 65 pitches in his 6 innings of work. With the system being shuffled between Cam Sanders being promoted to Iowa and both Riley Thompson and Ryan Jensen moving to the developmental list, there is room for Peyton Remy to get more starts in AA where he seems more comfortable than throwing in relief. Really, Remy has put together a solid year. He had a couple shaky outings back to back, especially his last outing May 5th where he gave up 3 home runs. But Remy has held hitters to a .209 average and has a K/9 of 11.6. His kryptonite has really been the long ball, but each year in the system he has gotten more and more ground balls. I would expect us to see Peyton Remy have a spot in the rotation for Tennessee for the rest of the 2022 season.
Who You Might Have Missed: Andy Weber Playing 1st Base
Is there an infield position Andy Weber cannot play? The answer is no. For the first time in his career, Andy Weber has been getting some looks at 1st base after playing some 2nd and SS in AA to start the year in AA. Defensive, I think Weber can provide a really good glove at first base. Weber isn’t the only SS to get a look at 1st in the Cubs system this year, and I wonder if the Cubs are more willing to give middle infielders opportunities to play 1st base, a position where the Cubs lack power. At the plate, however, I don’t think anyone in the system has had a better Month of May than Andy Weber. So far Weber has slashed .451/.509/.569 in the month of May good for an OPS over 1.000. If Weber can continue swinging a hot bat, his defensive flexibility gives him opportunities for more playing time either in AA or AAA if there is a spot available.
What to Keep an Eye On: Chase Strumpf Selling Out for Power
If you’ve watched Chase Strumpf over the past couple of years, you would notice a big change in his approach at the plate this year. Strumpf has been hitting for more power, but he has also added a lot of swing and miss to his game. So far this season, Strumpf is one home run shy of his 2021 total and one pace to blow by his strikeout total last year. He is slugging .466 and has an OPS of .831, but he is only hitting .223. Strumpf has clearly made an aggressive change in his approach this year, and there will be bumps and tweaks made along the way. This week has been his best week so far this season, and he has gotten much better in the month of May. Hopefully, Strumpf has turned the corner this season, and we can see a Chase Strumpf with more power to go along with his great hit tool.
Feature photo of Peyton Remy by Rich Biesterfeld (@biest22)
