Players of the Day for July 16, 2022 – PCA in LA, Palencia Injury, Hodge Lights it Up, and Mr. Baseball Has Himself a Day

Porter Hodge – Picture by Stephanie Lynn

All the Cubs minor leaguers are excited for tomorrow afternoon’s games to end. The minor league season is a long grind and 4 days off are coming for the All-Star break. Here at North Side Bound, we are getting ready and resting up for the draft. Tomorrow night is when things get cooking as North Side Bound will be live on YouTube starting around 6:30!

Today, though, there was still baseball to be played. 

Let’s go to LA where it looked like Pete Crow-Armstrong was having a blast! 

PCA in LA! 😎#FuturesGame pic.twitter.com/2i2Q3mlip6

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 16, 2022

He also doubled and came around to score. 

Pete Crow-Armstrong, the @Cubs' No. 3 prospect, goes opposite field for a double. pic.twitter.com/MrnTmhrwWa

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 17, 2022

Back in Illinois

For South Bend, 40% of their starting rotation was promoted yesterday. That has to be tough to adjust to. Tonight, Cubs fans held their collective breath when Daniel Palencia was injured fielding a ball. He originally stayed in after whatever injury he did to his plant (left) leg. Then he injured it again fielding a ball. Hopefully this can heal up over the break and there is no long-term structural damage. Fingers are definitely crossed fo Daniel!

Here is the Palencia injury in two parts. The first part is the initial injury and he stayed in the game. And then after the second one, He would leave the game with some assistance from the trainer and Jake washer pic.twitter.com/N5w3MYakT8

— Todd ⚾️🐻🦌 (@CubsCentral08) July 17, 2022

Baseball IQ Play of the Day

Stealing home is always fun!

YO @JamesTriantos JUST STOLE HOME! pic.twitter.com/rSLbpkfSoZ

— Myrtle Beach Pelicans (@Pelicanbaseball) July 17, 2022

Dinger of the Day

Both Jordan Nwogu and Fabian Pertuz hit solo shots for South Bend, but Alexander Canario hit a two run shot for Tennessee where it looked like he barely swung.

Canario is so strong pic.twitter.com/X72ZwErZA9

— Todd ⚾️🐻🦌 (@CubsCentral08) July 17, 2022

Hitter of the Day

Juan Mora, or as he is better known, Juan Baseball, is today’s hitter of the day. He went 2-for-4 with 3 RBI and a double for Myrtle Beach. Since PCA left Mora has been leading off occasionally and it looks like it suits him!

Starting Pitcher of the Day

My guy Porter Hodge went just 4 frames today. But in those four innings, he allowed two hits, did not give up any runs, and he struck out ten. He walked two and had to deal with some errors behind him that helped run up his pitch count, but he looked dominant nonetheless. He was at 79 pitches (51 for strikes) when he was removed from the game. 

I have been championing ⁦@Phodgie⁩ all year long, in fact before the season even began. Tonight, he struck out 10 batters in four innings for Myrtle Beach. pic.twitter.com/QGDSxacJr7

— Todd ⚾️🐻🦌 (@CubsCentral08) July 17, 2022

Honorable Mention goes out to my other guy Walker Powell who threw five scoreless for Tennessee and lowered his ERA there to 2.08. I am really happy that he is doing so well. He has improved his fastball from the upper 80s/low 90s up to sitting 92/93 now. It seems he gets better and better at each level! Good for him!

My guy Walker Powell did a great job tonight in AA. He threw 5 scoreless IP. He gave up one hit and struck out 2. He lowered his ERA at AA to 2.08. This is the third level he’s pitched at this year and his fastball has increased 3 to 4 miles an hour on the year. Nice changeup! pic.twitter.com/Q0TBKzOVQH

— Todd ⚾️🐻🦌 (@CubsCentral08) July 17, 2022

Reliever of the Day

Chase Watkins came in with two on the eighth and shut down a Fayetteville rally and then he went 1-2-3 in the ninth to end it for Myrtle Beach. Along the way, he struck out three of the four batters he faced. He looks like he is ready to head to South Bend. I could handle that.

I will be back tomorrow morning with “The Weekly” and the “Rookie League Recap” will be out at noon.