Jackson Ferris via MiLB.TV

I know am not sure where tonight went. Between running errands, trying to get the backyard mowed before the rain, and watching the big league club in Minnesota, I seemed to have my hands full. All the while, I had one eye on the minor league scoreboard.

Ferris Strikes Again

Heading into the night, I really wanted to get it another good look at Jackson Ferris, the Cubs 2022 second round draft pick. He was making his second start for Myrtle Beach. It was not his dominant has his first, but it was still was fairly decent as he went three innings. He threw 51 pitches, 32 for strikes and he struck out two. He did give up a run, the first of his career.

Ferris probably won’t exceed three innings for a while or 50 to 60 pitches until mid summer. The Cubs are going to keep him tightly under wraps.

Three new players began playing with new affiliates today. Two of them were not good and one was fairly decent. Kohl Franklin struggled down in Tennessee as he gave up eight hits in four innings and allowed six runs while only striking out two. Dominic Handley debuted for Myrtle Beach today as he went 2.2 innings and struck out five, but he also gave up two hits and walked four in his full season debut.

Debut of the Day

For Luis Rujano, it was thought that he would start this year in extended spring training before going to the Arizona complex week. So, imagine my surprise when I saw that he was called up today to Myrtle Beach. He went 1.1 innings and struck out one and allowed one hit. He did not allow any runs, nor did he walk anybody, but he did hit one better.


Starting itching across the entire system really was not much to write home about but the bullpens work was. Blake Whitney and Hunter Bigge of Tennessee who combined to go five scoreless and strike out five. Chase Watkins struck out six in 2.1 innings for South Bend while Jarod Wright struck out three and 2.1 IP for South Bend. Jeremiah Estrada looked pretty studly in the ninth for Iowa as he struck out three of the four men he faced and lowered his ERA at AAA to 0.96.

Tonight also saw one of the worst defensive innings I’ve ever seen from any ball club in recent memory. South Bend committed six in the bottom of the fourth as they gave up nine runs. Scott McKeon had two, Liam Spence had two, pitcher Richard Gallardo had one, and Fabian. Pertuz also had one. When the inning was over, it was 10 to 0, Wisconsin. Oof!!!!!!

Dinger of the Night

But when it came to hitting, the night belonged to Christian Franklin of South Bend who hit a grand slam. 

Other Dingers

BJ Murray of Tennessee had two solo shots tonight, one from each side of the plate, Jake Slaughter continued his “jack” parade with his eighth home run of the year. Jared young hit his fourth for Iowa and Sergio Alcantara hit his fifth. Pete Crow-Armstrong and Chase Strumpf also hit home runs for Tennessee.

Reivaj-O-Meter

.295

Other guys who had good days at the plate

Moises Ballesteros was 2-for-4 for Myrtle Beach. Scott McKeon went 2-for-4 for South Bend. In Tennessee, PCA was 2-for-5 while BJ Murray was2-for-4. The Iowa offense returned in spades tonight. Darius Hill went 2-for-5, Jared Young was 2-for-2 with two walks in addition to his home run, and Sergio Alcantara was 2-for-4/

Over the next nine days, I’m going to see a lots and lots of baseball in Wisconsin. I’ll be up in Appleton tomorrow and then in Beloit on Tuesday through Thursday and then Saturday and Sunday next weekend. Needless to say I’m going to get a lot of pictures of Christian Franklin, Ezequiel Pagán, Cade Horton, and James Triantos.

I will be back in the morning with my 7 round mock draft of just the Cubs!