South Bend wins a big matinee. The Pelicans hang on late. Iowa got stomped. Tennessee got rain.
Right-hander Luis Devers joins the South Bend Cubs from the ACL Cubs. Devers pitched for South Bend earlier this year and last season.
Some draft news.
And
It looks like 17th-round pick RHP Ben Johnson is the only one who hasn’t signed yet. But since he’s a senior, he’s either wants to play professionally or he doesn’t at this point. Although he may still has a COVID year of eligibility left.
Big news is that NCAA baseball teams are now going to be able to offer 34 scholarships, up from the 11.7 that they were limited to for decades. That means that a lot of high school (and younger) kids who are deciding between baseball and other sports (mainly basketball and football) won’t have to consider that it would be extremely unlikely to get a full-ride scholarship in baseball. The bad news is that roster sizes are now capped at 34, down from 40 previously. So there will be six fewer roster spots on each team and fewer opportunities to play, even if the student wants to pay their own way.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs were caught hibernating by Indianapolis (Pirates), 14-3.
Dan Straily got torched for seven runs in the second inning and the game was pretty much over at that point. Straily’s final line was seven runs on seven hits over 1.2 innings. Straily walked two and struck out two.
Right fielder Alexander Canario singled in the first inning and scored on a two-run single by Moises Ballesteros. But Canario fell to the ground after crossing home plate and had to limp off the field. He then went to the clubhouse on a cart.
Ballesteros was 1 for 4.
This Ballesteros two-run single was pretty much it for the Iowa highlights today.
Tennessee Smokies
Rained out. Doubleheader on Friday.
South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs beat the Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals), 5-2.
Drew Gray turned in a strong start, allowing just one run on three hits over five innings. Gray walked two and struck out six.
The win, however, went to Ben Leeper in relief. Leeper gave up one run on one hit and one walk over two innings. Leeper struck out two.
Nick Hull threw the final two innings and got the save. Hull gave up a hit and a walk, but no runs. He struck out two.
DH Ethan Hean hit a two-run double in the sixth inning that gave South Bend their first lead. Hearn either drove in or scored all five runs for South Bend—he had an RBI single in the fourth inning, another one in the seventh and scored on a Brian Kalmer single after his double in the sixth. Hearn was 3 for 4 with the double, four RBI and a run scored.
Kalmer went 1 for 4.
Third baseman Pedro Ramirez was 2 for 4 and scored twice.
Here’s Hearn’s double.
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans stung the Augusta GreenJackets (Braves), 4-3.
Nazier Mulé went a career-high five innings without allowing a run. He gave up two hits and walked two while striking out three. It was Mulé’s first career win.
Kenyi Perez came on to get the save and he made it scary, but eventually locked things down for the win. After striking out the first batter, Perez walked a batter and then put runners on second and third when he gave up a double. A grounder to second allowed the runner on third to score, but got the second out. Perez then ended the game with a grounder back to the mound.
Catcher Miguel Pabon hit a solo home run in the fourth inning, his third this year. Pabon went 1 for 4.
Second baseman Miguel Olivo connected for a two-run homer in the fifth, which was also his third of 2024. Olivo was 1 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base. He scored twice.
The Birds scored four runs on just four hits tonight.
Highlights:
ACL Cubs
Lost to the Athletics, 6-4.
I’m not sure if the ACL Cubs were still alive for a Wild Card spot before today—I don’t know what the tiebreakers were—but this loss definitely eliminates them from contention.
The Arizona Complex League ends its regular season tomorrow (Thursday).
