Schwarber adds two more homers to resume

Kyle Schwarber needed only five games at Boise to show the Cubs that he could handle a test more difficult than short-season ball. Nine games into his Kane County career, the slugging catcher is demonstrating that Class A competition does not pose much of a challenge, either.

The fourth overall pick in this year's Draft cranked two more homers Saturday night as part of the Cougars' 10-2 romp at Beloit. He collected four hits in five at-bats, including a ninth-inning double, while setting a career high with five RBIs.

"One [homer] was on the first pitch," Schwarber said. "It was a fastball away. I got the hands out there, hit it out to left-center. The second one, it was bases loaded and he got behind, 2-0, and he had to come with a fastball. He left it in and I turned on it. I got good wood on it."

Schwarber first erupted in the third inning when he smacked a solo shot off Snappers starter Kyle Finnegan. In the seventh, he came up with the bases full against reliever Trevor Bayless and drove another out to right, giving himself the first grand slam of his brief pro career.

"It's just another home run," he said. "There just happened to be three people on base."

In 14 games since making his professional debut on June 13, the Indiana University product has launched eight homers -- four at Boise and four with Kane County. Only short-season State College's Rowan Wick, who has 10, can claim more since Schwarber's state date.

After posting a .600/.625/1.350 slash line in the Northwest League, Schwarber owns a .467/.556/1.000 line in a Cougars uniform. Asked to assess the pitching at his current level, he offered a glimpse of the manner in which he goes about hitting.

"You take a quick look at velocities and everything, maybe what they try to do," he said, "but you've just got to stick to your approach and your plan at the plate."

Over 14 Minor League games, the 21-year-old has compiled a rather ridiculous 1.723 OPS, the result of a .583 on-base percentage and 1.140 slugging percentage. He's also piled up 19 RBIs.

"I'm just glad that I'm producing for the team," he said. "I want to be a team guy and help this team continue our confidence going towards the playoffs."

That's assuming he'll be around for them. Considering Schwarber's quick callup from Boise, the possibility of a promotion to Class A Advanced Daytona seems far from absurd, particularly if he maintains his blistering pace.

The Ohio native said he doesn't think about such scenarios.

"They told me when I signed, my job is to go out there and play baseball and have fun," he said. "That's what I've been doing, and they'll take care of the rest. They've got the best interests for me [in mind]. I believe that truly. I'm just going to go out there and have fun."

So while it appears that Schwarber is trying to put himself in position to catch a game at Wrigley Field sometime this season, that's not actually the case.

"No," he said with a laugh. "I'm just going out there, playing baseball and having fun."

Schwarber accounted for half of Kane County's long balls on Saturday, as Yasiel Balaguert and Jacob Rogers both left the yard. Beloit's Luis Baez and Chih Fang Pang also went deep.

Cougars starter Duane Underwood (2-2) earned the win, allowing a run on two hits in five innings. Finnegan (6-5) surrendered six runs and nine hits over six frames.