Alcántara, Triantos warm up for Windy City
Madison, Alabama, is a long way from the Windy City. But the wind was blowing out on Tuesday night, and several players expected to play big parts in Chicago’s future took full advantage. Powered by a whopping seven homers, Double-A Tennessee bashed its way to a 10-4 win over Rocket
Don't sleep on these loaded MiLB teams
Following last Friday’s second Opening Day, all four full-season levels of Minor League Baseball are officially playing their 2024 regular seasons. That has given us a few days to take in and digest rosters across Triple-A, Double-A, High-A and Single-A to determine the best of the best. Some are loaded
Crow-Armstrong mashes and dashes for I-Cubs
Heading into Thursday night, Pete Crow-Armstrong had yet to hit a home run in 2024, a streak spanning Spring Training, Minor League games on the back fields and Triple-A play. Despite the lack of power display, the 22-year-old felt no pressure over his home run drought. However, a chat with
Ben's Biz: 2024 Double-A promotional night highlights
This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Ben's Biz Beat Newsletter, bringing Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter HERE. Last week, I provided a rollicking round-up of notable 2024 Triple-A promotions. Today, we’ll gingerly
Road to The Show™: Cubs’ Shaw
MiLB.com's Road to the Show Scouting Report series spotlights players who are just starting their professional careers, focusing on what the experts are projecting for these young phenoms. Here's a look at fifth-ranked Cubs’ prospect Matt Shaw. For more player journeys on The Road to The Show, click here. Matt
ACL Cubs' pitcher Peters suspended
Chicago Cubs Minor League pitcher Mathew Peters is set to sit out the entire 2024 season after testing positive for a banned substance, the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball said. Peters, who is currently on Chicago’s Arizona Complex League roster, was suspended on Jan. 26 for the 2024 ACL
This season's most improved farm systems
We talk about breakout prospects all the time, like Ethan Salas going from being a 16-year-old new signee to a Double-A player in just a few months or Junior Caminero starting the season outside the Top 100 and ending it at No. 6 (and likely higher by the time of
These prospects rebounded in a big way in 2023
Some prospects never struggle on their way to the Major Leagues. For example, the first two guys on our Top 100 Prospects list, Orioles shortstop Jackson Holliday and Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio, have yet to taste failure in pro ball. They're the exceptions, however. Most prospects face adversity at some
Caissie, Horton break out for Cubs in '23
Each offseason, MiLB.com goes position by position across each organization and honors the players -- regardless of age or prospect status -- who had the best seasons in each farm system. Next up in our 2023 Organization All-Stars series are the Chicago Cubs. 2023 organization summary: Triple-A Iowa: 82-65 Double-A
Ben's Biz: Title winners ranked for '23
This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Ben's Biz Beat Newsletter, bringing Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter HERE. Subscribe HERE.
'The Jaguar' back on the prowl in Fall League
MESA, Ariz. -- Kevin Alcántara has become well-known as the No. 4 Cubs prospect flashing speed, power and discipline in his skill set. Those are the same characteristics possessed by a jaguar, not so coincidentally the nickname Alcántara has had since he grew up loving the game of baseball in
Smokies scorch way to first outright title in 45 years
With Cade Horton on the mound Tuesday, the Cubs' Double-A affiliate had reason to be confident about their prospects of winning the franchise's first outright Southern League title in 45 years. And once the Tennessee Smokies scored four runs in the first three innings, it felt like that was very
Crow-Armstrong's grand week gets even grander
So far this season, Pete Crow-Armstrong has ascended to the top level of the Minor Leagues and posted a 20-20 season. And, oh yeah, MLB's No. 12 overall prospect also has launched four grand slams -- two in the past week. Crow-Armstrong went 4-for-5 with a double and three runs
Ben's Biz hits the road for the final time this year
This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Ben's Biz Beat Newsletter, bringing Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter HERE. Subscribe HERE.
As the Crow-Armstrong flies, third slam of year
In the Major Leagues, grand slams occur approximately once in every 1,500 at-bats. This season, there's been one every 0.08 percent of at-bats. But for Pete Crow-Armstrong, the feat has not been so elusive, despite the fact that he typically leads off. MLB’s No. 12 prospect hit his third grand
MiLB Player of the Week Spotlight: Cubs' Nwogu
Jordan Nwogu is the child of two educators at the University of Michigan, and last week the 24-year-old put on a hitting clinic against Double-A Rocket City. The Cubs' outfield prospect connected on just about everything thrown his way over five games for Double-A Tennessee en route to being named
Smokies' slugger Caissie sizzling in Southern League
Owen Caissie has long been on scouts' radars. A second-round pick in 2020 from the Canadian prep ranks, he has a sweet left-handed swing with 65-grade power that helped make him a key component of the Cubs' return in the Yu Darvish trade. Caissie has put together solid Minor League
Horton on a whole other level, still posting zeros
On Sunday, Cade Horton found out he had been promoted for the second time this season. By Wednesday, the No. 2 Cubs prospect was back doing what he's done all year -- mystifying hitters, only this time it was in his Double-A debut. Horton yielded just two hits while fanning
Pete Crow-Armstrong Expected to Make Triple-A Debut
DES MOINES, IA – Outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong is expected to make his Triple-A Debut with the Iowa Cubs this week as they take on the Toledo Mud Hens at Principal Park. Crow-Armstrong, the Chicago Cubs No. 1 overall prospect according to MLB.com, has played in 73 total games this year,
Horton gets heavy-handed with unhittable start
One errant pitch was all that separated Cade Horton from a perfect outing. Nevertheless, his performance on Thursday night was a not-so-subtle reminder how easily MLB Pipeline's No. 45 prospect can dominate a game. Horton rebounded from a pair of rough outings by twirling four no-hit innings to lead High-A
The Road to The Show™: Cubs’ Crow-Armstrong
Each week, MiLB.com profiles an elite prospect by chronicling the steps he's taken toward achieving his Major League dream. Here's a look at top Cubs prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong. For more stories about players on The Road to The Show, click here. There are few prospects in the Minor Leagues who
South Bend No-Hits Peoria, Celebrate 4-0 Dominant Victory
South Bend, IN -- At 9 a.m. this morning, Frankie Scalzo Jr. was coaching young ballplayers at the Meijer Baseball Academy at Four Winds Field. At 9 p.m., he was closing out a no-hitter. July 6, 2023 could certainly look down the road as the turnaround for the South Bend
The Road to The Show™: Futures Game rosters
Each week, MiLB.com profiles an elite prospect by chronicling the steps he's taken toward achieving his Major League dream. For more stories about players on The Road to The Show, click here. A marquee event on the baseball calendar has come into focus with Monday’s announcement of the 2023 SiriusXM
Alcántara enjoys hit parade for South Bend
Third-ranked Cubs prospect Kevin Alcántara had his first career five-hit game Saturday for High-A South Bend. In the process, he swatted two home runs in an outing for the first time this season. The first was just two pitches into his first at-bat against Twins No. 29 prospect Jaylen Nowlin.
Women thrive in front offices: ‘We just do the job’
Kristin Call’s approach to her job as Single-A Myrtle Beach general manager is relatable to the ethos of Minor League Baseball. “Everybody in this industry has somebody that they can influence,” Call said. “We've had [seasonal employees] that we've been trying to coach up. … ‘How can we best prepare