Starting with the important things in the minors this week…
Jesus can walk on water but @KrisBryant_23 can swim through land #KrisBryantFacts
— Dustin Geiger (@D_Geiger) May 29, 2014
@KrisBryant_23 shouldn't even have to walk to the plate anymore just trot around the bases straight out of the dugout #KrisBryantFacts
— Corey Black (@CblackCHC) May 29, 2014
Chuck Norris intentionally walked kris Bryant last week with the bases loaded. #KrisBryantFacts @CblackCHC @KrisBryant_23
— Taylor Davis (@Beanz_TD) May 29, 2014
And then Bleacher Nation killed it by being all literal…
Kris Bryant was the second overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft. #KrisBryantFacts
— Brett Taylor (@BleacherNation) May 29, 2014
For anyone wondering, though, the reception of #KrisBryantFacts from Kris himself is apparently pretty good…
Lol I love it. Kris loves it. Need a smile around the club house after some tough losses the last couple nights. #smokies
— Corey Black (@CblackCHC) May 29, 2014
On Wednesday, Iowa played a doubleheader that didn’t start until about 9:00 in Memphis (StL). The first game saw the end of a Javier Baez 11 game hit streak. The second game saw two more Baez hits. He was also named the PCL’s Player of the Week. Kris Bryant has continued his hot hitting, although he did go hitless on Tuesday night (most likely because of the 4 walks he drew). And on the injury front…
Big day tomorrow MRI ready to get back on the diamond missing the game I love
— Cj Edwards (@CEdwardsSBS) May 29, 2014
There is no word on how that went, yet, but it sure would be nice to see the top pitching prospect back on the mound.
Also of note, the short-season Boise Hawks start on June 13, so expect to see a roster released for them in the near future.
Injuries of Note: Lendy Castillo (7 Day DL), Cael Brockmeyer (7 Day DL), C.J. Edwards (7 Day DL, Shoulder), Giuseppe Papaccio (7 Day DL), Ivan Pineyro (7 Day DL, Right Forearm Strain), Hunter Cervenka (7 Day DL), Jen-Ho Tseng (7 Day DL, Shoulder), Pierce Johnson (7 Day DL, Left Calf Strain), Jorge Soler (7 Day DL, Hamstring Strain), Daniel Canela (7 Day DL), Marcos Mateo (7 Day DL, Lower Back Strain), Gerardo Concepcion (7 Day DL, Foot), Josh Vitters (7 Day DL, Broken Toe), Yao-Lin Wang (7 Day DL), Stephen Bruno (7 Day DL), Lars Anderson (7 Day DL), Edgar Gonzalez (7 Day DL), Jonathan Sanchez (7 Day DL)
Kane County Cougars
Record This season: 36-17, 1st Place (+7.5) MWL West
In @KCCougars last 7 games, starting pitching has gone 4-1 with a 0.65 ERA with 31 K. #Cubs
— Joe Brand (@Joe_Brand1) May 27, 2014
In a lot of ways, that sums up Kane County. Continued dominant starting pitching has been the predominant theme for the Cougars all season. As a team, they have allowed the fewest runs, earned runs, and have the lowest WHIP in the Midwest League, vaulting them to a 6-1 week and a 7.5 game lead in their division.
Daytona Cubs
Record This Season: 20-30, 5th Place (-16.0) FSL North
This week, the D-Cubs suspended pitcher Michael Jensen and 1B/OF Rock Shoulders for violations of team rules. On the field, they broke even on the week. Dan Vogelbach has started to hit his way out of the slump discussed in last week’s recap, hitting .407 with 2 home runs, 2 doubles, and 4 RBI in the last week. Jeimer Candelario also had a better week, hitting .286 with a home run and 3 doubles. Both Vogelbach and Candelario have gotten off to slow starts, so it’s nice to see them have some success down in Daytona.
Tennessee Smokies
Record This Season: 26-26, 2nd Place (-9.5) Southern League North
Tough week for the Smokies, losing some close games and falling further behind Huntsville (Milw) in the standings. After giving up his first runs with the Smokies last week, Arodys Vizcaino has come back with two scoreless outings, spanning 2.1 innings. He walked one, gave up one hit, and struck out three in the two appearances, so aside from the one blip in AA, Vizcaino has been as sharp as he was in Daytona. Armando Rivero has had a “rough” week and a half, allowing 4 earned in 14 innings over the last 10 outings, “ballooning” his season ERA to 1.98. Yeah…he’s been really good. And of course Kris Bryant is being awesome as usual.
Iowa Cubs
Record This Season: 27-23, 1st Place (—) PCL American North
Arismendy Alcantara started his first game in center field in game one of Wednesday’s doubleheader. He was projected to start in Tuesday’s rained out game, which brought Twitter to a rolling boil about the possibility of a call-up being on the horizon. He was lifted for Ryan Kalish, as a defensive replacement late in the game, however, and was back at second base in the (late) nightcap. The biggest news of the week continues to be Manny Ramirez being added to the team as a player/ coach, although he has not reported to Iowa as of yet. Over the course of his hot streak, Javier Baez has raised his season slash line to .229/.289/.433. Truly remarkable considering where he was only two short weeks ago…and I’ll bet some of you were worried.
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