Chicago Cubs Around the Farm Seventh Edition: 8/14/22

The Chicago Cubs’ farm system is always providing exciting moments, and we’re here to bring you the highlights and lowlights. If you missed the sixth edition highlighting Saturday’s action, check it out right here. But for now, let’s dive into the seventh edition.

Triple-A Iowa Cubs: 5-4 Victory Over Louisville Bats

Biggest Yes: Darius Hill — 3/5, 3B, 2 RBI

After becoming the first two-time “Biggest Yes” award winner in Around the Farm history yesterday, Hill now takes home back-to-back awards and is your first-ever three-time winner. The man just keeps hitting. I now have him up to No. 24 on the Cubs’ top 30 prospects with the highest hit grade in the system. You have to imagine he sees some time with the Cubs as the season winds down so Chicago can evaluate how his bat adjusts to MLB pitching.

Biggest Yikes: Jonathan Holder — 0.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB

This was just Holder’s third game pitching in Iowa this year, but he has looked very rusty throughout. Remember, this is a guy who has made 157 appearances in the majors, so you don’t need to worry too much about his stuff right now. However, this is the biggest yikes for Sunday as Holder came on, put four runners on base, and only managed a single out. Not what you want to see from a guy with a 4.38 ERA in the majors.

Double-A Tennessee Smokies: 8-7 Victory Over Mississippi Braves

Biggest Yes: Yonathan Perlaza — 3/5, 2B, 3B, HR (20), 2 RBI

How often do you see someone finish just a single away from the cycle? Well, that was Perlaza’s day on Sunday. The slugger hit his 20th home run on the season, added a double, and even snagged a triple. As a result, he moved up to the 35th-best prospect on my Cubs list. In an 8-7 victory, the Smokies don’t win this game, or even come close, without Perlaza’s performance.

Biggest Yikes: Eduarniel Nunez — 1.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO

Primarily, the reason this game was so close was Nunez’s ninth-inning performance. Coming up to Tennessee after 41.0 IP with a 3.73 ERA at High-A South Bend, Nunez had a great first performance for the Smokies. However, he followed it up with Sunday’s three-run blow-up. Frankly, his stuff was just easy for hitters to read. Nunez managed to shut it down before blowing the lead, but he looked rough along the way.

High-A South Bend Cubs: 3-5 Loss to Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Biggest Yes: Jordan Nwogu — 1/4, HR (10), BB, 3 RBI

Nwogu was responsible for all of the Cubs’ runs on Sunday as he smacked his 10th home run of the season and walked in a run. Hat tip to Bleacher Nation’s Bryan Smith (a must-follow if you’re reading this series) for a cool fact here.