2023 Rookie-level playoffs coverage
Aug. 27
Aug. 27
Arizona Complex League
ACL Brewers 5, ACL D-backs Red 4
The Brewers emerged victorious in a tightly contested decisive Game 3 of the Championship Series.
Milwaukee's Rookie-level team jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a couple of fielder's choices back to the mound, a double-play ball and a fielding error. After Juan Baez's sacrifice fly in the fourth extended the lead, the D-backs Red responded in the bottom of the frame with an RBI double by Arizona's No. 22 prospect Caden Grice and a two-run single by Ronny Polanco.
Miguel Briceno collected three hits, including a double, and scored once for the Brewers.
Right-hander Brailin Rodriguez picked up the win after allowing a run on one hit in 2 2/3 innings, and righty Blake Whiting gave up a hit but closed out the win with two strikeouts in the final frame.
Jefferson Pena got Arizona's affiliate within a run with an RBI double in the seventh. Lefty Carlos Rey and righty Edgar Isea kept the D-backs Red in contention over the final 4 2/3 scoreless innings with five strikeouts apiece. Box score »
Aug. 26
Florida Complex League
FCL Braves 9, FCL Yankees 1
The Braves are your 2023 Florida Complex League champs!
Behind another inspired effort from the organization's top prospects and a late offensive outburst, the Braves coasted to an easy victory to sweep the best-of-3 Championship Series on Saturday.
Atlanta's No. 24 prospect Diego Benitez opened the scoring with an RBI triple in the first and he finished the game with a pair of knocks, a walk and two runs scored. Isaiah Drake (No. 23) continued to be a sparkplug at the top of the lineup, reaching base three times, on a hit and a pair of walks. He also scored the Braves' first run. Game 1 hero Douglas Glod all but sealed the victory with a two-run double in the ninth. The 13th-ranked Braves prospect also walked and scored. The first three hitters in the Braves lineup accounted for five of the club's 10 hits and six runs.
Sixth-ranked Yankees prospect George Lombard Jr. finished 1-for-4 with a single to center in the third. Box score »
Arizona Complex League
ACL D-backs Red 14, ACL Brewers 2
After dropping Game 1 of the ACL Finals, the D-backs Red team wasted no time getting on the board in Game 2.
The Arizona affiliate put up crooked numbers nearly every inning, starting early and often. In the bottom of the first, outfield prospect Jefferson Pena got the party started with a leadoff homer. Caden Grice (Arizona No. 22) hit an RBI single and an Adrian De Leon three-run jack capped a six-run opening frame.
The D-backs finished with 15 hits, including six multihit performances. No. 11 prospect Kristian Robinson stayed hot, going 2-for-5 with a walk and two big flies which raised his postseason OPS to 1.207. Another standout performer was De Leon who tacked on a pair of singles after his first-inning tater.
The Brewers' two runs came courtesy of a Miguel Briceno double in the fourth and a Reece Walling single in the ninth. The two teams will play a winner-take-all Game 3 on Sunday. Box score »
Aug. 25
Arizona Complex League
ACL Brewers 2, ACL D-backs Red 1
The Brewers only picked up three hits in Game 1 of the ACL Championship Series, but it would be all they needed to claim a victory.
A trio of Milwaukee's Top 30 prospects led the way on offense. After Yeison Perez walked to open the third inning, 10th-ranked prospect Cooper Pratt lined a single to center field, and both scored on 25th-ranked prospect Juan Baez's double. Eric Bitonti (No. 12) also reached base twice on a pair of walks.
Arizona's ACL Red team clawed back late and almost sent the game to extras. After 11th-ranked prospect Kristian Robinson came around to score on Jackson Feltner's ground-rule double in the eighth, the D-backs strung together a two-out rally in the ninth to put runners on the corners. However, Bayden Root struck out Robinson for his third K of the inning to earn the save. Box score »
Florida Complex League
FCL Braves 3, FCL Yankees 2
Four of Atlanta's Top 30 prospects led the way as the Braves edged out the Yankees to take Game 1 of the best-of-3 Championship Series.
The decisive swing came off the bat of Braves No. 13 prospect Douglas Glod, whose lone hit in the game was a go-ahead solo home run in the second inning. The Braves never squandered the lead from there. Diego Benitez, 24th-ranked prospect, drove in the club's first run with a game-tying sacrifice fly that scored Isaiah Drake (No. 23) in the first. Sabin Ceballos (No. 18) also chipped in with one of the Braves five hits in the game.
Yankees sixth-ranked prospect George Lombard Jr. finished 1-for-3 with a single and a walk. He looks to help the Yankees stave off elimination and force a decisive Game 3 when the teams resume the series on Saturday. Box score »
Aug. 24
Florida Complex League
FCL Yankees 7, FCL Pirates 6
In perhaps the most back-and-forth postseason game involving the Yankees and Pirates since Bill Mazeroski walked it off for Pittsburgh in 1960, it was the Baby Bombers who were successful this time. Led by Enmanuel Tejeda's four-hit performance, the Yankees punched their ticket for the FCL Championship Series.
Tejeda matched a season high in knocks while plating a pair of runs and scoring another. With the Yankees down by one in the sixth, first baseman Dylan Jasso slugged a two-run homer and Tejeda singled in an insurance run. Yankees' 2023 first-rounder George Lombard Jr. tallied two runs scored, an RBI single and a walk in just his sixth pro game.
That extra run proved to be important as Jeral Toledo drilled a one-out homer to right in the ninth to bring the Pirates within one. But after a two-hour, 39-minute rain delay, the Yankees secured the final two outs of the FCL semifinal.
On Friday, the Yankees will begin the best-of-3 Championship Series against the Braves. Box score »
FCL Braves 7, FCL Mets 1
Behind a strong outing from right-hander Davis Polo -- 4 2/3 scoreless frames with four strikeouts -- and a six-run fourth inning, the FCL Braves punched their ticket to the FCL Finals.
The Braves batted around in the fourth, with RBI knocks from Atlanta's No 23 prospect Isaiah Drake -- who also stole a base and scored in the frame -- and Will King. Righties LJ McDonough and Miguel Hernandez closed the door with a combined three perfect innings of relief. McDonough fanned four.
Seventh-ranked Mets prospect Colin Houck led the Mets' offense with two hits. New York's first-round selection this year (No. 32 overall) collected a pair of singles. Yonatan Henriquez manufactured the Mets' only run in the sixth after working a leadoff walk, advancing to second on a hit and then scampering home on a throwing error.
The Braves will meet the Yankees in the Championship Series starting on Friday. Box score »
Arizona Complex League
ACL Brewers 3, ACL Rockies 2
Yeison Perez hit a pair of solo homers and seven pitchers combined to strike out 10 to lift the ACL Brewers into the ACL Championship Series. The 19-year-old went deep just once in 139 at-bats during the regular season, during his very first game on June 5.
Reece Walling opened the scoring with a solo jack and Perez followed with his first of the game in the fifth. Perez teed off again in the seventh. Juan Baez, the No. 25 Brewers prospect, went 3-for-3 with a double and a walk.
Mark Manfredi started for the Brewers and worked around a walk to record three strikeouts in one inning during his professional debut. Milwaukee selected the 23-year-old in the ninth round of this year's Draft.
Rockies' 2023 eighth-rounder Braylen Wimmer accounted for his club's offense with a two-run homer.
The Brewers will play the D-backs Red in the best-of-3 Finals beginning on Friday. Box score »
ACL D-backs Red 4, ACL Dodgers 3
Adrian De Leon singled up the middle in the bottom of the ninth to rally the ACL D-backs Red to a berth in the ACL Championship Series. Arizona's Rookie-level squad rallied from three separate one-run deficits, tying the game on Adrian Rodriguez's RBI single in the eighth.
Kristian Robinson drove in his team's first run with a single in the second and led off the ninth with a base hit before scoring the winning run. The No. 11 D-backs prospect swiped a pair of bases and Ruben Santana, the organization's No. 23 prospect, singled twice and drove in a run.
Alexander Albertus had a pair of RBI knocks and Kendall George reached base in four of his five plate appearances. The Dodgers' 2023 first-round Draft pick and No. 15 prospect singled and walked three times.
The D-backs will begin the best-of-3 Finals with the Brewers on Friday. Box score »
IOWA CUBS IMPRESSING IN WINTER BALL
Following Moises Ballesteros’ impressive stint in the Arizona Fall League, a couple other players from the Iowa Cubs 2024 roster have been making some noise this winter. Also announced this offseason, former Cub and Iowa Cub Quintin Berry will join the Chicago Cubs to be their new third-base coach. Berry
SHAW, BALLESTEROS EXCELLING IN FALL BALL
Top Chicago Cubs prospects Matt Shaw and Moises Ballesteros are turning some heads in their respective fall ball seasons after stellar summers which included stints with the Iowa Cubs. Shaw is representing Team USA in the Premier12 Tournament and through three games, the Cubs No. 1 prospect is batting .727
BALLESTEROS SHINING IN ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE
Chicago Cubs No. 4 prospect and baseball’s No. 44 prospect (MLB.com) Moises Ballesteros has continued his excellent summer into the fall with the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League. The backstop is slashing .373/.404/.725 (19-for-51) with five home runs and 14 RBI in 11 games with Mesa, including
BALLESTEROS AND BIRDSELL NAMED CUBS MINOR LEAGUE PLAYER AND PITCHER OF THE YEAR
The Chicago Cubs announced today that catcher Moises Ballesteros was named the Buck O’Neil Cubs Minor League Player of the Year and Brandon Birdsell the Vedie Himsl Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Year. It marks the second time Ballesteros has won the award after having done so in 2023.
IOWA CUBS RELEASE 2025 SCHEDULE
DES MOINES, IA – In conjunction with Major League Baseball, the Iowa Cubs today announced the 2025 regular season schedule. The 2025 regular season will consist of 75 home games and 75 road games with Iowa opening the year with three home games against the Omaha Storm Chasers, March 28-30.
I-CUBS END SEASON WITH EXTRA-INNING VICTORY
ROCHESTER, NY – The Iowa Cubs (68-82) defeated the Rochester Red Wings (77-71) by a 3-2 tally in 11 innings Sunday at Innovative Field to end the 2024 season. Rochester jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first on the back of back-to-back two-out RBI singles by Jake Alu
I-CUBS DROP EXTRA-INNING BATTLE TO RED WINGS
ROCHESTER, NY – The Iowa Cubs (66-82) were defeated by a 2-1 final in 10 innings Friday night in Game 4 of their series against the Rochester Red Wings (77-69) at Innovative Field. Iowa took the early lead in the top of the third, when Kevin Alcantara doubled, and Owen
I-CUBS DOWNED LATE BY RED WINGS
ROCHESTER, NY – The Iowa Cubs (66-80) were defeated by a 4-3 final Wednesday night in Game 2 of their series against the Rochester Red Wings (75-69) at Innovative Field. Iowa took the lead in the first when, after back-to-back walks to begin the night, Matt Shaw doubled in Owen
IOWA SHUTOUTS ROCHESTER
ROCHESTER, NY – The Iowa Cubs (66-79) blanked the Rochester Red Wings (74-69) by a 3-0 score tonight at Innovative Field. Hayden Wesneski (2.0 IP), Julian Merryweather (1.0 IP), Caleb Kilian (5.0 IP) and Colten Brewer (1.0 IP) combined for the shutout. Reivaj Garcia got Iowa on the board in
I-CUBS OVERPOWERED BY BATS IN HIGH-SCORING AFFAIR
DES MOINES, IA – The Iowa Cubs (65-79) dropped their last home game of the season to the Louisville Bats (64-79) by a 17-10 final Sunday afternoon at Principal Park. The Cubs’ bats were hot, tallying 18 hits, including five doubles, a triple, and four homers, but the Bats’ bats
I-CUBS MATCH LONGEST STREAK OF SEASON WITH FOURTH STRAIGHT WIN AGAINST BATS
DES MOINES, IA – The Iowa Cubs (65-78) defeated the Louisville Bats (63-79), 7-2, Saturday night at Principal Park, ending the night with seven unanswered runs to earn their fourth straight win. Louisville got on the board first with two in the first courtesy of back-to-back RBI doubles from Levi
HOWARD’S CLUTCH DOUBLE PROPELS I-CUBS IN THIRD STRAIGHT WIN
DES MOINES, IA – The Iowa Cubs (64-78) defeated the Louisville Bats (64-77), 6-4, Friday night at Principal Park, as Ed Howard’s sixth-inning three-run double was the difference in the I-Cubs’ third straight victory. Louisville got on the board first with two in the first from a two-run double by
I-CUBS WIN HOMER FEST IN WALK-OFF FASHION
DES MOINES, IA – The Iowa Cubs (63-78) defeated the Louisville Bats (63-77), 5-4, in 11 innings Thursday night at Principal Park, as Chase Strumpf's double was the walk-off winner for the home team. Louisville scored first in the first from a solo home run by @levi jor, but Iowa
LATE RALLY LEADS IOWA OVER LOUISVILLE
DES MOINES, IA – William Simoneit’s two-run double in the eighth inning broke a 3-3 tie to lead the Iowa Cubs (62-78) to a 5-3 win over the Louisville Bats (63-76) today at Principal Park. The I-Cubs took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on back-to-back run scoring singles
I-CUBS COMEBACK FALLS SHORT AGAINST LOUISVILLE
DES MOINES, IA – The Iowa Cubs (61-78) came up a run short in a valiant comeback effort against the Louisville Bats (63-75), dropping an 11-10 contest Tuesday night at Principal Park. Louisville jumper out to a 6-0 lead in the second inning behind a Bubba Thompson three-run double, a
SAINTS DOWN I-CUBS WITH LATE OFFENSE IN SERIES FINALE
PAUL, MN – The St. Paul Saints (67-70) defeated the Iowa Cubs (61-77) by a 9-3 final, scoring six runs in the seventh and eighth innings combined Sunday afternoon at CHS Field. Iowa got on the board first in the top of the third when Kevin Alcantara deposited a two-run
MERVIS, SHAW HOMER IN IOWA’S LOSS AT ST. PAUL
ST. PAUL, MN – Despite home runs from Matt Mervis and Matt Shaw, the Iowa Cubs (61-76) fell to the St. Paul Saints (66-70) by an 8-6 score tonight at CHS Field. St. Paul took a 6-0 lead in the second inning, highlighted by a grand slam from Emmanuel Rodriguez.
CAISSIE LEADS IOWA OVER ST. PAUL
ST. PAUL, MN – Owen Caissie hit two homers and drove in five runs to lead the Iowa Cubs (61-75) to an 8-4 victory over the St. Paul Saints (65-70) tonight at CHS Field. Trailing 4-0 in the fourth inning, Iowa put up six runs in the frame. The scoring
SAINTS DOWN I-CUBS WITH WALK OFF WIN
PAUL, MN – The St. Paul Saints (65-69) defeated the Iowa Cubs (60-75) by a 7-6 final with a walk off win in the bottom of the ninth Thursday night at CHS Field. The hosts took a 3-0 lead in the first with two RBI singles by Yunior Severino and
IOWA DROPS ONE-RUN GAME AT ST. PAUL
ST. PAUL, MN – Despite a gem from starting pitcher Brandon Birdsell, the Iowa Cubs (60-74) dropped a 2-1 decision to the St. Paul Saints (64-69) tonight at CHS Field. Birdsell tossed 6.0 innings and allowed one run on two hits with eight strikeouts in a no decision. The Saints
KNIGHT’S CAREER DAY LIFTS I-CUBS OVER SAINTS
ST. PAUL, MN – The only thing that was not remarkable about Caleb Knight's performance on Monday against the Saints was a fielding error in his second career start at third base. But at the plate, his 3-for-4 performance, which included his first career multi-homer game and a career-high 4
BALLESTEROS NAMED INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
DES MOINES, IA – Iowa Cubs catcher Moises Ballesteros was tabbed the International League Player of the Week for the period of Aug. 26-Sept. 1 the league announced today. In five games vs. the Memphis Redbirds, Ballesteros batted .588 (10-for-17) with two doubles, one home run and five RBI. During
BALLESTEROS LEADS I-CUBS OVER REDBIRDS IN SERIES FINALE
DES MOINES, IA – A two-run single by Moises Ballesteros proved to be the difference Sunday afternoon as the Iowa Cubs (59-73) defeated the Memphis Redbirds (64-68) by a 7-6 final in the series finale at Principal Park. Memphis started the scoring in the first when Mike Antico trotted home
LATE HOMER LIFTS MEMPHIS OVER IOWA
DES MOINES, IA – Trailing 8-7 in the eighth inning, Chance Sisco hit a three-run home run to lead the Memphis Redbirds (64-67) to a 10-8 win over the Iowa Cubs (58-73) tonight at Principal Park. Memphis took a 4-0 lead in the first inning as Alfonso Rivas hit a
SUPAK’S STELLAR START LEADS I-CUBS PAST REDBIRDS
DES MOINES, IA – Trey Supak five scoreless innings and a season-high eight strikeouts paved the way for a 6-2 victory for the Iowa Cubs (58-72) over the Memphis Redbirds (63-67) Friday night at Principal Park. Iowa scored six unanswered runs, counting a Brennen Davis double that plated Matt Mervis