Two of the bigger names in a loaded farm system went yard Friday night down on the farm.
Javier Baez hit a two-run homer, his third of the season, in the I-Cubs 10-9 victory over Tacoma. And Kyle Schwarber launched a three-run shot in the Smokies 4-1 victory.
Javier Baez
Javier Baez had a good night at the plate in Iowa’s 10-9 win over Tacoma. Baez went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run, two RBI, two runs scored and a strikeout. It appears Baez is applying the adjustments he was sent to Triple-A Iowa to work on. Baez’s third homer of the season was a two-run shot in the fourth inning.
After a slow start, Baez is hitting .291/.371/.456 in 21 games with four doubles, three home runs, seven walks and 23 strikeouts for a .826 OPS. Minus his first game, Baez is batting .301/.386/.466 with a .851 OPS.
Over his last 10 games since May 11, Baez is 13-for-37 with two doubles, two home runs, four walks and 10 strikeouts.
Javier Baez is seeing time at second base and shortstop, as planned, and Marty Pevey recently confirmed he has not been asked to have Baez play another position in the field.
• Javier Baez’s Page on MiLB.com
Kyle Schwarber
Kyle Schwarber just keeps on hitting and before long it is going to be quite obvious why he has not been promoted to Triple-A Iowa. Schwarber led the way offensively for the Smokies in the 4-1 win over Montgomery on Friday night. Schwarber hit his 10th homer of the season in the fifth inning, a three-run shot.
Kyle Schwarber is batting .306/.442/.620 with six doubles, a triple and 10 home runs for the season. Schwarber has almost as many walks (31) as strikeouts (33) and a 1.061 OPS.
Despite the rumblings and the need at the big league level for a left fielder and another left handed bat that can produce at the plate, Joe Maddon confirmed earlier in the week that the Cubs have not talked about moving Schwarber to outfield. The Cubs are working on getting Schwarber better behind the plate.
• Kyle Schwarber’s Page on MiLB.com