OF Robert Garcia, DH/OF Chris Pieters, RHP Jesus Castillo, RHP Michael Knighton named Northwest League All-Stars
The Eugene Emeralds, the Short-Season Class-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, announced OF Robert Garcia, RHP Jared Cheek, DH Chris Pieters and RHP Jesus Castillo will represent the Emeralds and the organization in next week’s Pioneer League-Northwest League All-Star Game in Ogden, Utah.
LHP Jose Paulino was also named to the Northwest League All-Star team but he will not play in the game on Tuesday (Aug. 2) due to his promotion to Low-A South Bend earlier this week.
Robert Garcia, 22, hit .299/.371/.487 in 33 games with 10 doubles, three triples and two home runs for a .858 OPS. Garcia had 12 walks and 36 strikeouts in 117 at-bats.
Chris Pieters, 21, has put up similar numbers to Garcia. In 35 games this season, Pieters batted .298/.354/.405 with four doubles, two triples and two home runs for a .759 OPS. Pieters walked 12 times with 36 strikeouts in 131 at-bats.
Jesus Castillo, 20, is 2-2 with a 2.43 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. Castillo allowed eight runs, all earned, on 22 hits with nine walks and 34 strikeouts in his first six starts of the season.
Jared Cheek, 23, has pitched extremely well out of the Emeralds’ pen. Cheek has appeared in 13 games and is 1-0 with a 0.98 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and seven saves. In 18 1/3 innings, Cheek has given up two runs, all earned, on 12 hits with 17 strikeouts and two walks.
Updated 5:55pm CDT – The Cubs promoted Jared Cheek to Low-A South Bend on Thursday afternoon. The Emeralds announced RHP Michael Knighton as the replacement for Cheek on the Northwest League All-Star team.
Knighton, 22, is 2-0 in 12 games, one start, with a 1.65 ERA and 0.91 WHIP. Knighton has allowed six runs, five earned, on 19 hits with six walks and 22 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings.
Cubs Midseason All-Stars
Midwest League – Low-A South Bend Cubs
- OF Eloy Jimenez
- OF Donnie Dewees
- INF Andrew Ely
- INF Jesse Hodges
- LHP Carson Sands
- RHP Adbert Alzolay
Carolina League – High-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- RHP Trevor Clifton
- RHP Zach Hedges
- RHP Jake Stinnett
- 2B/OF Ian Happ
Southern League – Double-A Tennessee Smokies
- RHP Paul Blackburn
- RHP Brad Markey
- RHP Juan Paniagua
- INF/OF Chesny Young
- C Victor Caratini
- 3B Jeimer Candelario
- C Mark Zagunis
- RHP Tyler Skulina
Pacific Coast League – Triple-A Iowa Cubs
- 1B Dan Vogelbach
- RHP Armando Rivero
SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game
- OF Eloy Jimenez
- 3B Jeimer Candelario
Northwest League – Short-Season Class-A Eugene Emeralds
- OF Robert Garcia
- RHP Jared Cheek
- DH/OF Chris Pieters
- LHP Jose Paulino
- RHP Jesus Castillo
- RHP Michael Knighton
Twenty-six of the top players in the Cubs’ organization over five levels of the Minor League system were named midseason All-Stars this year. The Cubs Player Development Staff, Minor League Managers and Coaches work incredibly hard. Having that many players represent the organization is a testament to their hard work and the players’ commitment.