Cubs Minor League News: Caissie homers twice, Pelicans keep rolling, more

Photo courtesy: Iowa Cubs

Dustin Riese · Senior Writer · 8 hours ago

The beat goes on for the Cubs Minor League System as another week of competition marches on. Once again, it was the full-season team's duking it out to the tune of a 2-2 record, while the system's overall record was 3-4 when you take into account the Rookie League teams. This is the time when some fans start to pay attention to what is going on, as the trade deadline could impact some of these current prospects.

IOWA CUBS 12 - OMAHA STORM CHASERS 3

When the Cubs offense is clicking, it's a thing of beauty as there aren't too many offenses around that can put up the numbers Iowa does. You're starting to see that right now as the Cubs made quick work of Omaha on Thursday 12-3. Connor Noland was doing what he does best last night as the right-hander allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings but also struck out eight.

He is now 8-3 on the season and continues to do his part every five days. Noland was backed by an offensive onslaught that made pitching so much easier, which is all you can ask for. Both of the runs charged to Noland came in the first when Cam Devanney connected for a two-run shot to put Omaha on top 2-0.

Their lead was short-lived as Iowa answered back with two runs of their own, with homers coming from Owen Caissie and Carlos Perez to make this a 2-2 game.

CAISSIE CRUSHERS ARE BACK!! pic.twitter.com/JPI939A86t
— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) July 4, 2025

From that point on, it was all Iowa, as their bats were alive and well from start to finish. Hayden Cantrelle added the first of two RBI singles in the second, with Greg Allen picking up an RBI single in the third.

Jonathon Long also got in on the fun with a two-run blast in the third as the Cubs opened up a comfortable 6-2 lead. Following the second RBI single from Cantrelle in the fifth, it was the long ball once again paving the way for the Cubs, with Caissie going yard for the second to push the lead to 9-2.

A 2-RUN BLAST FOR OWEN CAISSIE!

HIS SECOND HOMER OF THE GAME! pic.twitter.com/IrkaDZ07aH
— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) July 4, 2025

Caissie wasn't quite finished as he added another RBI on a forceout as part of a three-run sixth, with Christian Franklin tacking on an RBI single and Kevin Alcantara belting another homer as it was all Iowa at this point 12-2. Omaha did manage to put an end to the scoring run in the seventh on the Joey Wiemer grounder, but it wasn't going to be enough in the 12-2 Cubs win.

BIRMINGHAM BARONS 10 - KNOXVILLE SMOKIES 8

In an era where pitching is king, it was the offense that stole the show on Thursday as the Barons and Smokies treated the fans to a high-scoring affair. Unfortunately for Knoxville, they wound up on the wrong end of the decision as the Barons rallied for four runs in the eighth to pick up the come-from-behind win.

This wasn't a great day for Grant Kipp or Nick Hull, as both of them struggled to settle in on the mound. Kipp couldn't make it out of the second inning before getting tagged for three runs, while Hull allowed two more runs in his 2 1/3. All the runs charged to Kipp came in the second inning, with Oscar Colas opening the scoring with a solo shot before the Nelson Rada double made this a 2-0 game. There was a bases-loaded walk mixed in with that as the Barons raced out to a quick 3-0 lead.

Speaking of Colas, he was just getting warmed up as he added his second homer in as many at-bats to push the Barons lead to 4-0. Knoxville needed four innings to break through, with Jordan Nwogu picking up a single, but entering the fifth trailing 5-1, it was time for their offense to come to life as they surged in front with a massive inning.

Pedro Ramirez started the big inning with an RBI forceout, while a BJ Murray Jr walk made this a 5-3 game. Pablo Aliendo kept the line moving with an RBI single that tied things up, only to have Nwogu put the Smokies on top for the first time with a sacrifice fly. By the time Colas came to bat in the fifth, it was shaping up to be a career night as he left the building for the third time in as many at-bats to help bring things back to even 6-6.

That score would hold until the seventh when an error mixed with a Reivaj Garcia sacrifice put the Smokies on top 8-6 with AJ Puckett set to take over. For the most part, Puckett has been one of the Smokies best relievers, but on this night he didn't have his best stuff as the Barons struck for four runs in the eighth to retake the lead for good 10-8.

Once again, it was the long ball that proved to be an issue for the Smokies as Josh Crouch delivered the game-winning three-run shot to put the Barons on top 9-8 with Travis Blankenhorn tacking on a solo shot to close out the scoring.

PEORIA CHIEFS 3 - SOUTH BEND CUBS 2 (F/10)

In what was the complete opposite of what went on in AA, it was the Cubs falling to the Chiefs 3-2 in extras. After a strong start to the second half, the Cubs are starting to come back down to earth, but you did see Brandon Birdsell return to a full-season mound for the first time this season.

Although he lasted only four innings, Birdsell was solid, allowing two runs (1 ER) and striking out five. Evan Aschenbeck took over from there, striking out four in four scoreless frames, only to have Vince Reilly take the loss late. Trailing 1-0 after the Graysen Tarlow RBI single in the second, both of the Cubs runs came in the third as they took a 2-1 lead.

Cristian Hernandez continues to play a role in the Cubs' offensive success this season, as his RBI double tied things up at 1. He would come in to score later in the inning on the Miguel Pabon single as the Cubs were in front 2-1. That was all the Cubs offense could muster off Chen-Wei Lin and the Chiefs as Lin struck out seven in his 4 2/3 innings on the mound.

Almost as quickly as the Cubs grabbed the lead, things were tied again, with Tarlow coming through with a double in the fourth to make this a 2-2 game. That was it for the offense until 10th when Josh Kross connected for the walk-off RBI double in the Cubs 3-2 loss.

MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS 3 - CHARLESTON RIVERDOGS 1

A big reason why the Pelicans are in first place to start the second half has been their massive improvement from the pitching staff. That continued to be the case on Thursday as the Pelicans picked up another win 3-1.

This time, it was Yenrri Rojas getting the win for the Pelicans as he gave the Birds five strong innings of one-run three strikeout baseball to lower his ERA to 2.51. Rojas was backed by a first-inning homer from Owen Ayers to put the Pelicans in front 2-0, which would be all the offense they would need.

The lone run of the night for Charleston came in the third off a wild pitch, to pull within one only to have Eli Lovich tack on an RBI single in the fourth to close out the scoring in what was a 3-1 Birds win.