Cubs Minor League News: Rookie League Monday

Patrick Gorski - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - Tuesday, June 03 2025

For the first time this season, all three of the Cubs' rookie league teams were in action on Monday as the 2025 Dominican Summer League (DSL) season got underway. While many fans tend to overlook the DSL due to the young age of some of these players, this is an essential part of a player's development, as it marks the first step in their professional career.

With that said, the Cubs are hoping some of their Rookie League luck will change, as the ACL Cubs have struggled this season. One day into the full slate, the Cubs posted a 2-1 record, which is all you can ask for this time of year.

DSL CUBS BLUE 3 - DSL PIRATES 2

One thing you will notice about both the DSL and the ACL is that not all games go a full nine innings. This was one of those instances as the Cubs took care of the Pirates in seven innings for their first win of 2025. All three of the Cubs' runs came in the fifth in what was otherwise a strong pitching performance.

Erick Hernandez got the start for the Cubs, going three innings and striking out four. He did allow one run, which came on a third-inning Jayden Kim sacrifice fly as the Pirates opened up a 1-0 lead. It looked as if that lead was going to hold, as Keuri Almonte was about as good as you possibly can be, walking one and striking out eight across four shutout innings.

Once he exited the game, it was the Cubs' offense that began to take off, scoring three times in the fifth to take the lead. Jose Carillo opened the scoring with an RBI single to make things 2-1, but it was the Luis Sanchez RBI triple that proved to be the game-winning hi,t as it was the Cubs coming away with a 3-2 win.

DSL MARINERS 9 - DSL CUBS RED 1

Things weren't as promising for the DSL Red squad as they fell behind early in what was a 9-1 loss to the Mariners. Luis Ghisays didn't pitch badly as he allowed three runs (2ER) in four innings with three strikeouts. The problem was that Cristian Aray was that much better, as he also pitched four innings and did so without allowing a run on just one hit.

All it took for the Mariners to grab the lead was Leandro Romero's first-inning double, which not only put Seattle in front 2-0 but also proved to be the game-winning hit. They would add to their lead on a fourth inning double from Manuel De Cesare to make things 3-0 before the Cubs tried to battle back, as a fifth inning error led to the Cubs' first and only run.

From that point on, it was all Mariners as they scored six runs over the next two innings, including five runs in the sixth to break the game open 8-1. Kendry Martinez got the scoring started with a two-run single, while a passed ball gave the Mariners a 6-1 lead. Then came the Dawel Joseph homer, which not only capped off the massive inning but also made this an 8-1 Mariners lead.

They would go on to add one more run in the seventh to close out the scoring in what was a 9-1 win. The Cubs had three hits in the loss as Juan Cabada, Ivan Cespedes, and Wilfri De La Cruz all had a hit in the loss.

ACL CUBS 6 - ACL DIAMONDBACKS 5 (f/10)

Don't look now, but the Cubs are on a streak as they have now won three straight. Their most recent victory came on Monday night, and it came after blowing a big early lead as the Cubs had to battle back for the 6-5 extra-inning win.

There is no question that Anhuar Garcia has emerged as the Ace of the ACL staff, and after allowing two runs in 5 1/3, his strong run continued. Garcia walked one and struck out a season high seven as he is dialed in on the mound. After falling behind 1-0 on a first-inning double from Enyervert Perez, it was the Cubs who backed Garcia with plenty of support as they broke out for four runs in the second to take a 4-1 lead.

Felix Stevens was responsible for the first of those runs as he kicked off his rehab in a big way by connecting for a solo shot. The Cubs also benefited from the first of several Diamondback errors, leading to two runs with a bases-loaded hit by pitch to Derek Alcantara, making this a 4-1 game.

Already with one homer to his name, Stevens made it two homers as he went deep for the second time in the fifth and pushed the Cubs' lead back to 5-2 after the Diamondbacks pulled within two in the fourth. Still holding that lead in the seventh, the Diamondbacks began their comeback effort as an RBI triple from Adrian Del Castillo made this a 5-3 game with a balk pulling the Diamondbacks within 5-4.

Then came the ninth, where the Diamondbacks' comeback effort was complete as another RBI hit from Perez brought things back to even and helped send this one into extras. In the extra frame, it was the Cubs who would get the last laugh as Ronny Cruz came through with his biggest hit of the season and delivered a walk-off single to lift the Cubs to the 6-5 win. Cruz and Stevens paced the Cubs with two hits and were responsible for three of the four RBIs in the win.