Cubs name their Minor League Players of the Month |
CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs have named Single-A Myrtle Beach infielder David Bote and right-handed pitcher Trevor Clifton the organization’s minor league player and pitcher of the month for August, respectively.
Bote, 23, hit .367 (40-for-109) with 12 doubles, two triples, one homer, 22 runs scored and 16 RBI in 26 August contests. He drew 13 walks, contributing to a .439 OBP, and posted an OPS of .980. He led all Cubs minor leaguers in average and runs scored during the month, while his 15 extra-base hits were tied for the most. Bote reached base in 25 of 26 games during the month, including the final 23 contests. Bote batted .328 (106-for-323) with 26 doubles, three triples, seven homers and 60 runs scored in 91 games between Triple-A Iowa, Double-A Tennessee and Myrtle Beach this season. He spent the majority of the season with the Pelicans where he batted .337 (93-for-276) in 72 games. Myrtle Beach opens a best-of-three playoff series against Salem on Wednesday. Bote was selected by the Cubs in the 18th round of the 2012 Draft out of Neosho County Community College in Chanute, Kansas and is in his fifth professional season. The right-handed batter has a career .258 average (358-for-1,385) in 416 games spanning all levels of the Cubs organization. Clifton, 21, went 2-0 with a 0.85 ERA (3 ER/31.2 IP) in five August starts with Myrtle Beach, striking out 34 batters while walking just five. He did not allow an earned run in four of his five starts, including scoreless performances in his last two outings August 23 at Carolina (6.2 IP) and August 30 vs. Lynchburg (6.0 IP). He struck out a season-high tying 10 batters August 23 at Carolina. Clifton spent the entire season with Myrtle Beach, going 7-7 with a 2.72 ERA (36 ER/119.0 IP) in 23 starts. He struck out an organizational-best 129 batters, while walking just 41, and held opponents to a .225 average. He was named Carolina League Pitcher of the Year and a post-season All-Star after leading the league in ERA and WHIP (1.16). Clifton also won the Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Month award in May. Clifton was selected by the Cubs in the 12th round of the 2013 Draft out of Heritage High School in Maryville, Tennessee and is in his fourth professional season. He has posted a career record of 19-19 with a 3.52 ERA (117 ER/299.0 IP) in 67 minor league games, all but eight as a starter.
