Cubs Activate Josh Fleming, Iowa Trample Saints 21-7

Transaction News

The Chicago Cubs bolstered their Triple‑A roster by signing left‑hander Josh Fleming and immediately assigning him to the Iowa Cubs. In a related move, Iowa right‑hander Andrew Wantz was placed on the development list, opening a spot for Fleming’s debut. The swap signals the Cubs’ intent to add depth to their starting rotation while giving Wantz extra development time. It also gives Iowa a seasoned left‑hander who can contribute to the bullpen or rotation as needed.

Iowa Cubs’ Offensive Explosion

Iowa crushed the St. Paul Saints 21–7, launching a inning‑by‑inning barrage that left little doubt about their offensive potency. Josh Fleming opened the game with a solid four‑inning effort, yielding two runs on four hits while walking and striking out twice each. Corbin Martin closed the inning, earning the win after the first batter greeted him with a solo home run before he retired the next three batters.

Hitting was the story of the night, with multiple players stepping up. Christian Bethancourt catalogued two home runs, including a three‑run blast in the eighth off a position player, and now sits at 11 long balls for the season; he went 3‑for‑5 with a double, three RBIs and three runs. Scott Kingery joined Bethancourt on the leaderboard with a back‑to‑back shot, his third HR of the year, but finished 1‑for‑6.

The club’s middle order shone as well: Jonathan Long authored a 5‑for‑5 performance, adding two doubles, a walk and his tenth homer (empty bases in the sixth) while driving in two and scoring five. Long’s July average sits at .382 after eight games. Brett Bateman went 3‑for‑6 with a double, a steal, three runs and an RBI. The middle infielders followed suit: BJ Murray collected 3‑for‑5, a walk, three runs and three RBIs, keeping his season average at .334 with a .429 OBP; James Triantos added 3‑for‑5, a double, a walk, two RBIs and one run; Owen Miller doubled twice, paced a 2‑for‑5 day with three RBIs and two runs. Catcher Moisés Ballesteros contributed 2‑for‑5, a double, a walk, four RBIs and two runs, while Chas McCormick rounded out the lineup 2‑for‑6 with a single run. Notable flashes included a quick 3‑6‑3 double play, Long’s extra‑base hit and Bateman’s lefty‑targeted double; BJ Murray just missed a home run attempt.

Other Cubs Affiliates

Knoxville slipped to an 11–2 defeat at the hands of the Biloxi Shuckers, who took advantage of a shaky stretch by right‑hander Yenrri Rojas. Nick Dean started strong, allowing zero runs in 1.1 innings with two strikeouts. Kenyi Perez added 2.2 innings of shutdown ball, but Rojas faltered after the fifth, surrendering four runs on a single hit over 1.2 frames with four walks and four strikeouts. Three of those runs arrived after Tyler Schlaffer replaced Rojas, who gave up a grand slam to top prospect Jesús Made. The Smokies managed only four hits; Ed Howard paced the offense 2‑for‑3, including a solo homer in the eighth that marked his second long ball of the year.

South Bend rolled to a 9–1 victory over Cedar Rapids, showcasing a balanced attack and solid pitching. Kevin Valdez delivered four strong innings, yielding one run on two hits while striking out three and walking one; he was followed by Luis Rujano, who retired all six batters he faced and secured the win. The batting line featured Matt Halbach 3‑for‑5 with a stolen base, one run and an RBI; Michael Hallquist added 2‑for‑4, a double, a walk, two runs and one RBI; Miguel Useche went 2‑for‑4 and was hit by a pitch, scoring once. Shortstop Angel Cepeda displayed strong arm action throughout the game.

Myrtle Beach fell 6–3 to the Fredericksburg Nationals in a relatively close contest. Starter Emilio Ramos lasted three innings, allowing one run on three hits, walking two and striking out three, but still took the loss. The Pelicans offense centered on Derniche Valdez, who collected 2‑for‑4, a double, two runs and an RBI, while Ludwing Espinoza returned from an April hiatus with a 3‑for‑5 day. Eli Lovich contributed 2‑for‑3, an RBI double and a walk; left‑fielder Ethan Conrad debuted for Myrtle Beach 0‑for‑5 with two strikeouts, a far better start than Kris Bryant’s Boise debut.

Arizona League Cubs closed out the day with a 3–2 loss to the Angels, keeping the winless streak alive. The game highlighted the depth of Chicago’s farm system, with each affiliate posting distinct results ranging from dominant wins to narrow defeats.

Looking Ahead

The addition of Josh Fleming adds immediate rotational depth for the Cubs, especially as he transitions from a years‑long minor‑league career to Triple‑A responsibilities. Iowa’s high‑octane offense suggests they can sustain runs while waiting for pitching to catch up after the recent bullpen tweaks. Wantz’s move to the development list frees a roster spot, though it also signals the Cubs are comfortable with Fleming’s potential as a starter or reliever. Going forward, fans can expect more transactional movement as the organization fine‑tunes its hierarchy across the five affiliate levels and the Arizona complex team.