Owen Ayers & Jace Beck Earn Southern League Honors; Cubs System Rises

The Southern League shone a spotlight on two Smokies stars this week, recognizing Owen Ayers as Player of the Month and Jace Beck as Pitcher of the Month. Ayers dominated the June slate, posting a .451 batting average with a .554 OBP and .824 slugging, adding 13 doubles and seven home runs. His season‑high production placed him atop the league in average, hits, doubles, home runs, walks, total bases, OBP and SLUG, while he also scored 23 runs and drove in 21 RBIs.

Jace Beck turned in a stingy performance across five outings, logging a 0.47 ERA while striking out 36 batters in 19 innings. The right‑hander allowed just nine hits and kept the walk total to nine, sealing a historic month for Smokies pitching. His 2‑0 record and sub‑1‑run mark earned him the coveted monthly award.

In a related move, left‑handed prospect Pierce Coppola jumped up to High‑A South Bend from Low‑A Myrtle Beach, signaling the Cubs’ confidence in his development. The promotion came as the organization’s farm system climbed into the top‑16 when Baseball America released its midseason rankings, moving the Cubs up six spots from their preseason position of 22nd.

Owen Ayers Highlights

The Iowa Cubs, however, saw a rough night against the St. Paul Saints, falling 7‑4. Righty Jordan Wicks absorbed the loss after three frames, surrendering six earned runs on six hits while walking four and plunking a batter. Paul Campbell and Jayden Murray provided stable relief, each delivering three scoreless innings.

Despite the defeat, the Cubs found bright spots in the line‑up. Left‑fielder B.J. Murray launched a two‑run homer in the ninth—his 12th of the season—sending the ball 416 feet. Right‑fielder Brett Bateman went 4‑for‑4 with a walk and scored twice, while catcher Moisés Ballesteros doubled twice and added a run.

Third baseman Jonathon Long bolted an RBI double, and catcher Moisés Ballesteros collected two hits, a double and a run. Their collective efforts kept the series competitive even as the loss mounted.

Knoxville Smokies Dominate Biloxi

Up in Knoxville, the Smokies shelled the Biloxi Shuckers 9‑4 on a balanced offensive night. Starter Connor Schultz earned the win, allowing three runs on five hits across five innings while striking out six and walking none. Relief ace Tyler Ras closed the game with a perfect two‑inning frame, securing the save.

Jefferson Rojas paced the attack with a solo home run—his 14th of the year—and added a double, a walk, a stolen base and two runs. Right‑fielder Alex Ramírez launched a three‑run shot for his tenth long ball and later stole home during a double‑steal play, showcasing his speed.

Second‑baseman Drew Bowser delivered an RBI single and scored on Ramírez’s blast, finishing 2‑for‑4. Carter Trice added a double and a steal, plating a run as the Smokies built a decisive lead.

South Bend Cubs Pull Through in Ten Innings

South Bend edged the Cedar Rapids Kernels 7‑5 in a tense ten‑inning duel. Mason McGwire opened strong, limiting Cedar Rapids to one run on three hits over four innings while striking out three. Adam Stone turned in a scoreless eighth and ninth, earning the win with two whiffs.

Grayson Moore sealed the victory in the tenth, retired the side in order and recorded the save. First‑baseman Josiah Hartshorn punctuated the frame with a solo home run—his 15th overall and tenth with South Bend—adding two runs and two RBIs. Jose Escobar stayed hot with a 2‑for‑6 performance that included a double and a run.

Third‑baseman Matt Halbach contributed a double and a walk, plating one run, while Miguel Useche added an RBI. The late‑inning heroics turned a one‑run deficit into a thrilling comeback.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans Seal Walk‑Off Slam

The Pelicans rode a walk‑off grand slam from Derniche Valdez to beat the Fredericksburg Nationals 11‑9 in ten innings. Valdez’s blast in the bottom of the tenth—his sixth home run of the season—sparked a celebration among the home crowd and earned him 4‑for‑6 honors with five RBIs, two steals and two runs.

Right‑hander Edwardo Melendez earned the win after a shaky stretch, allowing two runs on four hits over three innings with three strikeouts. He came on after David Bracho’s early trouble, who surrendered five runs on three hits in 3.1 innings and walked three.

Second‑baseman Alexis Hernández added a 3‑for‑6 night with a double and a steal, scoring once. Right‑fielder Eli Lovich drove in three with a triple, a walk, a hit by pitch and a sacrifice fly, scoring two runs.

Catcher Jose Silva recorded his first Pelicans home run, a solo shot, and added two walks in a 1‑for‑3 outing.

ACL Cubs Beat Angels

The ACL Cubs closed out the week with a 10‑2 victory over the Angels in the eighth inning. Ethan Conrad opened the batting, going 2‑for‑3 from right field. Relief pitcher Kohl Franklin made a successful season debut, pitching four scoreless frames as he returned from Tommy John surgery and a 2024 recovery setback.

The win highlights the Cubs’ growing depth across the minors, underscored by the July promotions and awards.