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19 hours ago
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Your week with the Knoxville Smokies: June 24, 2025
Around the Horn with the Cubs Organization CHICAGO CUBS (MLB): The Chicago Cubs are holding firm atop the National League Central with a 46-31 record. They concluded a home series June 22 with a 14-6 loss to the Seattle Mariners after winning the first two games in the series. The Cubs will travel to St. Louis to begin a three-game series against the Cardinals beginning June 23. Advertisement Note: Standings reset for all minor league affiliates at the conclusion of last week's series. IOWA CUBS (Triple-A affiliate in Des Moines): The Iowa Cubs are coming off a series loss on the road against the Nashville Sounds this week (two wins, four losses). Cubs pitcher Shōta Imanaga made a successful rehab start this week. Imanaga threw 4 1/3 shutout innings June 20, striking out eight and walking two while allowing just two hits and no runs. The Cubs expect Imanaga back in their lineup this week. SOUTH BEND CUBS (High-A affiliate in South Bend, Indiana): The South Bend Cubs are coming off a series loss to the Lake County Captains (three losses, two wins). On June 22, the Cubs' No. 10 prospect, Cristian Hernandez, hit a two-run homer. It was his first since April 23, showing positive signs for the young player. MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS (Single-A affiliate in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina): The Pelicans won their recent series four games to two, including a walk-off, extra-innings victory June 21. Knoxville Smokies' last series The Knoxville Smokies concluded the first half of their season with a record of 32-36, placing them third in the Southern League North Division. They showed flashes of strong play, highlighted by a recent combined no-hitter against the Columbus Clingstones on June 14 from pitchers Jaxon Wiggins, Sam Armstrong and A.J. Puckett. The Smokies went an even 6-6 on the road the last two weeks. Advertisement The minor league baseball season is divided into two halves. This split-season format is designed to provide more opportunities for teams to contend for a playoff spot. The winner of the first half automatically qualifies for the postseason. The Chattanooga Lookouts finished atop the Southern League standings June 22, with the Smokies in third place. If a team wins both halves, the next best overall record in the division for the second half will earn the second playoff spot. This system allows for player development and promotions to happen without derailing a team's postseason aspirations. Southern League North Standings as of June 21, 2025: Chattanooga Lookouts: 38-28 (.576) Birmingham Barons: 38-31 (.551), 1.5 GB Knoxville Smokies: 32-36 (.471), 7 GB Rocket City Trash Pandas: 24-44 (.353), 15 GB Smokies returning to Covenant Health Park The Smokies return home to Covenant Health Park this week to host the Birmingham Barons for a six-game series June 24-29. Aside from a 2 p.m. start June 29, all games will begin at 7 p.m. Advertisement Knox News reporter Gabriel Jackson covers the Knoxville Smokies and One Knox SC. Email: This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Your week with the Knoxville Smokies: June 24, 2025
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20-05-2025
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This Chicago Cubs prospect is starting to reach his full potential in South Bend
SOUTH BEND ― Blink, and you might miss Cristian Hernandez. One of the fastest players in the Chicago Cubs farm system, Hernandez had 15 steals for the High-A South Bend Cubs going into action Friday, May 16. He had only been caught stealing twice. Advertisement His elite speed is what makes him one of the top prospects in Chicago's entire minor league system. 'Since I was young, I knew I was really fast,' said Hernandez, speaking through an interpreter and South Bend Cubs development coach Collin Andrews. 'After I started playing professional baseball, I realized, 'I'm fast, but if I improve, I can steal some bases.'' More: Highly touted Chicago Cubs prospect is back in South Bend. Here's why More: Thirteen months and five brain surgeries later, Mark Haley returns home to South Bend Cubs Baseball has been an integral part of Hernandez's life. Growing up in the Dominican Republic, he and his older brother, Alexis, spent countless hours playing together, each honing their craft. Advertisement By the time Hernandez became a teenager, more and more people started noticing the talent he possessed. 'As time went on, I saw the results of my own talent,' Hernandez said. 'There were some agents and coaches that saw what they wanted and recruited me to go to their academies in the Dominican.' In Jan. 2021, Hernandez decided to turn pro. At just 17 years old, he signed a $3 million deal with the Chicago Cubs organization. His overall skill and body build earned him some lofty comparisons to the likes of Alex Rodriguez and Manny Machado, among others. After a combined 91 games played in 2021 and 2022 for the Cubs' Arizona Complex League, Hernandez was promoted to Single-A Myrtle Beach for 2023. The numbers were far from stellar: a .223 batting average with an on-base percentage (.302) better than the slugging percentage (.301), which is rare, and 118 strikeouts. Advertisement It was the first time Hernandez played more than 100 games in a season. 'The biggest thing was the long season because you don't really play a long season until you play professional baseball,' Hernandez said. 'During (2023), that's when I understood I had to be more consistent.' Hernandez found that consistency in 2024. He was named to the Single-A All-Star team as his batting average rose by nearly 40 points, his on-base percentage 72 points and his slugging 80 points. He hit 27 doubles and drove in 55 runs in 118 games combined with Myrtle Beach and South Bend. Hernandez also recorded 44 stolen bases. 'I knew I had the talent, but from every single side of the ball ― defense, running and hitting ― it was about being consistent every day,' Hernandez said. South Bend Cubs infielder Cristian Hernandez, right, celebrates sliding safely into second base during a Minor League Baseball game between the South Bend Cubs and the Peoria Chiefs at Four Winds Field on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in South Bend. That consistency has carried over to this year. Along with his 15 steals ― third amongst Midwest League players going into May 16 action ― Hernandez is batting .283 with a .346 slugging, .428 on-base and .774 OPS. He already has 12 doubles and a team-high 39 hits. Advertisement He's ranked as the No. 11 prospect in the entire Cubs organization, second-best amongst South Bend players behind Jefferson Rojas (No. 6). 'Whatever my goals are today, in my mind, I want to get it better the next day,' Hernandez said. 'If I stole three bases yesterday, I want to steal four tomorrow.' From February: Topping out ceremony marks halfway point for stadium expansion Hernandez has primarily played shortstop this year, which is his preferred position ― although he admitted he'll play anywhere if it helps him make it to MLB, even the outfield. South Bend has struggled as a team in 2025 so far, carrying a 9-27 record into this past weekend. Despite being last in the Midwest League, Hernandez has tried to keep an upbeat attitude. Advertisement 'My number one goal is to give support, no matter if the team is winning or losing,' Hernandez said. 'Aside from that, I have to stick to my routine. I want to help my team win, even if we don't end up winning.' Follow Austin Hough on X (formerly Twitter) @AustinRHough and on Facebook at "Austin Hough - South Bend Tribune." Hough can be emailed at ahough@ This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Cristian Hernandez keeps ascending amongst Chicago Cubs prospects
