Cubs Minor League Wrap: Pelicans move to 4-0

SURPRISE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 23: Ty Southisene #17 of the Chicago Cubs warms up during the sixth inning of a Spring Training game against the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium on February 23, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cubs signed right-hander Tyler Beede and assigned him to Iowa. If you’re confused and thought the Cubs signed Beede over the winter, they did. They also released him two weeks ago and re-signed him today.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs got blown over by the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), 8-1.

Iowa starter Connor Noland gave up two-run home runs in the second and fifth innings and ended up with the loss. His final line was five runs on just three hits over 4.1 innings. Noland walked three, hit one batter and struck out just one.

The only Iowa run of the game came on a home run by right fielder Kevin Alcántara. It was the third-straight game that Alcántara homered in and was his fifth over just nine games to start the season.

Alcántara went 1 for 2 with a walk.

Iowa had only three hits tonight and first baseman Jonathon Long had the other two. He was 2 for 4.

Here’s the Alcántara home run.

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies trashed the Rocket City Trash Pandas (Angels), 14-6.

Jake Knapp pitched the first four innings and gave up four runs on five hits. He struck out four and walked one.

Nick Dean threw the next 2.2 innings and got the win because Knapp didn’t go five. Dean surrendered one run on four hits. He struck out four and walked one.

First baseman Edgar Alvarez put the Smokies on top 2-1 in the bottom of the first with a two-run home run. Alvarez finished 1 for 2 with three walks. He scored twice.

After Knapp gave up the lead a two-run home run in the top of the second, Knoxville struck back with an eight-run bottom of the second inning. Karson Simas started the party with a three-run home run. Simas went 3 for 4 with a triple and the home run. He scored twice. It was his second home run this year.

Shortstop Jefferson Rojas singled in another run in the second to make it 6-3 Knoxville. But his big blow was a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning, also his second on the season. Rojas finished 2 for 5 with four total RBI. He scored twice.

Left fielder Jordan Nwogu hit a two-run double in the second. Nwogu went 1 for 5 with a run scored.

Carter Trice was 2 for 4 with a bases-loaded walk in the second inning. He scored once.

Seiya Suzuki played seven innings in right field and went 3 for 5 with two doubles. He scored three times.

Every batter in the starting lineup had at least one hit.

Here’s the home run by Rojas. [VIDEO]

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Suzuki’s three hits.

South Bend Cubs

The good news is that South Bend finally got to play a game tonight. The bad news is that South Bend was blasted by the Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals), 10-1.

Koen Moreno started, but he didn’t make it out of the first inning. Moreno was hammered for seven runs on five hits and two walks over two-thirds of an inning. One of the hits was a three-run home run by Anyelo Encarnacion.

Center fielder Kane Kepley went 2 for 4 with a double that led off the game. He scored South Bend’s only run on a single in the first by catcher Owen Ayers. Ayers also went 2 for 4.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans captured the Columbia Fireflies (Royals), 5-1. The Pelicans are now 4-0 to start the year.

Victor Zarraga started and allowed a solo home run in the second inning but nothing else crossed the plate. Zarraga allowed one run on five hits over three innings. He walked one and struck out one.

Mason McGwire threw the next two innings and got the win. McGwire gave up no runs and just one hit. He struck out three and walked three. Still too many walks, but that’s probably the best outing of McGwire’s career.

Riely Hunsaker, whom the Cubs took in the 16th round out of Lamar last year, was strong in his professional debut. Hunsaker went three innings and allowed just one hit and no runs. He struck out five and walked only one.

The Pelicans scored five runs on just five hits. But five walks and three hit batsmen helped their cause. So did three sacrifice flies.

Left fielder Eli Lovich went 2 for 3 with an RBI single in the fourth inning. Lovich also walked once and scored twice.

Shortstop Ty Southisene was 2 for 5 with a stolen base. He scored one run and drove in one.