Cubs prospect Davis named MVP of Futures Game
The Cubs received much better news away from gloomy Wrigley Field on Sunday.
Their top position prospect, outfielder Brennen Davis, swatted 2 home runs and was named MVP of the MLB Futures Game at Coors Field in Denver.
Davis is the third player to hit 2 home runs in the Futures Game, joining former Cub Alfonso Soriano in 1999 and Orioles prospect Yusniel Diaz in 1988. The first home run was a long one, measured at 428 feet to center field. The second one was to left.
"I can't put it into words because I feel like it's still happening," Davis said after the game, according to mlb.com. "And I haven't been able to come down from what just happened, and rounding the bases. I don't know. You should ask me tomorrow."
The 6-foot-4 Davis is an Arizona native and former basketball player. He wore orange cleats Sunday to honor the Phoenix Suns playing in the NBA Finals. He was the Cubs' second-round pick in 2018.
Davis, 21, is currently playing for the Double A Tennessee Smokies. His season got off to a late start because of getting hit by a pitch in the face during spring training. He started out at Single A South Bend and has been improving quickly. He's currently hitting .278 with 4 home runs in Tennessee.
"He's as exciting as everybody else says he is," Cubs scouting director Dan Kantrovitz said this week. "It's been really neat to follow what he's been doing this year."
The Cubs had a second player in the Futures Game, pitcher Manuel Rodriguez, who pitched a scoreless sixth inning with a strikeout and walk.
The White Sox' representative was Yoelqui Cespedes, who served as the AL designated hitter and went 0-for-2.
Cary-Grove High School grad Quinn Priester threw ⅔ of a scoreless inning and struck out Cespedes. Priester was a first-round pick of the Pirates in 2019.
Steele start goes well:
Justin Steele's start for the Iowa Cubs went well Sunday. The left-hander went 3⅔ innings, allowing no hits and no runs, with 2 walks and 5 strikeouts. Steele has been a starter in the minors, but pitched well in the bullpen for the Cubs earlier this season, so this was his first start since 2019.
Iowa actually pitched a combined, 7-inning no-hitter against St. Paul, with Steele, Scott Effross and Dillon Maples handling the mound duties.
"Steele is explosive," said Iowa pitching coach Ron Villone told the Des Moines Register. "His stuff is getting better. It's good to see him maintain it until the fourth inning."
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