NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Tennessee Smokies

Smokies Announce Roster Moves

July 21, 2015 - Southern League (SL1)
Tennessee Smokies News Release


KODAK - The Chicago Cubs announced a series of transactions that impacts their Double-A affiliate Tennessee Smokies roster prior to this evening's doubleheader against the Birmingham Barons at Smokies Stadium.

A trio of players have been transferred from High-A Myrtle Beach to Tennessee, including infielder Jeimer Candelario, who was rated by Baseball America as the No. 24 prospect in the Cubs system prior to this season, in addition to infielder Jacob Rogers and right-handed reliever Juan Paniagua. Rogers at the time of his promotion ranks second in the Carolina League in RBI and tied for second in home runs, while Paniagua is among the circuit's top five relief pitchers in several categories.

Candelario was named to the Carolina League's Midseason All-Star team this year, and has posted a .270 average (86-318) with 42 runs, 25 doubles, three triples, five homers and 39 RBI in 82 contests with the Pelicans. At the time of his promotion, the switch-hitting Dominican Republic native was pacing Myrtle Beach in several offensive categories, including doubles and total bases, while also ranking second on the club in runs scored and hits. The 21-year-old was signed by the Cubs as a non-drafted free agent on September 29, 2010, and resides in San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic.

Rogers is currently second in the Carolina League in RBI (61), tied for second in home runs (11) and third in walks (48) at the time of his promotion, and has compiled a .257 clip (81-315) with 39 runs and 17 doubles, along with those 11 longballs and 61 RBI, and a .359 on-base percentage in 90 games with the Pelicans. The 11 big flies also rank the left-handed slugger tied for third among all Cubs farmhands in 2015. The 24-year-old was selected by the Cubs in the 40th round of the 2012 MLB Draft out of Mount Olive College in North Carolina after receiving second team All-American honors from the American Baseball Coahes Association and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

Paniagua excelled in the Pelicans' bullpen this season, recording a 3-2 mark and 2.58 ERA (11 ER in 38.1 IP) in 20 appearances, adding 35 strikeouts and a 0.94 WHIP, while opponents managed just a .182 batting average against. The right-hander at the time of his promotion leads all Carolina League relievers in batting average against, in addition to owning the second-lowest walk per nine inning ratio (2.58) and fifth-best strikeouts per nine inning ratio (8.22) in that company. The 25-year-old was signed by the Cubs as a non-drafted free agent on July 19, 2012 and resides in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.

Right-handed pitcher Andres Santiago has also been activated from the Temporary Inactive List after representing Team Puerto Rico in the Pan American Games in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Santiago started the Bronze Medal game in the tournament against Team Cuba, yielding three earned runs in six innings, adding seven strikeouts in a no-decision as Cuba came out victorious 7-6 in the contest. In 16 outings, including two starts, for Tennessee, the 26-year-old owns a 1-3 record with one save and a 4.42 ERA (18 ER in 36.2 IP), and was signed by the Cubs as a minor league free agent on January 16, 2015.

In addition, left-handed hurler Jeffry Antigua has been transferred To Triple-A Iowa. The 25-year-old has combined for a 3-3 record and 3.55 ERA (20 ER in 50.2 IP) in 12 games, including eight starts, over several stints with Tennessee this year. Over eight outings, including five starts with Iowa in 2015, Antigua has posted a 1-1 record and 3.45 ERA (12 ER in 31.1 IP), adding 15 strikeouts while opponents have compiled a .204 batting average against the southpaw. The lefty was signed as a non-drafted free agent on October 5, 2006, and resides in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.

The Cubs have also announced infielder Sutton Whiting has been transferred to Single-A Eugene. The Kentucky native made a strong first impression at the Double-A level, posting a .438 average (7-16) in eight games wth the Smokies, adding three runs, one triple and an RBI, his first run driven in of his pro career, along with seven walks and a .609 on-base percentage. The 23-year-old was drafted by the Cubs earlier this year by the Cubs in the 24th round out of the University of Louisville, and has combined for a .314 clip (11-35) along with seven runs, two extra-base hits, one RBI, eight walks and a .455 on-base percentage in 14 contests.

Infielder Varonex Cuevas has also been transferred to the Rookie Level Mesa Cubs. Over seven games with the Smokies, the 22-year-old batted .240 (6-25), adding one double and an RBI, which included a two-hit game on July 17 at Montgomery. The Dominican Republic native has played at three different levels this season, combining for a .228 average (13-57), along with three runs, two doubles and four RBI. Cuevas was signed by the Cubs as a non-drafted free agent on May 10, 2011.

Tennessee's roster now stands at 25 active players, in addition to four players on the Disabled List , and a revised roster is attached.

The Smokies are set to face off against the Birmingham Barons in a doubleheader this evening, with game one scheduled to begin at 5:35 p.m. Tennessee is anticipated to give the nod to RHP Felix Pena (5-6, 4.17), who ranks fifth in the league in strikeouts, in game one, while Birmingham is slated to counter with the Southern League leader in wins in RHP Myles Jaye (9-3, 2.28). RHP Ivan Pineyro (5-5, 4.15) is expected to toe the rubber for the Smokies in game two, while the Barons are set to send RHP Tyler Danish (7-5, 4.30) to the hill.

Both games are scheduled to last seven innings, with game two beginning approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first contest. Tickets for tonight's originally scheduled matchup will be good for both tilts, with gates opening at 4:30 p.m.

Tickets for tonight and all remaining home contests at Smokies Stadium are on sale and can be purchased online at smokiesbaseball.com, or by calling the Smokies Ticket Office at 865-286-2300.

Check out the Tennessee Smokies Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Southern League message board...

Southern League Stories from July 21, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central