Plunked but productive: hot Kepley bringing his brand of grit to Cubs system

The first pitch Kane Kepley saw in professional baseball didn’t miss — it hit him. Even before that, he was already in a hole. Stepping into the batter’s box on Aug. 5 for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the Chicago Cubs’ Low-A Carolina League affiliate, the plate umpire flagged the rookie center fielder with a pitch-clock violation before he’d even seen a pitch.

Busch flourishing, Gallen struggling while several, including Pence, doing well in minors

The seasons for the three former North Carolina players currently in the major leagues have been a mixed bag, including impressive play from Chicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch and struggles for Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen. The most impressive of the 26 Tar Heels in the minor leagues have been pitchers Cooper Criswell, Dalton Pence and Austin Love, as well as first basemen Aaron Sabato and Parks Harber.