​In Houston, Texas on March 9, 2026, BJ Murray of Team Great Britain belted a double in the fourth inning against Team Brazil at Daikin Park during a World Baseball Classic Pool B game, captured in a photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images. The Cubs released outfielder Chas McCormick as news contrasted with minor league action. The Iowa Cubs defeated the Toledo Mud Hens 5-4, marking manager Marty Pevey’s 1,500th win. Ty Blach earned the win, delivering five innings of three runs on six hits, with four walks and six strikeouts. Luis Peralta recorded the save in the ninth, yielding a solo homer to the first batter faced, then hit a batter with one out before retiring the final two hitters to seal it, finishing with two strikeouts. BJ Murray nearly completed the cycle, finishing 3-for-4 with a walk, a triple, and a solo homer in the fourth for his 11th long ball of the season, driving in two and scoring twice. Left fielder Brett Bateman went 2-for-4 with a walk and a steal, adding an insurance run in the top of the ninth with an RBI single. Center fielder James Triantos reached base twice, going 2-for-4 with an RBI single in the sixth. Murray’s homer helped boost his league-leading .336 batting average and second-ranked .433 on-base percentage, while he sat seventh in slugging. Social posts highlighted Murray’s homer and Triantos’ go-ahead hit, with Bateman’s insurance RBI contributing to the narrative of a timely I-Cubs victory.
In Knoxville, the Smokies were defeated by the Columbus Clingstones (Braves), 9-1. Starter Dawson Netz allowed two runs on four hits over five innings to take the loss, with four strikeouts and no walks. First baseman Ariel Armas tripled in a run with one out in the bottom of the ninth to break the shutout, finishing 1-for-4. Catcher Owen Ayers went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk. In South Bend, the Cubs fell behind 1-0 after one inning when rain suspended the game; it will resume the following day, with Jaxon Wiggins making a rehab appearance in the first inning. In Myrtle Beach, the Pelicans beat the Hickory Crawdads (Astros) 4-2. Starter Daniel Avita pitched five scoreless innings on four hits, with four strikeouts, one walk, and one hit batsman for the win. Hayden Frank followed with three innings, allowing one run on one hit and one walk while striking out five. Sam Mettert earned the save in the ninth, surrendering one run on one hit and one walk without a strikeout. Three Pelicans runs came on a home run by center fielder Ale, among a trio of scoring plays that fueled the victory.