Each week, CSNChicago.com goes down on the farm for a minor-league report from both the Cubs and White Sox system, presented by Service King.
CUBS
Last week, Willson Contreras and Albert Almora were making headlines for the Cubs' system due to their excellent starts with Triple-A Iowa. In this past week, their feet haven't left the gas pedal.
Almora has a hot hand riding a nine-game hitting streak. Over the course of those games, Almora has a .341 batting average with five RBIs, nine runs, and 19 total bases. His average has also improved from .310 to .328.
Contreras' bat continues to be a factor. The catcher is batting .347 with a .939 OPS through his first 27 games with Iowa. He has at least one hit in seven of his last eight games. The Cubs, however, are in no rush to promote Contreras, who turns 24 on Friday. Theo Epstein calls Triple-A "the perfect place" for Contreras at the moment and hopes he can improve his receiving game behind the plate.
Daniel Vogelbach is on a tear in Iowa as well. The first baseman leads the club in home runs (6), RBIs (27), slugging percentage (.567), and OPS (1.005). His .346 batting average is currently the team's best with Ryan Kalish in the big leagues.
On Thursday, Vogelbach went 2-for-3 with a solo shot and two RBIs. Vogelbach also hit the distance twice and drove in four on Monday.
MLB
Vogelbach appears to be ready for a promotion, but due to the Cubs' deep depth on the main roster — and Anthony Rizzo as the everyday starter at first, there's no room for an addition.
WHITE SOX
White Sox top prospect Tim Anderson got the season off to a subpar start, but his bat is starting to come alive.
The Charlotte Knights wrapped up a five-game series with the Norfolk Tides on Thursday, and Anderson went 12-for-22 with a homer and three RBIs. In those five games, the 22-year-old improved his average from .222 to .277.
Danny Hayes has been arguably the best story in Triple-A Charlotte so far.
Hayes went hitless in the first seven games of the season. But since then, he's been on fire, improving his batting average to .312.
On Monday, the 25-year-old first baseman and designated hitter went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs.
Hayes is second on the team in slugging percentage (.558) and OPS (.970), behind catcher Kevan Smith.