Cubs prospect Owen Ayers has a sixth sense for hits, RBIs in Double-A doubleheader
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For some, a doubleheader means twice the work. For Owen Ayers, it meant twice the opportunity to wreak havoc.
Fresh off being named to the latest Pipeline Team of the Week at catcher, the Cubs' No. 9 prospect laid the groundwork for a second straight nod. He polished off a six-hit, six-RBI day for Double-A Knoxville, which split Wednesday's doubleheader with Montgomery at DABOS Park.
Ayers did a majority of his handiwork in the Smokies' 10-6 loss in the opener, ripping three doubles and driving in three runs as part of a career-high four-hit afternoon. The 25-year-old added two more hits and the other three RBIs in the nightcap -- a 10-8 win -- including his fourth homer in six games.
Already one of the hottest hitters in the Minors coming into the day, Ayers got his offense started with the first double in the opening frame. The 25-year-old singled and then doubled home a run in his next two plate appearances, capping his effort by plating two more with his third two-bagger in the seventh inning.
Moved to the DH spot in the second game, Ayers opened the scoring for Knoxville with an RBI single in the first and put an exclamation on his offensive exploits with a two-run jack to the berm in left, his 11th long ball at Double-A and his 17th overall.
The multigame eruption extended Ayers' hitting streak to nine games -- all in June -- during which time he's hit .576 with a 1.793 OPS, 11 extra-base hits and 15 RBIs, a turnaround from his struggles during May -- when he hit below .200.
But even with a subpar month, the 2024 Draft pick has excelled during what has been a breakout campaign. Ayers spent all of 2025 at Single-A Myrtle Beach, slashing .238/.341/.420 in 65 games. A broken right hand sidelined him for the final six weeks of the season, giving him an opportunity to gain reps in the Arizona Fall League.
Ayers responded, winning AFL Breakout Player of the Year thanks to a .379/.539/.591 slash line and a circuit-best 22 walks. The Florida native carried over that success into the early stages of 2026, mashing High-A pitching for a .372 average before Chicago promoted him to Knoxville.
Ayers has responded well to the advanced competition. Even with his May struggles, the Marshall product is slashing .292/.405/.623 in 38 games with the Smokies, while his combined OPS of 1.106 is third among all qualified Minor League hitters.