Marcus Stroman. Justin Steele. Drew Smyly. Jameson Taillon. Just a couple of names that put the pitching rotation for the Chicago Cubs in the top spots of MLB. Granted, that was before their 16-3 loss Sunday to the Minnesota Twins but they’re still a stellar bunch of pitchers.
But there are one or two sneaky candidates in their farm system that are worth keeping an eye on as the 2023 season rolls on. Especially if injuries make their way onto the mound.
One is Kyle Hendricks- who needs zero introduction as he’s the sole remaining guy from the Cubs’ 2016 World Series. He’s rehabbing
The other is a newer name to the pitching roster: Ben Brown.
Now prospects, in any sport, do not always work out. Following them around a farm system no less is like trying to find your favorite pair of sunglass you swear you left on the kitchen counter. Only to find them in the bathroom sink.
Brown is one of several prospects in the Cubs farm system but arguably an interesting one. He’s a large creature: sitting at 220 pounds and 6 feet, 6 inches tall at 23 years old.
Might just be how they grow them in East Setauket, NY.
Traded from the Philadelphia Phillies, Brown ended up at the Double-A Tennessee Smokies. In four starts, he posted a 0.45 ERA with 30 strikeouts against six walks over 20 innings.
Cubs decided it was time to move on up.
In the kid’s two starts for the aptly named Triple-A Iowa Cubs, he only gave up one run in 10 2/3 innings, struck out 17, and walked five.
At this point, it’s fair to ask “Regina, why do I need to care?”
Well, the depth issues to the Cubs roster have peaked through the cracks. Taillon’s stint on the IL showed that maybe they weren’t as solid as they thoughts after spring training. Hayden Wesneski is only a rookie and Steele hasn’t done a great job of having a wire-to-wire season as an MLB starter.
Brown is on the 40-man roster. All it takes is one of those guys to have a rough stretch or an injury and he’s in The Show.
And for what it’s worth, that might be the type of guy the Cubs might do well to start in the second half of the 2023 season.
