Cubs prospect C.J. Edwards eyes a pennant in Chicago soon

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

C.J. Edwards hasn’t made it to the big leagues yet. And he is also very aware that things can happen and he may not make it. But after coming over in the Matt Garza deal last season, he is sure of one thing. The Cubs will be winners, and soon.

Since Edwards joined the organization, he’s gotten to experience one thing, and one thing only. Winning. He was part of Advance Class-A Daytona’s championship winning team, and this season is part of a talent filled roster with the Tennessee Smokies. He is joined by Pierce Johnson, Kris Bryant, and Jorge Soler, but Soler is currently on the disabled list. All are in the Baseball America top 100 prospects, and Edwards knows they all have to come together to make winning happen.

"“You can’t look past the other starters,” Edwards said in an interview with Tennessee Smokies broadcaster Mick Gillispie. “They say I’ll be a big key, but I look at it as the Corey Blacks, Ivan Pineyros, the Pierce Johnsons and the Triple-A guys — Kyle Hendricks, Eric Jokisch — those guys are really going to be a big part, too.“We’ll never know how we’ll look in the big leagues. I can go from being a starter to a reliever or it can be vice versa. As I look at those guys and the hitters we have, as I tell everybody, in the next two to three years, we’re winning a pennant.”"

Confident words from a young man, but one that has been very successful to this point in his career. Drafted in the 48th round of the 2011 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers, Edwards first two professional seasons were superb. Edwards struck out 240 in 183 1/2 innings and allowed only one home run while posting a 1.72 ERA.

While Baseball America has him ranked as the No. 28 prospect, some scouts still have questions about his build and size. (6-foot-2, 155 pounds) But like many young players, he is only likely to get bigger and stronger as he moves his way up the organizational ladder. In three starts with Double-A Tennessee he has posted a 2.45 ERA, keeping some critics at bay.

"“Everybody can say [I’m ready] now, but I look at it as I still have to mature more. Just on the mound, not off the field,” Edwards told Gillispie.”"

Edwards seems right at home being a winner. Cubs fans hope he continues his success all the way to when he calls Wrigley field “home”.