Which Chicago Cubs pitching prospect will be the next to debut?

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Once again, an unproven prospect stymied the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. Moving forward, which Cubs prospect will take that role for the club?

We have already seen several top pitching prospects make their Major League Baseball debut this season. Strictly speaking for the Chicago Cubs, there has not been much of a reason for the North Siders to jump into the fray. The team currently sits in first-place and sports a collective 3.89 ERA heading into the weekend.

As the game’s next generation takes center stage carried by the idea to “Let the kids play,” there is a dynamic shift into the new age of baseball that should be noted and embraced.

While the Cubs are by no means in dire need of making that call to their top pitching prospects, fans can’t help but wonder what the future holds for this starting rotation. After all, this current club is largely comprised of former position player prospects, so it’s only natural to wonder what the next generation of pitching talent might represent.

It is time to dive into who could be called upon sooner rather than later.

Chicago Cubs: Adbert Alzolay, SP: Iowa Cubs

Of all the names fans might expect, Adbert Alzolay should come as no surprise as the most likely option to represent as the next prospect to start a game for the major league Cubs. After getting shut down last season with an injury, Alzolay earned a recent promotion to Triple-A Iowa

Alzolay has exactly 21 innings under his belt for Iowa, spanning a total of four starts. Impressively, however, Alzolay has posted a 3.00 ERA with a 2.98 FIP and 3.39 xFIP, respectively. The one stat which stands out for Alzolay is his strikeout rate. To coincide with the punchouts, the right-hander has also managed to keep his free passes at bay. Currently, Alzolay is striking out a whopping 36.3 percent of batters faced while walking just 6.3 percent at the same time.

Alzolay currently ranks as the team’s number four overall prospect. He just turned 24 years old in March and has faced some trouble with staying healthy, making only eight starts last season due to a strained right lat. The good news is that it appears Alzolay is in full swing on the mound – evidenced by his production thus far.

More than likely, the only way Alzolay starts sooner rather than later is if a starter suffers an injury. Outside of Yu Darvish, the rotation is performing very well with Kyle Hendricks and Jon Lester leading the charge. Even Darvish has improved if we’re being honest. That being said, the future is a bright one for our young right-handed starter, and it is not long before he arrives at the Show.

Mandatory Credit: Matthew Stockman /Allsport /

Chicago Cubs: Tyson Miller, SP: Tennessee Smokies

Diving deeper into the system, the wheel of fortune lands next on Double-A starter Tyson Miller. Miller is just 23 years old and is a product of the 2016 June Amateur Draft, selected by Chicago in the fourth round.

In his first three-plus years in the organization, Miller has been up and down. So far in 2019, however, he has pitched exceptionally well. It leads to the argument of Miller making the list.

Through his first 11 starts at Tennessee, the right-hander sports a well above average 2.26 ERA. Most impressively for Miller has been his ability to control at-bats as well as keep the ball in the yard. To go along with the ERA, Miller also has a 2.51 FIP and 3.14 xFIP, respectively.

To add to the allure of his production this season, Miller has seen a steady increase in his strikeout rate as well as a decrease in his walk rate, both excellent signs. He has held opposing hitters to a .204 average and carries an attractive 0.91 WHIP. Oh and that home run rate we just discussed? Miller has nearly cut it in half.

There is little chance Miller comes close to sniffing the big leagues this season. That being said, when rosters expand there is a possibility based on how he is pitching that Miller does receive his chance just so the Cubs can see what they have in him.

Chicago Cubs: Cory Abbott, SP: Tennessee Smokies

Last but not least of this wily bunch is another one of the Double-A starters, Cory Abbott. Of this group, Abbott is a sleeper pick to be the next prospect up for the Cubs. While it may be another shot in the dark, Abbott is another starter who the Cubs should figure out what they have.

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Abbott was gifted to Chicago in the second round of the 2017 June Amateur Draft, having played three seasons for Loyola Marymount University.

Through those three seasons, Abbott posted a 2.69 ERA which he translated to the low levels of professional baseball having pitched to a 2.79 ERA in his first few seasons in the system.

Up through this point in the season, Abbott has made 12 starts for the Smokies. Consistency has been his game as he has a 3.39 ERA, a 3.40 FIP, and a 3.31 xFIP.

Similar to Miller, Abbott’s walk rate has decreased, moving from 9.2 percent in 2018 to 5.7 percent this season. The home runs have increased slightly, and Abbott has been super unlucky with his .323 BABIP, yet has managed to pitch well. Such production could prove valuable if Chicago needs an emergency spot start late this season.

Next. Cubs trying to get ahead of the pack. dark

Of course, Abbott is a long-shot to make a start for the Cubs in 2019. The Cubs currently reside at the top of the National League Central. If they’re able to create some separation and pull away, Abbott could be the guy the Cubs call on to see what they have. You never know what Theo Epstein’s crystal ball holds.

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