Chicago Cubs: Five prospects who will play in Chicago this season

Chicago Cubs: Marquez in an NLCS showdown? Sign me up.

This is probably the farthest reach of any of the five prospects you’ll see on this list. If Brailyn Marquez makes his debut in 2020 for the big league Cubs, three fortuitous things have happened: the Cubs are in playoff contention, Marquez is healthy and young southpaw has continued his formidable work from 2019 into this season.

If all three of those things don’t happen, you won’t see Marquez at Wrigley this season. That’s your caveat. However, if all three do happen to align for the Cubs, there’s a definitive possibility that you could see the southpaw fireballer trotting out of the pen down the stretch and even in the playoffs.

Everyone knows the sheer potential of the 21 year-old Marquez, a left-handed pitcher who can hit triple digits, so a guy like that who is healthy and productive could be a welcome addition down the stretch on a contending team. It also would represent a huge success for the organization, as the failure to produce MLB-level pitching has been well-documented since Theo Epstein took over.

While Marquez hasn’t pitched above the high A level in pro ball, his success there last year (4-1, 1.71 ERA in his five starts there after a successful run in South Bend) should take him to Tennessee at some point during the 2020 season. If the Cubs are winning and Marquez can continue or improve upon his 128 strikeouts in 103 2/3 innings from a year ago, the rumors will be flying on a regular basis down the stretch in Chicago.

Whether he starts the year at Double-A Tennessee or not, Marquez could put himself in line for a promotion at the end of the season if the Cubs are in need and he proves himself worthy against some of the best prospect talent in baseball at the Double-A level. Let’s hope this is a decision the front office is tasked with in July or August.