Cubs pitching prospects that can reach Top-100 status soon

"Chicago Cubs fans might have been initially disappointed when Baseball America listed their updated top-100 prospects and only two Cubs (Brennen Davis, Cristian Hernandez) made it. However, there is reason to be optimistic about the farm stock rising greatly in 2022 as a handful of Cubs prospects are currently considered just outside of the top 100, looking in."

Bleacher Nation pointed out that the Baseball America staff gave at least one vote to 203 prospects to be at least top-150 during the top-100 list creation process. Eleven Cubs got at least one top-150 vote. As top-100 prospects with a high pedigree graduate to the MLB level, this will allow rising prospects to take their places on the list. The number of Cubs prospects just on the cusp is an encouraging sign that future 100-spots will be taken by some of them, thus the stock of the farm rising.

Several of those prospects include pitchers. While all prospects serve importance, the organization’s need for homegrown arms is a top priority for future success. This is something they did not do an efficient enough job of over the Theo Epstein years.

Chicago Cubs pitching prospects we could see in top 100 rankings soon

Jordan Wicks

The 22-year-old 2021 first-round pick out of Kansas State is considered the sixth-ranked prospect in the system by MLB.com. Being a first-rounder and a player who has gotten some very impressive comps, including former All-Stars Jon Lester and Cole Hamels, it is not surprising that he is on the cusp.

MLB.com’s scouting report mentions he was considered the best lefty pitcher in the 2021 draft and throws the best changeup. It’s worth noting  Wicks set the single-season and career strikeout record for Kansas State’s baseball program. He appeared in four games last year with High-A South Bend, and will get a chance to play his first full professional season in 2022. The hope is for him to slide into the Cubs rotation in 2023-2024.

Caleb Kilian

This 24-year-old righty from Texas Tech has made a bit of a name for himself among the fanbase. He came over in the Kris Bryant trade with the Giants back in July, and has impressed on the mound. Between both the Giants and Cubs systems, Kilian struck out 80 hitters in 78 2/3innings and walked only 12.

He put on a show in the Arizona Fall League championship when he pitched six perfect innings, helping lead the Mesa Solar Sox to the title. Killian’s fastball according to the MLB.com scouting topped at 98 MPH and usually sits low-to-mid 90s. This is a kid that appears to be seeing his stock steadily grow. Heck, he could even be pitching in the majors sooner than later. FanGraphs currently has him as the seventh-ranked prospect in the system.

D.J. Herz

Someone who might get overlooked being an eighth-round pick, the 21-year-old lefty is currently ranked 13th in the system by MLB.com and 11th by FanGraphs. Herz was taken out of Terry Sanford HS in North Carolina in 2019 and was considered one of the best arms out of the state in that class.

While we are looking at potential starters in Wicks and Kilian, Herz currently projects to be a reliever. He throws a mid-90s fastball, slider, curve, change with a scouting grade of 60 on the heater and 55 on the slider. He spent 2021 between Low-A and High-A and pitched to a season 3.31 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 131 strikeouts, 44 walks in 81 2/3 innings. His K/9 equates to 14.4.

Brailyn Marquez

Once considered the Cubs’ top prospect by some outlets, the 22-year-old lefty missed all of 2021 due to injury and COVID complications. It was really tough to see considering he was right on the cusp of being a full-time MLB pitcher (he made his MLB debut on the final day of the 2020 season).

He is still listed as the Cubs second-ranked prospect behind Davis on MLB.com, though Baseball America clearly has Hernandez over him. Now is the time for him to get back on track because the stock on him is still pretty high with the fastball and wicked slider he has.

While all of this is digested, keep in mind every baseball outlet is different in terms of ranking top-100. Other outlets like Baseball Prospectus are already higher on some of these guys on the cusp of Baseball America’s list. The combination of guys on the cusp or on the list from multiple outlets is very encouraging.