Cubs Prospect Spotlight: Luis Devers continues to dominate

Look. It’s all eyes on the minors for a lot of Cubs fans right now, so we’re going to be regularly putting the spotlight on some of the up-and-coming prospects in the system.

Whenever a Cubs prospect is beginning to break out, becomes scorching hot, or just deserves some recognition, we’ll give him his due and help you get a better idea of what to expect moving forward. The first up in this new prospect spotlight series? Luis Devers.

Devers was signed as a free agent in 2017 and played for the ACL Cubs in both 2018 and 2019. Combined, he began to catch folks’ attention by posting a fabulous 2.71 ERA across 119 2/3 innings of work to go along with 109 punchouts. After missing the 2020 campaign due to the canceled MiLB season, Devers started off 2021 in Rookie ball, eventually moving up to Myrtle Beach where he pitched just three innings.

This season, however, Devers has really began to crank up the innings and has stood out in a big way in the process. Returning to Myrtle Beach this season, he collected a 2.58 ERA over the course of 14 starts and 66 1/3 innings of work. After a well deserved promotion, he has now only impressed further and owns a minuscule 0.57 in his first 27 2/3 frames in South Bend High-A action over the course of four starts.

Sure, Devers was just promoted to High-A in the first place and you don’t want to push him too hard too fast, but the fact that he’s only gotten better as the competition has gotten tougher certainly bodes well for him.

In his most recent outing, he tossed five innings of one-run ball, striking out three. The earned run however, came via a bit of bad luck, as a chopped ground ball that barely went over the head of Fabian Pertuz advanced a runner, who eventually scored on a sac fly. Initially off the bat, it looked like a potential double play ball more than a base hit, but that’s baseball. No matter how you slice it, Devers has been elite in his time in South Bend.

Chicago Cubs: What’s next for Luis Devers after his breakout season?

As stated above, you don’t want to push him too far too soon. But he is absolutely rolling right now. Should he continue at this pace for another few starts, perhaps a call to Tennessee is in the cards as early as before the end of this season. More importantly, though, he must be given a roster spot on the 40 man as he is eligible for the Rule 5 Draft this winter.

Devers’s is currently on his fourth year of pro ball at just the age of 22 after starting off in the Rookie League at the age of just 18. In the midst of a breakout season, Jed Hoyer and crew will obviously do everything they can to protect their top prospects that are Rule 5 eligible.

Obviously, Brennen Davis and Kevin Alcantara will take precedence over everyone else is terms of jamming guys onto the 40-man, but Devers should get the nod, as well, especially considering how important developing pitching has proven to be under this regime. Better to play it safe in this case and not take a chance on him getting plucked out of the organization.

According to MLB Pipeline, Devers does not even rank among the top 30 in terms of Cubs prospects. You can’t imagine that will remain true if he finishes his season anywhere near the pace he’s been on much of the year.

If you haven’t already, be sure to pencil in Devers on your list of young prospects that deserve your attention. This kid has done a lot of good things this year – and looks like a guy on the rise.