Cubs embrace love of pitchers with spin with third round pick in 2026 MLB Draft

There are shutdown pitches - and then there's Carson Jasa's curveball. The Chicago Cubs selected the big right-hander out of Nebraska in the third round of the 2026 MLB Draft, hoping to unlock more on his mid-90s fastball and ride his knee-buckling breaking ball.

Jasa broke out in a big way this year, going 10-2 with 117 strikeouts in just 87 2/3 innings of work, holding opponents to a .210 average. But against his curveball, they went a ridiculous 6-for-111 (.054) - evidence that it is truly an elite put-away pitch. His future, though, will be determined by what the Cubs can help him do with his four-seamer.

Velocity isn't the issue. He regularly sits in the mid-to-upper 90s with the pitch, but it 'lacks life' and control - which severely handcuffed him early in his college experience - is a question, as well. He's probably a reliever as-is, but if he can fine-tune his fastball and pair it with that curve ball, the Cubs could have something really special.

That combination of high-velo fastball and wipeout secondary offering is something few pitchers - either at the big leagues or in the farm system - currently possess. It's a gamble, but the physical tools are there, and, in his defense, Jasa showed signs of progress in the control department this year.

Carson Jasa could be special - but how good he'll be depends on the Cubs

The Cubs are yet to demonstrate the ability to consistently develop homegrown arms - so forgive me if I'm somewhat skeptical of their ability to turn Jasa, who entered Saturday as the 173rd-ranked talent in the 2026 MLB Draft, into the elite late-inning weapon the team currently lacks.

But, in the end, we asked for pitching - and the Cubs delivered, with two of their first four picks being college arms. There were certainly higher-regarded pitchers available when the Cubs made this pick, but we know how the organization loves spin guys and few in the class fit that description more than Jasa.

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