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The Chicago Cubs are quietly expecting top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins to be a contributor at the major league level, but that won't take place on Opening Day. The Cubs announced their first wave of spring training roster cuts, and Wiggins was among the players returned to minor-league camp.
Cubs camp cuts:
— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) March 8, 2026
-RHP Riley Martin and Jack Neely, INF Ben Cowles and James Triantos optioned to Triple-A
-INF Pedro RamÃrez optioned to Double-A
-RHP Grant Kipp, Connor Noland, Connor Schultz, Jaxon Wiggins returned to minor-league camp
Wiggins appeared in two Cactus League games with the Cubs this spring, with his initial outing looking rough. The 2023 second-round pick gave up 5 runs on 6 hits in less than two innings of work. He looked far more comfortable in his second appearance, tossing two scoreless innings while striking out two against the Milwaukee Brewers.
There's a sense that the blueprint that the Cubs had for Cade Horton last year could be what the organization follows for Wiggins this year. That may not mean that Wiggins cements his spot in the rotation the same way that Horton did, but there should be an expectation that he is pitching at Wrigley Field before the end of 2026.
The Mark Leiter Jr. trade continues to look bad with the Cubs' first wave of spring training roster cuts
Pitching prospect Jack Neeely and utility infield prospect Ben Cowles were the prospects the Cubs received from the New York Yankees in the trade of Mark Leiter Jr. ahead of the 2024 trade deadline. Neely was initially used as an up-and-down arm for the Cubs at the end of the 2024 season, but his struggles with the Iowa Cubs in 2025 led to him staying at the minor-league level.
Cowles has yet to make his major league debut, but the Cubs have re-acquired him twice this offseason. Short of an injury to the major league roster, it's hard to envision Cowles graduating from Triple-A Iowa this season.
None of the players who were re-assigned on Sunday had a strong chance of breaking camp with the Cubs. Left-handed pitcher Riley Martin could be an under-the-radar name to keep an eye on at some point during the season. The Cubs have two established southpaws in the bullpen in Hoby Milner and Caleb Thielbar, but if there is injury or regression from one of them, Martin figures to be among the arms in consideration to replace them.