Cubs just confirmed the devastating update fans feared about ascending prospect

When the Chicago Cubs revealed earlier this month that pitching prospect Brandon Birdsell would be out for the remainder of the season, it felt like the next update was going to confirm some type of surgery. The team confirmed the bad news on Tuesday, revealing that Birdsell was undergoing elbow surgery.

The type of surgery and recovery timeline will be provided after the surgery is completed, but considering this is an issue dating back to spring training, it feels like Tommy John surgery could be the procedure that is being done.

After the graduation of Cade Horton to the Major League level earlier this season, there was a point where Birdsell was the best pitching prospect in the Cubs' system. In recent weeks, however, Jaxon Wiggins has taken over that label and could finish the 2025 season as one of the best pitching prospects in all of baseball.

Cubs' nightmare update on top prospect is now official

Had Birdsell remained healthy, chances are he would have been one of the pitchers called up in September when rosters expand. After missing a majority of the season, Birdsell returned to the Iowa Cubs in July and posted a 3.38 ERA in 18 and 2/3 innings pitched.

The silver lining to the injury is that the Cubs probably don't need to worry about adding Birdsell to the 40-man roster this offseason. While Birdsell is eligible for the Rule 5 draft in December, teams certainly won't risk selecting him, considering the requirement that he remain on the Major League roster. Beyond that, more information is needed before talking about what Birdsell's role could be moving forward.

Birdsell's injury is a reminder that the Cubs are thin with regard to pitching prospects. Wiggins is the only Cubs' pitching prospect in their top 10 ranking, according to MLB Pipeline, and 2025 draft pick Kaleb Wing is the only other pitching prospect in their top 15.

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