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Injuries have forced the Chicago Cubs to question just how much pitching depth they will need to get through the 162-game regular season. The Cubs have already used over 20 different pitchers since the season started, and the calendar is just now about to flip to May. Relying on internal depth appears to be the current plan for Jed Hoyer and Co., and that opens a pathway for a forgotten draft pick.
Zac Leigh was drafted in the 16th round of the 2021 draft by the Cubs. No, he wasn't a household name among Cubs' pitching prospects, but he could soon be who the Cubs turn to in the bullpen if the injuries continue to mount.
Leigh reached the Double-A level by the end of his first full season in the Cubs' system, but that is where his development stunted. He reached Triple-A by the end of the 2024 season but struggled to tune of a 8.31 ERA in 13 appearances.
After spending the 2025 season with Double-A Knoxville, Leigh opened the 2026 season with the Iowa Cubs and is finding success. Through his first five appearances (9 and 2/3 innings pitched), the 28-year-old has an ERA of 3.79 and is striking out over 34% of the hitters he faced. Leigh also has flashed signs of harnessing in his command, walking under 10% of the hitters he faced.
Cubs will need an unsung hero to emerge for the Cubs
As the Cubs navigate through injuries to all of the expected high-leverage arms in the bullpen, the team will need an unexpected answer to emerge. That is why Riley Martin's early success was so important. Before his elbow injury over the weekend, Martin was moving toward being a high-leverage option for Craig Counsell.
Instead, Counsell has been forced to churn through underwhelming options such as Vince Velasquez and Charlie Barnes. Each of those veterans has served a purpose for the Cubs, but their upside may be capped.
No, Leigh isn't a lock to become the next success story in the Cubs' bullpen, but we're at the point that the Cubs may need to give him a chance. He's not on the 40-man roster and is eligible for the Rule 5 draft this upcoming offseason. Ideally, the Cubs identify if he could be a bullpen piece before they risk losing him after the season.
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