Jed Hoyer confirms that Ben Brown may be the key to the Cubs' 2026 success

After last season, Chicago Cubs fans can't be blamed for guarding their hearts whenever Ben Brown enters a game. The young right-hander still has a lot of promise, averaging around 96-97 MPH on his fastball with a curveball once graded with a future value of 70 and the potential to translate that to a starting role. Yet, his disastrous 2025, with a 5.92 ERA and 4.08 FIP, left a lot of doubts about his future. His inconsistency on the mound became untenable, dominating in one appearance before completely melting down in the next due to a lack of command with his two primary pitches.

Something has changed in 2026, though. A strong showing in spring trainingearned him a spot in the Opening Day bullpen, and so far, the results have been stellar. Brown has already racked up 16 2/3 innings with a 2.70 ERA and 3.19 FIP, dropping his home run to fly ball rate from 15.5 to just 6.7 percent. It's the result of an offseason with a clear plan on how to bounce back to his successful 2024 form. That included working with Mets pitcher Clay Holmes to develop a sinker that, so far, has helped him limit damage, giving up a .273 batting average and slugging percentage. His performance has certainly caught Jed Hoyer's attention at a time when the Cubs are rolling in injuries.

During an appearance on the Spiegel & Holmes Show on Tuesday, Hoyer was asked about Brown's role on the team amid this hot start. There's not necessarily a defined spot for him, per se, but he acknowledged how much he's buoying Craig Counsell's game plan without Daniel Palencia, Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey, Cade Horton, and more available. With Colin Rea and Javier Assad moved to the rotation, it helps to have an arm that can be trusted to handle multiple innings when called upon.

"He's an out-getter, and we need those right now," he said. "We need guys that are there getting outs. I think he's going to have a really big role on this team. I couldn't tell you in what role it's going to be right now. It's in the bullpen, because that's where he's needed. It could be in the rotation, if that's where he's needed." Hoyer sees his role as having evolved far beyond that of the final reliever named to the roster, but rather the go-to innings eater to fill the gap in innings left by everyone who's hurt. "He's really one of our more important guys as we deal with this list of injuries."

Ben Brown allows the Cubs to operate more like they originally planned

One pitcher alone doesn't make up for a lost season from Horton and weeks' worth of cumulative missed time from some of the bullpen's most important pieces. However, it is an example of the kind of good and bad fortune every season brings. Brown wasn't expected to be as big a contributor in their overall plans as he has been, yet things appear to have clicked in a way that suggests he can be part of the circle of trust. He's managed to massively improve his barrel rate and hard-hit rate with help from his new pitches and generally looks more like a complete player.

Whether it lasts is yet to be seen, but his success is allowing the Cubs to put together a game plan that looks more like what they entered the season with. Once Matthew Boyd returns to the mound on Wednesday night, they'll again likely have a bullpen with two viable swing men as Assad moves back out of the rotation. It's exactly what a relief corps that has had to rely more extensively on Caleb Thielbar and Hoby Milner needs to effectively close out games without some key weapons.

Brown has only made multi-inning outings so far in 2026 and has managed high-leverage situations well, including a messy eighth inning against the Mets that left Counsell impressed at his ability to remain cool under pressure. That not only helps immensely to cover for injuries, but also greatly raises the ceiling when everyone in relief is healthy, and helps keep arms fresh. It would be a season-altering development if he ultimately builds up enough confidence to return to a starting role, though. No young Cubs pitcher, save for Horton and possibly Jaxon Wiggins, has quite the potential of the fire-balling Brown, so it may make sense to give him a shot once again, at least while Justin Steele is still out.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow