3 Cubs pitching prospects to know not named Cade Horton or Ben Brown

Losing Jackson Ferris hurts, but there are still several Cubs pitching prospects who will excel this season.

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After losing Jackson Ferris in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Chicago Cubs have pitching depth, but there are probably a few guys you may not be familiar with yet. Keeping in mind that this list will not include Cade Horton, Ben Brown, Jordan Wicks, Luke Little, or anyone else we've seen in the majors to this point, let's take a look at three pitching prospects to get to know for 2024.

3 pitching prospects to know - 3. Bailey Horn

Bailey Horn was drafted in the 5th and final round of the shorted 2020 MLB draft. Horn has been groomed to be a reliever, as he hasn't started a game since 2021. However, there's much to like. After posting a 2.79 ERA between High-A and Double-A in 2022, Horn only needed 9.0 innings in '23 to jump to Triple-A Iowa. In 53 frames, he did struggle somewhat with a 4.58 ERA. His 10.0 K/9 is encouraging, but he ultimately allowed too many base runners, which translated to a 1.528 WHIP.

Still, the Cubs opted to add him to the 40-man roster for a couple of reasons. One, It's easy to see the potential when Horn is on, and two, he provided much-needed lefty depth. He has succeeded in the lower levels, but it is time to put it all together if he wants a shot at the majors. He will start the season at Iowa, but if he jumps out of the gate fast, he's a viable candidate to get called up to the show at any time if Craig Counsell needs an arm.

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