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

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.

3 pitching prospects to know - 2. Michael Arias

Michael Arias enjoyed a really nice start to the year, recording a 2.55 ERA in 11 starts at Myrtle Beach with the Low-A Pelicans. It was a tale of two halves for the young hurler, as a 5.77 ERA in 39 frames was not the outcome he wanted after a promotion. Granted, his walk rate was high in Low-A, and he mostly got away unscathed; the same fortune did not follow him to South Bend. Although he recorded 46 punch-outs, the 1.7 WHIP will not play at any level. 26 walks in 39 innings of High-A ball (6.0 BB/9) will have to be corrected, but this isn't the first time Arias has struggled with command.

We saw his command issues last season between Rookie ball and Low-A. The thing with Arias is, when he's on, he's lights out. That was why the Cubs also opted to add him to the 40-man roster this winter so as not to lose him to the rule-5 draft. At 22 years old, he has plenty of upside, and if he can get the command issues under control for good, he can certainly be a viable part of the Cubs' future plans.