Number 29
Brailyn Marquez LHP
Age: 24 Years Old
Level: A+ South Bend Cubs
Joined the organization via: IFA signing in 2015
2023 Stats: 7.1 IP 0.00 ERA 9/4 K/BB
If you’ve followed the Cubs minor league system over the last decade you’ve heard the name Brailyn Marquez. At one point he was the top prospect in the system and one of the top prospects, much less the top left-handed pitcher, in all of baseball. That being said, after a great 2019 and an MLB debut in 2020, Marquez completely disappeared.
Injuries, and reported mental struggles on the mound had him return to square one and that is starting to pay dividends in terms of his results so far this season. He’s older than the competition he’s playing against, but he’s yet to allow a run and still has his 100-mph velocity coming from the left-handed side of the mound. Between Marquez and the aforementioned Little, the days of relying on Brandon Hughes as the only lefty out of the pen with any talent should be coming to an end sooner rather than later.