Small Jaxon Wiggins detail proves Cubs won’t rush his timeline after Cade Horton injury

Jaxon Wiggins' timeline has been a topic of conversation in the immediate aftermath of Cade Horton's injury. Wiggins isn't expected to be the immediate replacement to Horton in the Chicago Cubs' rotation, and if the latest clue is any indicator, the Cubs may not have altered his timeline anyway.

Iowa Cubs' beat reporter Tommy Birch confirms that Wiggins is not currently listed among the I-Cubs' probable starters. No, this does not mean Wiggins is earmarked for the big-league club. Instead, as they did last season, the organization is monitoring his innings.

Wiggins has made two starts for Triple-A Iowa this season, being capped at four innings in each outing. The results have been mixed, with the Cubs' top pitching prospect giving up 5 runs on 7 hits with 5 walks. But, in those 8 innings of work, Wiggins has 10 strikeouts.

For reference, Wiggins totaled 78 innings pitched last year while spending a bulk of the season at Double-A Knoxville. There were long stretches throughout the year that Wiggins didn't pitch, confirming that the Cubs are being selective with when they choose to deploy him during his ascension through the farm system.

Jaxon Wiggins could be an option for the Cubs at some point this season but not now.

Wiggins' early results this season are also an indicator of what he may need to work on before being considered a true option to join the Cubs' pitching staff. He will need to harness his command, and there's reason to believe that he will get better. At Double-A last year, Wiggins walked 10.4% of the hitters he faced.

Once Wiggins is deemed ready by the organization, it would seem likely that his first stop will be in the bullpen. It should be a similar blueprint that Horton had last season before he joined the rotation and emerged as a budding ace by the end of the year.

Obviously, that would be the best-case scenario for the Cubs this season. There's no replacing Horton and the potential he had this season, but Wiggins being on a similar trajectory would avoid the Cubs having to extend beyond their comfort zone at the trade deadline. To be clear, Jed Hoyer and Co. shouldn't be afraid to do that very thing, but we've already learned to lower our expectations on that front.