Cubs Lose Former First-Round Pick To Mariners

The Chicago Cubs exposed Triple-A pitcher Ryan Jensen to waivers and the Seattle Mariners snapped him up.

Former Chicago Cubs first-round pick Ryan Jensen is now in the American League after the Seattle Mariners claimed him off waivers on Tuesday, the Mariners announced.

Jensen will report to Triple-A Tacoma.

Jensen’s move to waivers was never reported and was not included on his MiLB.com page, so the acquisition of Jensen by the Mariners was a bit of a surprise.

But it brings to an end a disappointing run for Jensen, who at one time was one of the Cubs’ top prospects.

The Cubs selected him No. 27 overall in 2019 out of Fresno State. He made six starts in Eugene, the Cubs’ Northwest League short season team before the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the 2020 season.

In 2021, with High-A South Bend and Double-A Tennessee, he combined to go 3-7 with a 4.16 ERA, striking out 90, walking 31 and allowing batters a .196 average.

But his strikeout, walk and batting average numbers have gotten progressively worse since 2021. With Tennessee in 2022 he went 2-4 with a 4.25 ERA, striking out 60 and walking 39. Batters hit .209 against him. The Cubs put him on the 40-man roster to keep him out of the Rule V Draft.

Well, this season with Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa, he was 2-7 with a 5.59 ERA, striking out 66 and walking 46. Batters hit a career-worst .258 against him. His promotion to Triple-A included a move to the bullpen.

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