Chicago Cubs' Pitching Rotation Has Stellar Minor League Backup

The Chicago Cubs have a top-10 pitching rotation in Major League Baseball and there may be one prospect that could be the much-needed youth should the Cubs' offense keep stalling.

Regina Ham | May 14, 2023

Chicago Cubs' Pitching Rotation Has Stellar Minor League Backup /

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Marcus Stroman. Justin Steele. Drew Smyly. Jameson Taillon. Just a couple of names that put the pitching rotation for the Chicago Cubs in the top spots of MLB. Granted, that was before their 16-3 loss Sunday to the Minnesota Twins but they're still a stellar bunch of pitchers.

But there are one or two sneaky candidates in their farm system that are worth keeping an eye on as the 2023 season rolls on. Especially if injuries make their way onto the mound.

One is Kyle Hendricks- who needs zero introduction as he's the sole remaining guy from the Cubs' 2016 World Series. He's rehabbing

The other is a newer name to the pitching roster: Ben Brown.

Now prospects, in any sport, do not always work out. Following them around a farm system no less is like trying to find your favorite pair of sunglass you swear you left on the kitchen counter. Only to find them in the bathroom sink.

Brown is one of several prospects in the Cubs farm system but arguably an interesting one. He's a large creature: sitting at 220 pounds and 6 feet, 6 inches tall at 23 years old.

Might just be how they grow them in East Setauket, NY.

Traded from the Philadelphia Phillies, Brown ended up at the Double-A Tennessee Smokies. In four starts, he posted a 0.45 ERA with 30 strikeouts against six walks over 20 innings.

Cubs decided it was time to move on up.

In the kid's two starts for the aptly named Triple-A Iowa Cubs, he only gave up one run in 10 2/3 innings, struck out 17, and walked five.

At this point, it's fair to ask "Regina, why do I need to care?"

Well, the depth issues to the Cubs roster have peaked through the cracks. Taillon's stint on the IL showed that maybe they weren't as solid as they thoughts after spring training. Hayden Wesneski is only a rookie and Steele hasn't done a great job of having a wire-to-wire season as an MLB starter.

Brown is on the 40-man roster. All it takes is one of those guys to have a rough stretch or an injury and he's in The Show.

And for what it's worth, that might be the type of guy the Cubs might do well to start in the second half of the 2023 season.

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Published May 14, 2023

REGINA HAM

Regina Ham is an editor and writer for Inside the Cubs. As an alumna of the University of Maryland-College Park, she studied both broadcast and multimedia journalism. A six-year veteran of the sports industry, she's worked in radio, television, and online media. You can follow her on Twitter @regina_ham or Instagram @reginamariesports. Upon her undergraduate education, Regina went to work in 2016 for Sirius XM-Satellite Radio on College Sports Nation/ESPNU for two years. During her time in school, Regina interned at a variety of Washington, D.C.-area media organizations, including NBC Sports Washington and WTOP. There she assisted in coverage of local MLB and NHL teams. She also interned down at WAAY 31 in Huntsville, AL and worked on stories regarding the local Minor League Baseball affiliate and SEC football. Regina worked in international sports television for almost four years, covering sports from MLS to the KHL and the KBO. She joined Philly Sports Network in 2022 and covers both the Phillies and Philadelphia Flyers before joining the Sports Illustrated network in 2023. You can follow her on Twitter @Regina_ham or on Instagram @reginamariesports. If you have any questions or comments, she can be reached at regina.ham28@gmail.com.