As Spring Training continues and the MLB season approaches, the Chicago Cubs face a tough decision on who will take the 5th spot in their starting rotation. Three prospects, Hayden Wesneski, Javier Assad, and Caleb Kilian, have shown promise on the mound, with impressive stats from their minor league careers and solid performances in Spring Training thus far. While projections are just predictions, their numbers could make a case for each to secure the coveted 5th spot in the Cubs’ rotation.
Hayden Wesneski had a standout season last year, finishing with a record of three wins and two losses and an impressive 2.18 ERA. His minor league career has also been solid, with 18 wins and 16 losses and a 3.68 ERA in 269 innings pitched. Wesneski has also shown impressive control on the mound, with a strikeout rate of 26.6% and a walk rate of just 7%. So far this Spring, Wesneski has thrown 4.2 innings, striking out seven batters and allowing no runs with two walks. He faced 21 batters, showcasing his impressive control and ability to dominate on the mound.
Javier Assad had a solid season, finishing with a record of two wins, two losses, and a 3.11 ERA in 37.2 innings pitched. His minor league career has been a bit more up and down, with a record of 25 wins and 36 losses and a 3.96 ERA in 527.2 innings pitched. However, Assad has shown some flashes of brilliance on the mound, with a strikeout rate of 21% and a walk rate of 7.6%. Assad also has had solid outings, pitching four innings and allowing no runs while striking out two batters with just one walk. He faced 12 batters and showed off his command of the strike zone.
Caleb Kilian had a rough go of it last season, finishing with no wins, two losses, and a sky-high ERA of 10.32 in just 11 innings pitched. However, his minor league career has been impressive, with a record of 12 wins and eight losses and a 3.11 ERA in 223 innings pitched. Kilian has also shown remarkable control on the mound, with a strikeout rate of 27.7% and a walk rate of 8%. Kilian has pitched two innings and struck out two batters without allowing any walks or runs. He faced six batters but made the most of his limited opportunities on the mound.
All three of these pitchers are Spring Training prospects to watch, as they have shown the ability to dominate on the mound and could potentially make an impact at the major league level in the near future. The question remains; Who’s going to take the 5th spot for the Cubs rotation to start the season?
While projections are a mere idea of what is to come, these numbers could be a possibility if they were to get the call for the starting rotation:
| Pitcher | CS | IP | W | L | ERA | K’s | BB’s |
| Wesneski | 16 | 83 | 6 | 3 | 3.93 | 69 | 20 |
| Assad | 14 | 74 | 5 | 3 | 4.12 | 50 | 12 |
| Kilian | 13 | 65 | 4 | 4 | 4.83 | 41 | 10 |
Wesneski is a starter. But in today’s reality Assad and/or Jillian are long guys. We aren’t in Fergie’s time when not going 9 innings was a failure. Five is the new nine. A starter for five or six innings a long guy closer. That’s the new reality.