NEWSLETTER
The Cubs’ top pitching prospect is a tall 20-year-old lefty who can throw 100 mph. We’ve never had the pleasure of enjoying that set of circumstances before. It’s fun.
That pitcher, Brailyn Marquez, recently flipped a switch at Low-A South Bend, converting his comically overpowering stuff into results, and earning a promotion to High-A Myrtle Beach. He made his debut there, and nobody could do bupkis with him through five no-hit innings:
Good Morning, Twitter ☀️
Wake up with the highlights from last night's win!#MBPelicans | #GoBirds pic.twitter.com/dICXWkAzoN
— Myrtle Beach Pelicans (@Pelicanbaseball) August 7, 2019
https://www.instagram.com/p/B03M9tHnug3/
That outing was not only an impressive debut at High-A, it came on the heels of two ridiculous final performances with South Bend:
Brailyn Marquez with 5 hitless innings in his High-A debut.
After the start where he had 6 hitless innings.
Which was the start after he had 6 1-hit innings with 14 K’s.
— Cubs Prospects – Bryan Smith (@cubprospects) August 7, 2019
So basically he just threw an 11-inning no-hitter. Something like that.
Marquez is going to see his stock rocket up this offseason on the national prospect lists, and barring an injury or case of the yips in the final few weeks of the season, should be a universal top 100 prospect. The Cubs haven’t had one of those guys on the pitching side in a long time (though, depending on health, Adbert Alzolay could also be added to all of the top 100s after this season, too).
Depending on his offseason work, Marquez could be challenged next year with an opening day assignment at AA. For a live arm like his, you don’t necessarily foresee him spending multiple more seasons in the minor leagues, so it’s very possible he’s on the big league radar as soon as the second half of 2020 in a bullpen or even fill-in starter role. Those 101 mph bullets are just too valuable to use all up at High-A/AA.
