The Dominant Relief Prospect Leeper-ing Through the Cubs Farm System

We have heard, repeated, and paraphrased the Theo Epstein line so many times: development is not linear. We know it intrinsically and we are reminded of it every season with countless examples.

And yet, Ben Leeper’s story is a whole different animal.

Leeper, now a 24-year-old reliever, went undrafted all three times he was eligible to be selected. His career ERA in college at Oklahoma State was 7.25, and during his final two seasons, he walked 29 batters in 38.2 innings.

Yet, after signing with the Cubs less than one year ago, he was assigned to High-A out of Spring Training, promoted to Double-A at the South Bend Cubs first practice, and quickly became the Tennessee Smokies’ most dominant reliever. So he was promoted again. For the season – his first pro experience, split between Double-A and Triple-A – Leeper has a 1.29 ERA in 21 innings, in large part thanks to a 33/7 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He has struck out half of the last 38 batters he’s faced, two-thirds of those coming at the Triple-A level he reached in just his eleventh professional appearance. Heck, he hasn’t even given up a hit yet in his 6.2 innings with Iowa.

Leeper has established himself as the single best relief prospect in the farm system. How has that happened, given what preceded his time with the Cubs, and given how little time he’s had as a pro?

“It’s easy for me to get lost in everything that’s happening,” Leeper told me last week over the phone during the I-Cubs series with the St. Paul Saints. “I’ve had to remind myself to take deep breaths and just remember to be where my feet are.”

Part of what has allowed Leeper to negotiate a whirlwind of changing surroundings has been embracing the farm system’s best slider. The pitch is in the upper 80s, about 2600-2900 rpm, and essentially a gyro slider. This means it’s not a sweeping horizontal pitch, but due to a football spiral-like spin, produces late and extremely deceptive vertical break. It’s abnormal, which is the best compliment that the Cubs pitching development team can give a player.

https://twitter.com/RealCubsAnalyst/status/1399114892251107328

One thing that’s helped is that Leeper throws the pitch using a grip that is, basically, one finger movement away from a four-seam fastball (he says he thinks of it as having 1.5 grips between the fastball and slider). It’s what Leeper calls his favorite pitch to throw, the one he uses as a re-set pitch when out of sorts, and comfortable against both right- and left-handed hitters. Neither side is batting above .135 against him in 2021.

“He’s a guy that has the utmost confidence in his slider and can throw that in any count,” said Double-A pitching coach Jamie Vermilyea, who was also Leeper’s contact point during the 2020-2021 offseason. “He doesn’t have to manipulate it or anything, just make a slight tweak and throw it like a fastball.”

The pitch pairs with a fastball that has been up to 98 mph this year (generally 95-96), and plays up due to its vertical approach angle. Leeper has a high spin rate on the four seamer (2500 rpm) but with just 75-85% spin efficiency, the pitch has cut movement that helps it better tunnel with the slider. Up and gloveside in the zone, particularly after he’s shown the slider, it’s absolute death on hitters.

The biggest difference between the Leeper at Oklahoma State (in the video above) and the one in the Cubs system has been the command of that fastball. Leeper had his second Tommy John surgery as a sophomore at Oklahoma State (his first during high school), and the recovery was a difficult one. Leeper, who had thrown up to 95-96 mph in high school, was suddenly topping at 88-91 mph with a fastball he couldn’t control.

“Honestly I was very upset playing baseball then,” Leeper said. “It was the mental aspect of knowing I had [mid 90s] in my arm but it’s just not there.”

The velocity would eventually snap back out of nowhere, but the command was a years-long process of locking back in. Leeper generated a bit of draft interest during an up-and-down 2019 season, including from the Cubs, but expressed an interest in returning to college for his final season. Cubs area scout Ty Nichols stayed locked in on Leeper during 2020, and the organization pitched him on joining as an undrafted free agent.

“The Cubs were overly impressive, everything they said opened my eyes on the next step of my career,” Leeper said. “It was a no-brainer for me.”

The organization handed Leeper the autonomy to call his own game, which sometimes means five straight fastballs and sometimes means five straight sliders. They also suggested adding a curveball to Leeper’s mix, utilizing his natural ability to spin the ball (it can top 3,000 rpm), particularly to give left-handed hitters another look. It hasn’t been mixed in much yet – just 10 all season – but has been an active work-in-progress behind the scenes.

But mostly, Leeper hasn’t needed much instruction, as he showed up to Arizona for Instructs last October with the best velocity and best command of his life. Leeper said that everyday in Arizona, the participants would get lunch and eat outside at the Cubs facility. And he would pause, everyday, in front of the Major Leaguers locker room with his plate of food and take a moment.

“I would stop and say, ‘I wanna be here. What do I need to do to get in this locker room?'”

The answer, now, is just do a little bit more of what he’s doing.

written by

Bryan Smith is a Minor League Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @cubprospects.

more cubs news

Finally, a Team Wanted the Reigning NL Cy Young Winner

The rumors all wound up being true: Blake Snell would take a two-year deal in the $60 million range, the Giants were probably the favorites now, and the pressure was on to get something done. Per Jon Heyman, it two...

Blake Snell’s Reasonable Price Tag? Why Jordan Montgomery Might Wait a Little Longer?

A couple updates on the top remaining - yup, still - free agent starting pitchers, lefties Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery. Although rumors picked up on Snell and the Astros late last week, no signing news dropped. It was surprising,...

Garrett Crochet Will Start on Opening Day for the White Sox, Marking an Extreme Rarity

We don't cover the White Sox around here in a particularly close way - maybe a touch more than other non-NL-Central clubs because of the intracity interest - but this was surprising and interesting enough for me to note. The...

Chicago Cubs Shortstop Prospect Jefferson Rojas Wants to Be Javy Báez

I haven’t exactly made it a secret that Jefferson Rojas is one of my favorite prospects in the Chicago Cubs’ farm system. After debuting in the DSL at 17, Rojas skipped complex ball and wound up at Low-A Myrtle Beach...

Taillon Throwing and a Roster Benefit, Amaya Catching, Friedl Wrist, Williams, Alonso, and Other Cubs Bullets

You know, if Seiya really rakes, and Cody hits again, and if Nico and Happ get on base a ton and Busch turns out to be a stud, and if Dansby is above average and Amaya breaks out and Morel...

Spring Training Miscellany: Celebrate With a Green Beer, Happ Returns, Assad Solid, Cubs Win

The Cubs won their St. Patrick's Day game over the Rangers 8-6 today, and it's time to tip back a green one in celebration ... About what you'd want to see from Javier Assad today as he continues to stretch...

Chicago Cubs Lineup: Ian Happ is Back!

*SHORT COURTS: It's Time To Bring The Home Court, Home! Looking for a unique way to celebrate your athlete or team before you peruse this Chicago Cubs lineup? Don't miss out! For a limited time only, RECEIVE 10% OFF your...

The Third Cut Includes Mervis, Four Others

(Hear the song in your mind - it still fits!) The Chicago Cubs made their next set of cuts from big league camp today, sending out five players who were generally not expected to make the Opening Day roster. The...

Spring Leaders, Key Injuries, Rays Payroll, Luck of the Irish, and Other Cubs Bullets

A mighty fine St. Patrick's Day to you all. Although I've got a good bit of Irish in my blood, it's never been something I've connected to all that much. You can't really force it, but I kinda want to...

Spring Training Miscellany: Cubs Sweep the Split-Squad Day

It was a split-squad day for the Cubs today, and they won both by a total of two runs. It was 4-3 over the Angels and 8-7 over the Royals. The only teams with a better spring record than the...

Latest News

OH MY: ANTHONY EDWARDS JUST HAD THE BEST DUNK OF THE YEAR

Anthony Edwards has done it again. The emerging Minnesota Timberwolves superstar jammed the most impressive poster dunk of the season against the Utah Jazz on Monday night. Pushing the pace in transition during the third quarter, Edwards passed the ball...

De’Aaron Fox Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Grizzlies – Monday, March 18, 2024

To beat his 3-point prop, De'Aaron Fox must make three from beyond the arc on Monday, when his Sacramento Kings face the Memphis Grizzlies, tipping off at 10:00 PM ET.De'Aaron Fox's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the GrizzliesDe'Aaron Fox's over/under for...

Malik Monk Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Grizzlies – Monday, March 18, 2024

Will Malik Monk make three 3-pointers when the Sacramento Kings face the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday at 10:00 PM ET? If so, he'll beat his prop for the game.Malik Monk's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the GrizzliesMalik Monk's over/under for three-pointers...

Bogdan Bogdanovic Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Lakers – Monday, March 18, 2024

At 10:30 PM ET on Monday, it'll be the Atlanta Hawks against the Los Angeles Lakers, with Bogdan Bogdanovic needing three trifectas to beat his 3-pointer prop.Bogdan Bogdanovic's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the LakersBogdan Bogdanovic's over/under for three-pointers in this...

Anthony Davis Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Hawks – Monday, March 18, 2024

The Los Angeles Lakers face the Atlanta Hawks at 10:30 PM ET on Monday, and one of the 3-pointer over/unders available for this clash requires just one make from Anthony Davis.Anthony Davis' Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the HawksAnthony Davis' over/under...

Dejounte Murray Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Lakers – Monday, March 18, 2024

To beat his 3-point over/under, Dejounte Murray must make four from downtown on Monday, when his Atlanta Hawks face the Los Angeles Lakers, tipping off at 10:30 PM ET.Dejounte Murray's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the LakersDejounte Murray's over/under for three-pointers...

D’Angelo Russell Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Hawks – Monday, March 18, 2024

To beat his 3-point over/under, D'Angelo Russell must make three from beyond the arc on Monday, when his Los Angeles Lakers play the Atlanta Hawks, starting at 10:30 PM ET.D'Angelo Russell's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the HawksD'Angelo Russell's over/under for...

LeBron James Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Hawks – Monday, March 18, 2024

To beat his 3-point over/under, LeBron James needs to make three from downtown on Monday, when his Los Angeles Lakers face the Atlanta Hawks on Monday at 10:30 PM ET.LeBron James' Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the HawksLeBron James' over/under for...

Finally, a Team Wanted the Reigning NL Cy Young Winner

The rumors all wound up being true: Blake Snell would take a two-year deal in the $60 million range, the Giants were probably the favorites now, and the pressure was on to get something done. Per Jon Heyman, it two...

Damian Lillard Pulled Up to Watch the Bulls Play the Trail Blazers

Damian Lillard wants to be traded to the Chicago Bulls confirmed. The Milwaukee Bucks All-Star starter was a surprise guest at the Chicago Bulls' Monday night game. Lillard made the drive down from Milwaukee for an opportunity to sit courtside...

more cubs news