NEWSLETTER
Apparently the Cubs are making multiple roster moves today, because Christopher Morel is not the only prospecting joining the big league team. Lefty pitching prospect Brandon Hughes is also coming up.
Hughes, 26, has been absurdly good, and as a guy who was Rule 5 eligible after the season, this was always coming at some point:
This is such a great anecdote, that a legend like Buddy saw Brandon’s potential before maybe anyone else. But I can see how he appealed, because he relentlessly attacks and so rarely hurts himself out there. Plus the whole “great athlete” thing, of course. https://t.co/WataorBvu8
— Cubs Prospects – Bryan Smith (@cubprospects) May 17, 2022
As Bryan notes, Hughes was converted from the outfield heading into the 2019 season, and he exploded from there. By 2021, he was a dominant relief prospect. By this season at Double-A, and then quickly Triple-A, he was virtually unhittable. You can see in the stats Bryan shared that Hughes has been hilariously effective for almost a year now. It was time to see how it plays in the big leagues.
The case for adding Brandon Hughes to the 40-man today is one of stats and sweeps.
Stats: for season, 1.71 ERA, 12.9 K/9. Last 13: 21.1 IP, 11 H, 0.42 ERA, 10 BB, 31 K.
Sweeps: a *nasty* slider, which you’ll see 5 of in this clip, 4 of which induced whiffs. Stay for the end! 😳 pic.twitter.com/pMsDbvgh6z
— Cubs Prospects – Bryan Smith (@cubprospects) November 19, 2021
Brandon Hughes is no longer a former outfielder who now pitches. He is a PITCHER
On the season: 11.1 IP, 1.59 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, .167 AVG, 37% K pic.twitter.com/ExHG4t3KfQ
— Greg Huss (@OutOfTheVines) May 30, 2021
It’s possible Hughes will be an up-down guy this year, but it’s also possible he reveals himself to simply be too good to go back down. There are a range of possible outcomes, though I think it tends to be most likely in these situations that a guy like him comes up, looks decent but not dominant, learns from his first exposure to big league hitters, goes back down for a little bit to work on specific things, and then at some point comes back up to stay. We’ve seen it many times before with top relief prospects, and that’s certainly what I would call Brandon Hughes.
Now we just wait word on what is happening elsewhere on the roster to open a 26-man roster spot for Morel, and 26 and 40-man spots for Hughes.
