Because it came shortly before the Trade Deadline, and because it wasn’t a monster package deal involving other players who weren’t traded, the David Robertson trade with the Phillies didn’t get a ton of standalone attention. But, as Bryan broke down, the pitching prospect the Cubs got in the deal, Ben Brown, is potentially in the middle of a breakout, and the Cubs may have gotten him at just the right time.
One start won’t confirm anything, but Brown’s debut with the Cubs – which was also his debut at Double-A – couldn’t have gone much better.
Brown, who is coming off of a July that saw him post a 1.57 ERA, a 1.03 FIP, a 2.4% BB rate, and a 42.2% K rate, kept the heater up now that he’s with the Cubs and at Double-A. Some of the highlights and the reactions:
So, with Ben Brown added to the Tennessee rotation, all five of the Cubs’ top pitching prospects are at Double-A or higher. Brown, Jordan Wicks, and D.J. Herz are at Double-A Tennessee, and Caleb Kilian and Hayden Wesneski, acquired for Scott Effross, are at Triple-A Iowa.
Bonus fun from the appearance? Brown gets praise from his new catcher, who praises right back: