Chicago Cubs prospect Ben Brown could enter the starting rotation this year. According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, “The Cubs are giving serious consideration to putting hard-throwing right-hander Ben Brown in the rotation’s fifth spot.” The Cubs would make a high-risk, high-reward move by acquiring the former top prospect.
Currently projected as the fifth starter, Colin Rea provides stability and a calm, veteran demeanor. The 34-year-old accumulated a 4.29 ERA over 167 and 2/3 innings last summer. While he is a trustworthy option, he does not offer nearly the same ceiling as Brown. Javier Assad is another choice, but a strained oblique and regressive 2024 does not bode well for his Opening Day odds. However, he has a career ERA of 3.40 and is worth monitoring wherever manager Craig Counsell implements him.
Brown made eight starts in 2024 and went 1-3 with a solid 3.58 ERA and 1.084 WHIP. He primarily throws a four-seamer and curveball and will likely need to develop his changeup (or another pitch) if he is a full-time starter.
This repertoire may make him better suited for bullpen duties, but the talent is undoubtedly there. Baseball Savant listed his average fastball velocity at 96.4 mph, and despite having too many hard-hit balls, he has major swing-and-miss stuff. Chicago has division-winning aspirations and would be wise to roll the dice with Brown.
With Kyle Tucker’s pending free agency and a wide-open NL Central, the time is now to make a bold move. Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon, and Matthew Boyd are locked into starting gigs, and the race for the final spot will be fascinating all season.
