Jackson Ferris – Pic by Stephanie Lynn
When I did the group rankings back in August, I’m not sure why I had the left-handed starting pitching group in this spot. it is definitely a high impact group and it turned out to be even more more so down the stretch with Jordan Wicks ending the season strong in Iowa and Chicago. The same was true for Jackson Ferris and Drew Gray in Myrtle Beach along with Marino Santy. And that’s pretty much it. That’s not a lot of starting pitchers who throw from the left side of the rubber. And at some point in May, Wicks will come off the board as a prospect leaving the Cubs with just three full season lefty starters, all at high class A.
So, for now, here is how they land:
1. Wicks – If you need me to explain to you why he’s number one, I am fresh out of crayons.
2. Jackson Ferris – I sometimes wonder what his ceiling is because we are only just beginning to find out. By the time his MiLB career is over, we could possibly see a top 20 MLB prospect in the next two years.
3. Drew Gray – When 2024 begins, I will be in heaven seeing him unleashed for the first time when the weather warms up in the Great Lakes region.
4. Santy – That curveball is plus-plus pitch that could be MLB ready if he is moved to the pen.
5, There is another candidate to be a left-handed starter and that is Ethan Flanagan, who the Cubs took in the 17th round of the 2023 MLB draft. He might miss the first half of this season due to the fact that he underwent surgery last summer. The former UCLA product had an outstanding freshman season and then struggled as a sophomore. But the Cubs swooped in and picked up the draft eligible sophomore. If he does come back this year, he’s going to be limited in terms of pitches per game as well as innings. Will his offspeed stuff return? Will his control? This could take a couple years to get him on track. We will see.
The Rest
After missing a season due to violating the performance enhancing drug policy, Carlos Garcia came back last year and struggled mightily in Mesa. Unless he went through a physical transformation this winter, and added some muscle, I wonder if he’s going to be ready for Myrtle Beach to start the year. He could maybe be there in May or June if he has a good extended spring training. What I like about him is that he is still just 21. In other words, just a pup.
Two more guys the Cubs have who could be left-handed starters will be coming out of the Dominican to Mesa later this summer.
Zhiorman Imbriano – The soon-to-be 21-year-old lefty finished his second season in the DSL with 42.1 innings and a 2.98 ERA. He should be stateside this summer if not before to get a head start in extended spring training for 2024 in the Arizona Complex League. At 6-foot and 180 pounds, it will be interesting to see how he adapts.
Miguel Cruz is a big kid. He’s a 6-foot-4 lefty who debuted in the DSL last year and put together a stunning July with a 0.69 ERA in 4 starts after struggling in June with a 9+ ERA in 5 starts. For the year, he struck out 35 in 36 innings. He will be 20-years-old for this season and Mesa will probably be his best landing spot.
Surprises
Who knows if any relievers will moved to the rotation this year. That is a possibility along with the Cubs picking up a minor league free agent or two.
The bottom line is that there is some serious talent at the position but it is very thin in terms of depth and it is pretty much all at South Bend to start the year. The short season leagues should begin to develop some depth and we will see who the Cubs add in International Free Agency the next 6 months along with the Draft in July.
