Headed into the 2021 season, LHP Brailyn Marquez, sat atop the Cubs prospect list. The southpaw, who possessed an electric fastball capable of touching a disgusting 102 miles per hour on the gun, had the ceiling to be a front-line starter in the Cubs rotation.

After dominating the Single-A levels in 2019, Marquez got to make his Major League Debut during the pandemic shortened 2020 season, pitching 0.2 innings in a game against the Chicago White Sox.

Fast forward to November 18th, 2022, and the Cubs chose to non-tender Marquez, who would elect to enter free agency before signing back with the Cubs with a minor league deal on December 5th, 2022.

What Happened?

The once promising lefty did not pitch in the 2021 and 2022 seasons. In 2021, Marquez was poised to fight for a spot with the big league squad during spring training, but he was delayed from joining the team after testing positive for COVID-19.

After being cleared, he began to slowly start ramping up, but left shoulder fatigue paired with an eventual myocarditis diagnosis, in April, would shut him down and end his 2021 season.

Jump now to spring training in 2022, Marquez was faced with another hurdle as he was once again diagnosed with COVID-19. After being cleared the lefty dealt with left shoulder inflammation shortly after, that would eventually lead to him having season ending shoulder surgery on June 17th, 2022.

As previously stated, the Cubs would non-tender the former number one prospect, which would remove him from the 40-man roster. However, the two parties signing a minor league contract shows that Marquez is committed to the Cubs, and that the Cubs believe that Marquez can get back on the right track.

Current status?

On June 20th, 2023, just over a year removed from his shoulder surgery, the Cubs sent Marquez on a rehab assignment to the Arizona Complex league. His final line after three outings was: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, and 2 strikeouts, with his fastball velocity sitting around 91-92.

He spent 11 days in Arizona before being sent to Low-A Myrtle Beach, where he would spend another 11 days before moving up to High-A South Bend for 5 days. He was then assigned to AA Tennessee.

Across his four outings in Myrtle Beach and South Bend, he posted a line of: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 4 walks, and 6 strikeouts. His fastball velocity was up a tick from his time in Arizona, and was now touching 93.

It’s been a month since Marquez was called up to AA Tennessee on July 18th. He has appeared in 8 games (as of August 17th), and the results have been a mixed bag. He didn’t allow a run in his first two outings for the Smokies, but was knocked around during his next three outings, allowing 8 earned runs with 9 walks to only a 4 strikeouts.

Things have taken a more positive turn recently, however. In his last three outings, he has posted a line of: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 strikeouts, with his fastball velocity reportedly touching 95 mph. His 11.32 K/9 in AA is very encouraging, but he also posts an 11.32 BB/9 in AA as well. Command has always been an issue, BUT it is encouraging that we’ve seen the strikeouts go up, and the walks come down in his last handful of outings.

What to expect?

It’s hard to say what Cubs fans can expect from Brailyn Marquez, but all they should be doing is rooting for him. He has been through the ringer the last three years, and I just want to see him stay healthy and not have any high expectations on him. It’s important to keep in mind that he had only thrown .2 innings of professional baseball since 2019, and if we exclude that inning of work in 2020, he has never pitched above High-A prior to now. We’ve seen as recent as this year what fellow former top prospect Miguel Amaya, who battled his own injury struggles, was able to do this year once he was fully healthy.

The Cubs have a loaded farm system, including multiple high level pitching prospects, unlike they did prior to the 2021 season. It’s unlikely that Brailyn is going to be a top of the line starter that some envisioned him being, but his talents could be best suited as a reliever. It remains to be seen how high he can get with his fastball velocity, and how well he can develop his changeup, but there is always a spot for a lefty who can throw absolute gas in the late innings of a close game.

He is only 24 years old and has plenty of time to develop. He will be a free agent at the end of the season, and lets hope he sticks around. In the meantime, keep an eye on what he is doing, and let’s all get behind and support him in his efforts.

Nothing would be greater than seeing Brailyn helping the Chicago Cubs win games in 2024 and beyond.

What are your thoughts? Leave a comment down below, or let us know on Twitter @WeLikeSportzPC what you think!

– Zachary Lory

Follow me on Twitter for more sports content @Swervin32_

*Photo courtesy of Chicago Sun-Times.