Cubs Calling up RHP Hunter Bigge to Help Bullpen

The Cubs are a mess and nothing seems to be working, plus they keep losing pitchers to injury. As such, it’s time to see what some of the younger guys can do. And while 26-year-old Hunter Bigge (sounds like Biggie) isn’t exactly the picture of youthful promise, he’s got a live right arm and has been lights-out at Triple-A Iowa in limited action. After getting a late start to the season, the Harvard product has racked up six saves with a 0.77 ERA and 19 strikeouts over 11 appearances.

Sources: Cubs are calling up Hunter Bigge, the 26-year-old relief pitching prospect.

The @HarvardBaseball alum has been dominant with a 0.77 ERA at Triple-A. @MLBNetwork @MLBPipeline @670TheScore

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 6, 2024

Bigge has also walked six batters over 11.2 innings, but you’ll take that when he misses so many bats. His success comes from an upper-90s cut-ride fastball and a devasting slider that frequently makes right-handed batters look ridiculous. That pitch can sometimes end up being uncompetitive and being spit on, hence the walks.

Combined with Ethan Roberts, this gives the Cubs two relievers who have guested on the now-defunct Rant Live podcast, which at least makes watching them more enjoyable for me. Because he’s not on the 40-man roster yet, this will require either a DFA or an addition to the 60-day IL.

Update: Colten Brewer has been placed on the 60-day IL with a left hand fracture, clearing spots on both the active and 40-man rosters. The righty suffered the injury from punching the dugout wall after being removed from Saturday’s game. Brewer retired just two of the eight batters he faced and ended up allowing three runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks. But hey, at least it was his non-throwing hand. Yeesh.