Cubs Minor League Report Card: Iowa Starters |
We are nearing the end of the Cubs Minor League Report Card series as we shift our focus to pitching. Given how the Minor Leagues are constructed, the relievers won't be covered, nor will every starter that made a start this season.
Instead, we will focus on each team individually and pick three of their starters to break them down and recap the season they had. Today, it is all about the Iowa Cubs and their rotation, as this was a massive issue this season. A big reason for that was the influx of arms forced to go to Chicago this season as Iowa searched for pitching help all season. Even with guys like Adrian Houser, Julio Teheran, Dan Straily, and several other options the Cubs picked up in the season, they still needed help filling out their rotation as they used 13 different starters this season. Anytime you go through that many arms in a season, it will be challenging to win, and the Iowa Cubs had their issues most of the season.
One pitcher who managed to have some success in Iowa this season was right-hander Brandon Birdsell. The 6-2 240-pound righty had a great season as the 2022 fifth-rounder began the season at AA before jumping to AAA for the second half of the season. Once he made that jump, you could see the potential Birdsell had, but there were also some starts that left you shaking your head, wondering what he was doing on the mound. For the season, Birdsell emerged as one of the Cubs' better starters in the organization as he posted an 8-9 record and a 3.91 ERA across 27 starts. That included a 4-5 showing with Iowa and a 4.26 ERA, as Birdsell more than held his own this season. Now a top-25 prospect, Birdsell is entering a crucial offseason. He will begin the season in AAA next year and look to make a lasting impression on the entire Cubs organization. Season Grade B: Take the record out of the equation, and Birdsell had an outstanding season. Seen mostly as a middle-to-back of the rotation arm, Birdsell displayed the ability to beat hitters with his 94 MPH heater while also setting them up for his wipeout-breaking ball. His 31BB/134K ratio shows you his command as he is the definition of a strike thrower.
Like his counterpart Birdsell, Noland was also a 2022 draft pick (9th round) and opened his season in AA before getting the bump to AAA by the season's end. Not known for being a hard thrower, Noland uses location and his ability to change speeds to get hitters out, pitching much differently than most pitchers in today's game. Despite that, it works for him, and Noland rewarded the Cubs with an organization-best 12 wins and went 12-5 with a combined 3.49 ERA this season. That is coming off a season where he went 1-8 as a rookie. He will not only garner the most improved player nominations but will also be in the running for the Cubs organizational pitcher of the year. After dominating AA with a 7-3 mark and a 2.50 ERA, Noland tried his luck at the AAA level and continued to succeed, going 5-2 during his time in Iowa. ERA-wise, however, Noland took some lumps along the way, as AAA hitters got to him much easier than AA, as he posted a 5.29 ERA in AAA. This is a guy worthy of an MLB look next season, but he will have to make some more strides in his first full AAA season. Season Grade A: It's hard not to give Noland an A for a grade when you look at his success. His ERA was very good; he is a strike thrower, and he just went out there and pitched his game, which led to a lot of wins. That is all you can ask for from a young starter, as Noland appears ready to contribute to the MLB roster in some form. Hopefully, that comes with the Cubs and not someone else.
One of the most anticipated pitchers heading into the season was that of 2022 first-rounder Cade Horton. Coming off a 4-4 showing in 2023 with a 2.65 ERA across three Minor League levels, the former Oklahoma Sooner was healthy for the first time since joining the Cubs and was ready to make a lasting impact. He made that impact and more while pitching for AA Tennessee. Horton went on to make four starts and posted a 1.10 ERA over those four starts. Pair that with what he did in AA in 2023, and the Cubs felt like his body of work was good enough to earn a promotion to AAA, as the call-up clock was now ticking. Once he arrived in Iowa, the bottom fell out for Horton in more ways than one. He struggled to settle in, going 1-1 with a 7.50 ERA across five starts. Combine that with AA, and he made nine starts this season, going 2-1 and posting a 4.26 ERA. Horton did get on a nice three-start run to end his AAA season, although he suffered an injury in June that ended his season. Season Grade C: If you had to pick out one player as the biggest disappointment, Horton would be at the top of your list mainly because you didn't see enough of him before his season was cut short. When he was on the mound, Horton continued to overpower hitters as he has all the makeup of a front-line starter who can help this organization win for years. The problem now is the injuries, as Horton has dealt with several injuries since joining the Cubs. Chicago can't afford to keep a pitcher who might be considered damaged goods, and if these injuries continue for Horton, his days as a starter could be ending. That may not be a problem, as Horton has the stuff to be an elite closer. That is something to monitor next season and beyond, as his health will lead to challenging roster decisions. Brandon Birdsell
Connor Noland
Cade Horton
