Cubs Prospect Profile: Brody McCullough |
For several years, everyone has been raving about the Cubs Minor League System, which continues to be one of the best farm systems in the game. It would be nice if some of these prospects not only pan out but also start to make their way to the majors, as it would make the Cubs roster decisions a whole lot easier.
One area the organization has been addressing for several years is the amount of pitching depth across the organization. You have seen some of that depth reach the majors, with several others close to knocking the door down themselves. Then you have the lower-level minor leagues, who aren't short on pitching either, as the Cubs' No.23 prospect, Brody McCullough, is just another one of the highly anticipated arms rolling through the system. A Division II kid from Wingate College in North Carolina, McCullough helped the Bullfrogs win the National Title in 2021, which set the stage for his draft selection in 2022, as he was the Cubs' 10th-round pick that season. Not only is baseball the only sport with more than seven rounds in a draft, but it's the only sport where players selected as low as he was being given a fair chance to develop into something more. From the day he arrived in the Cubs system, you saw the potential in McCullough. In his five appearances, he posted a 1.29 ERA, walking two and striking out 12 in seven innings. Then came his first full season in 2023, where he not only took some lumps along the way but also found a way to battle through adversity to improve as the season went on. Across 21 starts in 2023, McCullough was as locked in as possible. His 5-5 record may not have been great, but the 3.44 ERA was great. He did that across 86 innings, and what is more impressive was the 31BB to 108 K ratio that he displayed in those innings, showing overpowering stuff at times. This was one of the pitchers who many felt would break out in 2024, and through four games, he was well on his way to doing just that. McCullough couldn't have asked for a better start to his 2024 season. He started in three games and pitched in four games total, posting a 1.83 ERA in 14 innings. He walked five and struck out 15 in those innings, once again dialed in. Unfortunately for him, McCullough suffered a season-ending injury in May and missed practically an entire season of development, which isn't what you want to happen to any 24-year-old. What stands out the most about McCullough is his aggressive nature and his attack on the hitters. His fastball is in the 93 MPH range but can top out at 95-96. Given his unique arm angle, it tends to look faster than it is, which comes in handy at the lower Minor League levels. As good as the fastball is, it's the secondary offerings that could stand him apart, starting with an 83 MPH slider. He does have to get more consistency, but with an 82 MPH changeup and a curveball that sits in the 79 MPH range, McCullough doesn't need to be perfect with his secondary offerings, as he can use any of those pitches at any point in the count. A big reason for his injury is his delivery, as there are many moving parts to it. That could be something the Cubs try to work with him on, but they don't want to change what has been working for him too much. Although he may not have the same high ceiling that Cade Horton and some of these other guys may have, McCullough may have a higher floor, which is a good thing to have when discussing the back of the rotation arm. Of all the names in the Cubs system, McCullough is one of those guys who pegs to be in the starting rotation long-term, although some have discussed using him in a multi-inning relief role. His name has also come up in trade talks since the summer, which could again be the case all winter.
