Chicago Cubs Pitching Prospect Already Turning Heads As Spring Training Nears

The Chicago Cubs enter the 2026 spring training camp with massive expectations. After an aggressive offseason that saw the front office push their chips to the center of the table—bringing in star third baseman Alex Bregman and trading for arm talent like Edward Cabrera—the focus has largely been on the big-league stars. But quietly, amidst the veterans and high-profile acquisitions, a 24-year-old pitching prospect is stealing some of the spotlight.

Jaxon Wiggins, the Cubs’ second-round pick from the 2023 draft, is making serious waves in Mesa, Arizona. While he might not be a household name just yet, his performance in the early days of camp suggests he won’t be flying under the radar for much longer.

Chicago Cubs Jaxon Wiggins Turning Heads

It is one thing for fans or media to hype up a prospect based on potential; it is another thing entirely when the manager goes out of his way to praise a young player. Cubs manager Craig Counsell recently highlighted Wiggins as a standout during the early throwing sessions.

Counsell, known for being measured with his praise, noted that Jaxon Wiggins looked far more polished than your average prospect. “If you watch him, he’s throwing very professional appearances in his bullpens and his live (BP), very professional,” Counsell said. “He absolutely has the ability to do it.”

For a pitcher who is still developing, being described as “professional” by a big-league skipper is a huge compliment. It implies that Wiggins isn’t just throwing hard—he is executing pitches, hitting his spots, and carrying himself with the poise of a veteran.

Dominance in the Minors

The buzz around Wiggins isn’t just based on a few good bullpen sessions in Arizona. It is backed up by a breakout 2025 season in the minor leagues that put him firmly on the organization’s map.

Last year, Wiggins was nothing short of dominant. Across 18 starts and 19 total appearances, he posted a stellar 2.19 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. Perhaps most impressively, he struck out 97 batters in just 78 innings of work. Those are the kind of “video game numbers” that suggest a pitcher has stuff that plays at a high level.

At 6-foot-6, Wiggins has the physical frame of a workhorse starter, and his ability to miss bats is exactly what the Cubs are looking for as they try to build a sustainable pitching pipeline.

What This Means for the Cubs’ Future

So, what does this mean for the 2026 season? While the Chicago Cubs’ rotation is currently crowded with established veterans, depth is the currency of champions in Major League Baseball. Injuries happen, and having a high-ceiling arm like Wiggins waiting in the wings is a luxury.

The Cubs saw success recently by aggressively promoting top pitching talent like Cade Horton, and Wiggins could be on a similar trajectory. While he likely won’t break camp in the starting rotation, his performance this spring is putting the organization on notice. If he continues to stack good days on top of good days, as Counsell suggested, his arrival at Wrigley Field might happen sooner rather than later.

For now, Wiggins is doing exactly what a prospect needs to do: making it impossible for the coaching staff to ignore him.