Cubs Promote Underrated Pitching Prospect

There have been so many fun pitching prospects to follow this season in the Chicago Cubs minor league system and even in the lower levels names like Cade Horton and Jackson Ferris have gotten most of the attention that you may have missed the rise of 21-year-old starting pitcher Michael Arias.

The Cubs signed Arias to a minor league contract on Jan. 15, 2021, close to three years after he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays as an international free agent coming out of the Dominican Republic. The righty pitched in the Dominican Summer League during the 2021 season and in 2022 Arias made over to the United States and began the year pitching in the Arizona Complex League.

By the end of last year, Arias was assigned to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans at low A-Ball, where he made two short starts in affiliated ball. With recent draft picks and trades, along with other pitchers already in the system, Arias has been under the radar in the Cubs minor league system, although there have been some flashes going back to last spring training of a guy who could eventually become a real problem for hitters with more development.

In his first full season in pro ball, Arias started the 2023 season once again at A-Ball with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans and during the month of April the right-handed pitcher recorded 14 strikeouts in 9 innings.

As is the case with the majority of starting pitchers in the lower levels of the minor leagues, the outings are often shorter than what you expect. However, it became clear over the past couple of months that Arias was ready for a new challenge.

Michael Arias 2023 Season (Month to Month)
April: 3 Starts, 9 IP, 4.00 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 14 K, 5 BB
May: 5 Starts, 18.2 IP, 3.38 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 29 K, 14 BB
June: 3 Starts, 14.2 IP, 0.61 ERA, 0.61 WHIP, 21 K, 6 BB

Overall, Arias has a 2.55 ERA through 11 starts so far in 2023.

His last three starts have been remarkable, as Arias has allowed 1 ER on 3 total hits across 14.2 innings. This recent stretch of success has earned Arias a promotion up to Advanced A-Ball with the South Bend Cubs.

Below, you'll see highlights of the right-hander's best start of the season. Earlier in June, Arias struck out a career-best 10 batters in five shutout innings.

Arias followed that up by throwing 4.2 more scoreless innings on June 21, when he did not allow a single hit in his start.

Across all of the minor leagues, Arias ranks eighth overall with a 2.55 ERA among pitchers who have thrown at least 40 innings and are 21-years-old or younger this season.

That South Bend rotation is definitely one Cubs fans will want to check out. Not only will Arias make his debut there soon, but he's also joining a group that includes top pitching prospect Cade Horton and fellow 2022 draft class mate Brandon Birdsell.