Former No. 1 Cubs Prospect Among Latest to Hit Free Agency

Earlier this week former No. 1 Cubs prospect Brailyn Márquez was one of several players on minor league deals with the Cubs to become free agents.

Márquez, now 24-years-old, was the team's top-ranked prospect when he made his MLB debut at the end of the 2020 season against the White Sox. The left-handed pitcher was able to record two outs in his first and so far only major league appearance, but he also allowed five earned runs after allowing a pair of hits and three walks.

In 2019, Márquez had a breakout season at A-Ball with Myrtle Beach and South Bend. He made 22 starts and recorded a 3.13 ERA, with 128 strikeouts in 103.2 innings. He had some real dominant stretches that year, including a four-start span in which Márquez allowed just four hits, while striking out 30 batters in 22 innings.

Then, the 2020 season arrived and the minor league schedule was canceled. Márquez pitched against the White Sox in the final regular season game and wouldn't pitch in a game again until 2023. In 2021, Márquez dealt with COVID-19, a strained shoulder and myocarditis. He also missed the entire 2022 season with a second COVID-19 positive test and was eventually shut down after undergoing a surgical debridement procedure on his left shoulder in June.

The Cubs non-tendered Márquez last offseason, but did bring him back on a minor league. However, Márquez simply did not regain the same velocity he once had and struggled in the minors, posting a 4.99 ERA in 30.2 innings, most of which came as a reliever.

Two quick points. The first, this is yet another example of how even highly-regarded prospects are not guaranteed to be successful and they may never even have much time in the major leagues to begin with. Secondly, this also goes to show you how weak the Cubs farm system was back in 2020, and how much it has improved since then.

Entering the 2020 season, Baseball America ranked Márquez 37th in their top-100 prospects list and 52nd at the start of the 2021 season.

Below is the entire list of the 10 Cubs minor leaguers who are new free agents.

P.J. Higgins, C
Yonathan Perlaza, OF
Stephen Gonsalves, LHP
Brailyn Marquez, LHP
Nick Burdi, RHP
Samuel Reyes, RHP
Nick Neidert, RHP
Yovanny Cruz, RHP
Carlos Guzman, RHP
Ben Hecht, RHP

Besides Márquez, the other notable names are outfielder Yonathan Perlaza, catcher P.J. Higgins and right-handed reliever Nick Burdi.

Perlaza, 25, had a great season at Triple-A in 2023. The switch-hitter slashed .284/.389/.534, good enough for a 130 wRC+, adding a 14 BB% and 23 home runs to go along with 40 doubles.

Higgins was drafted by the Cubs in 2015, and had made it up to the majors, playing in 83 games with the Cubs from 2021-22. Higgins signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks last offseason before the Cubs traded for him later on in July.

Burdi became the first Cubs pitcher to throw 100mph+ since Aroldis Chapman when he came up from Triple-A during the 2023 season, but another arm injury shut him down and he didn't have quite enough time for a late-season return.