REPORT: Cubs Top Pitching Draft Pick Headed To South Bend

Hey, hey! Cubs Insider with yet another scoop! Left-handed pitcher Burl Carraway, who the Cubs picked in the second round of the 2020 MLB draft, is on his way to South Bend.

The lefty reliever will be added to the Cubs' 60-man player pool.

Jordan Bastian, who covers the Cubs for MLB.com, confirmed the upcoming addition of Carraway.

If you remember back to the day the Cubs drafted Carraway in June, you'll recall that there was plenty of buzz that the left-hander could be the first player in this year's class to appear in the majors.

Carraway has two plus pitches and can hit 100mph with his fastball. He was a reliever in college and that's where he'll stay with the Cubs, meaning Carraway will spend less time having to develop in the minors.

There's a good chance that if the Cubs are in the hunt for the playoffs that Carraway will make his MLB debut in 2020.

Via Cubs Insider.

According to a source with knowledge of the situation, Cubs Insider has learned that Carraway is heading to South Bend as part of the auxiliary unit backing up the primary 30-man squad in Chicago. Though the Cubs have been reluctant to fast-track their pitching prospects over the last few years, a more aggressive philosophy and the nature of the short season make it entirely likely that Carraway sees some time in the majors over the next two months.

Talking pure stuff, Carraway's fastball and curveball are legit MLB weapons out of the bullpen.

Via The Athletic.

Carraway’s fastball averaged 97 mph this year with an average spin rate of 2500 RPM. According to Statcast data, the average four-seam fastball spin rate for an MLB lefty is 2261 RPM last season. Carraway would have been in the top 10 among all left-handed pitchers last season, ahead of dominant southpaw relievers like Aroldis Chapman (2486), Brad Hand (2420) and Josh Hader (2123). 
His 79-mph curveball has similarly impressive traits, coming in at an average of 79 mph with 2650 RPMs (the league average is 2443 for a lefty), which would have put him in the top 20 for spin rate among lefties who threw at least 100 curveballs last season.

When Carraway is officially added to the South Bend roster the Cubs' 60-man player pool will be at 58.