When the Cubs signed Kyle Wright to a minor league deal this week, they weren’t just adding another arm to their spring training roster - they were taking a calculated swing at a once-promising talent who’s been through the wringer. This is the kind of move that doesn’t make headlines in February but could pay off big if the pieces fall into place.
Let’s rewind for a second. Wright was the fifth overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft - a Vanderbilt product with ace potential and a fastball to match.
By 2022, he looked every bit the part. He led the majors with 21 wins that year, helped anchor the Braves’ rotation, and finished 10th in NL Cy Young voting.
His numbers weren’t just solid - they were foundational. A 3.19 ERA over 180.1 innings, a 55.6% groundball rate, and a K-BB profile (23.6% K, 7.2% BB) that made him both effective and efficient.
He wasn’t blowing hitters away with 100 mph heat, but with a heavy sinker, a sharp curve, and a knack for inducing weak contact, he was getting it done.
But then came the shoulder issues - and everything unraveled.
Since that breakout 2022 campaign, Wright has pitched just nine games in the big leagues. He missed most of 2023 with a shoulder injury, and when he did return, it wasn’t pretty.
A 6.97 ERA over 31 innings told the story of a pitcher who wasn’t right physically. His last MLB appearance came on September 28, 2023 - oddly enough, against the Cubs - where he picked up a win in relief.
But that would be his final outing before undergoing shoulder surgery that cost him the entire 2024 season.
By 2025, Wright was trying to work his way back in the Royals organization, having been traded there by Atlanta in late 2023. He made his minor league debut in May but lasted just two starts before suffering a setback.
He returned a few weeks later, made six more starts, and then was shut down again in late June - this time with an oblique injury. All told, he threw just 23 innings across eight starts between Double-A and Triple-A last season.
Still, that was enough for the Cubs to take a flier.
This is a low-risk, high-upside move. Wright is 30 years old now, and while the injuries have clearly taken a toll, the Cubs are betting there’s still something left in the tank. He’ll be in camp this week with a non-roster invite, looking to prove he can still compete at the highest level.
Stuff-wise, Wright brings a mix that fits the Cubs’ pitching philosophy. His fastball and sinker sit in the 93-95 mph range, and he leans heavily on a curveball that’s been his best pitch throughout his career.
He also mixes in a changeup and slider, giving him a full arsenal when healthy. The question, of course, is whether that health will hold up - and whether the stuff still plays.
The reality is, Wright isn’t walking into a clear path to the Opening Day roster. The Cubs have a crowded rotation picture, with more than 10 arms vying for spots either in the big-league rotation or as depth options in Triple-A. But if Wright can stay healthy and show flashes of the 2022 version of himself, he could absolutely pitch his way into the mix later in the season.
This is the kind of move that flies under the radar now but could become meaningful down the stretch - especially if injuries hit or if the Cubs need rotation reinforcements in the summer. For now, it’s a second chance for a former first-round pick with a World Series ring and a 21-win season on his résumé. And for the Cubs, it’s a smart, low-cost bet on a guy who’s been there before and is hungry to get back.