The Cubs have sent right-hander Jack Neely to Triple-A, following his designation for assignment to make room for Michael Conforto on the 40-man roster. Neely, 25, joined the Cubs from the Yankees at the 2024 trade deadline, in a deal involving Mark Leiter Jr. and Ben Cowles.
Neely's big league debut with the Cubs came with its challenges, as he posted a 9.00 ERA over six appearances despite a promising 25.0% strikeout rate. His minor league performance in 2023 and 2024 hinted at a bright future, with strikeout rates nearing 40% at Double-A.
However, 2025 proved difficult, with Neely struggling at Triple-A Iowa, recording a 5.94 ERA in 33 1/3 innings. Although his 27.7% strikeout rate remained solid, an 18.1% walk rate highlighted control issues that kept him out of the majors that year.
Despite these setbacks, the Cubs saw enough potential in Neely's past performances to keep him on the 40-man roster through the offseason. He showed signs of improvement during camp, striking out 46.7% of batters in four scoreless outings. Yet, with a packed bullpen and roster constraints due to Seiya Suzuki's knee injury, Neely found himself the odd man out.
Clearing waivers, Neely is now back in Triple-A, poised to serve as bullpen depth. If he can recapture his form from earlier seasons, a return to the majors could be on the horizon. Should he not make the 40-man roster by year's end, Neely will have the option to explore opportunities with other teams as a minor league free agent.