Ben Brown’s path to the big leagues has been anything but straightforward - and now, the Cubs may be at a critical crossroads with how they use him. After a rocky start to his career as a starting pitcher, the numbers are painting a pretty clear picture: this might be a guy better suited for the bullpen.
Let’s look at the facts. Brown’s posted a 5.26 ERA across 23 career starts and a 4.79 ERA in relief.
That gap might not look massive at first glance, but zoom in on 2025 and the contrast sharpens: a 6.30 ERA as a starter versus 4.99 out of the bullpen. It’s not dominance either way, but the trend is there - and it’s pointing toward the 'pen.
This isn’t a new story in baseball. In fact, it’s a well-worn path for plenty of pitchers who struggled in starting roles before finding new life as relievers.
John Wetteland, for instance, had a rough go early on - a 5.49 ERA in 17 starts and just five wins to show for it. But once he was moved to the bullpen, he became a force, racking up 330 career saves and helping his team to a World Series title.
Wade Davis followed a similar arc. As a starter in Tampa Bay, he was underwhelming, with a 4.57 ERA and a WHIP north of 1.45.
But Kansas City saw something in him, moved him to the bullpen, and the rest is history - he became a critical piece of their 2015 championship run. Brandon Morrow, Andrew Miller, Raisel Iglesias - all pitchers who reinvented themselves in relief roles after inconsistent or underwhelming stints as starters.
So where does Ben Brown fit in?
Let’s start with his arsenal. Brown’s fastball velocity dipped a bit in 2025 - down from 96.4 mph the year before - but that’s not unusual for a pitcher bouncing between roles.
If the Cubs commit to using him in short bursts, there’s reason to believe he could ramp that fastball back up into the high 90s. And his curveball?
It’s a legit weapon, one that could be even more effective when hitters only get one look at it per outing.
But here’s the key: Brown doesn’t have the pitch mix of a modern starter. There’s no slider.
No sinker. No real change-of-pace options outside of that curveball.
Today’s starters are expected to navigate lineups multiple times with a deep, varied repertoire. Brown just doesn’t have that in the toolbox.
And sending him to Triple-A Iowa to “develop” those pitches at age 26 feels more like wishful thinking than a viable development plan.
Some might point to Justin Steele as a counterexample - a lefty with a relatively simple pitch mix who’s thrived in a starting role. But that comparison doesn’t hold up.
Steele throws a sinker and a slider, giving him multiple looks to keep hitters off balance. Brown doesn’t throw either of those pitches.
His curveball usage is much higher, yes, but the overall diversity in Steele’s arsenal is what makes him effective as a starter.
And here’s the other piece of the puzzle: the Cubs don’t need Ben Brown in their rotation.
They’re already stacked. Matthew Boyd, Edward Cabrera, Cade Horton, Shōta Imanaga, and Jameson Taillon form a solid starting five.
Colin Rea is available as a swingman. Javier Assad is waiting in Triple-A.
Justin Steele will be back in the mix at some point, and highly regarded prospect Jaxon Wiggins is knocking on the door. That’s nine arms ready to contribute in the rotation this year.
What the Cubs do need is bullpen firepower - arms that can shorten games, miss bats, and bring late-inning heat. Brown fits that mold.
He has the kind of fastball-curveball combo that can thrive in a one-inning role, and he’s never really had a defined job since joining the Cubs. Give him one.
Let him settle into a setup role, maybe even give him the occasional save opportunity. Let him grow into the kind of high-leverage reliever this team could lean on down the stretch.
Because sometimes, it’s not about forcing a pitcher to be something they’re not. It’s about recognizing what they are - and putting them in a position to succeed. For Ben Brown, that position might just be 60 feet, 6 inches away from the plate, with the game on the line and one inning to get three outs.
And if that’s the case, the Cubs might have a valuable bullpen piece already in-house - they just need to let him loose.