Chicago Cubs: 5 pitching prospects to call up in 2020
By Ryan Sikes
Tennessee Smokies pitcher Cory Abbott has been awesome this season. He could be on the fast track to Wrigley.
The Chicago Cubs could elect to have 2017 second round draft pick, Cory Abbott join the rotation in 2020. After splitting the 2018 season between Single-A South Bend and High-A Myrtle Beach, Abbott got promoted to start this season at Double-A Tennessee.
He’s been nothing short of electric so far and there is a lot to like about this kid. Abbott has made seven starts this season with a 3-2 record. In these starts, he has pitched 39.2 innings while striking out 42 batters and walking just six to the tune of a 2.95 ERA.
Abbott came from Loyola Maramount, a small university in Los Angeles. During his time there he tossed the first perfect game in school history.
"In addition to his perfect game, Abbott set school records for lowest opposing batting average (.173) and most strikeouts-per-nine-innings (11.90) as a junior. He tied another Marymount record with 16 strikeouts in a game against Portland and went 8-0 with a WCC record 0.27 ERA over nine starts and 67 innings against WCC teams. – via MLB.com"
Abbott was ranked as the Cubs fourth-best pitching prospect at the beginning of the season and we are starting to see why the front office liked him so much. If all goes well, a promotion to Triple-A would figure to be in order in the next month or so.
He would finish out the season there and have a legit shot at making the opening day rotation in 2020.