Chicago Cubs: Hunter Bigge is turning heads in Eugene
By Ryan Sikes
Selected in the 12th round of the 2019 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Hunter Bigge is lighting up the radar.
The Major League Baseball Draft can often be a crapshoot so when the Chicago Cubs grab a guy like Hunter Bigge in the 12th round, you don’t necessarily focus on him right away. However, he’s caught everyone’s attention in his brief professional career thus far.
The flamethrower from Harvard became a full-time starter this past season and struck out 76 batters while walking 36 in 74.2 innings of work. He also allowed opponents to bat 0.267 off him, so it wasn’t exactly an exciting pick.
He made just one appearance in relief in the Arizona Fall League before the Cubs determined that he was ready to move up to Class-A short-season Eugene.
Bigge has made 8 appearances thus far with the Emeralds and has struck out 20 batters in 15.0 innings while allowing opponents to bat just 0.120 off him.
Hunter Bigge with a gas delivery. pic.twitter.com/JUzeoooxaj
— Itsacon (@thats_so_cub) August 12, 2019
The best part? The kid already throws an easy 99 mph. He can struggle with his command at times as he’s walked 8 batters in those 15.0 innings. However, if the Cubs see him as a better fit in the back end of the bullpen, he could move up quickly but at the rate he develops his secondary pitches.
The Cubs went heavy on relief pitchers in June’s draft knowing full well that guys on their roster like Pedro Strop, Steve Cishek, Brandon Kintzler, and Brandon Morrow are all in their contract seasons and likely won’t be brought back given the money they’ll command and their age.
There’s no shot Bigge is ready by next season but the Cubs’ bullpen could really use a big-time strikeout guy. For what it’s worth, he can also handle a bat as he slashed 0.319/0.368/0.514 with 7 home runs and 34 RBI’s in 39 games this season.
The Cubs scouting department really likes players who have proven to hit well in wood-bat leagues and the same could be said for pitchers. Bigge played for the Duluth Huskies in the Northwoods League last year and struck out 52 batters in 51.2 innings while walking just 18 batters.
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Baseball American had Hunter Bigge as the biggest Day 3 upside but he’ll need to develop more of his secondary pitches to be a complete player. Keep an eye on this kid.