Another Cubs pitching prospect set for MLB debut

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The Cubs will call up right-hander Javier Assad from Triple-A Iowa to start Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Cardinals, manager David Ross announced.

Assad, 25, signed with the Cubs as an international free agent out of Mexico in 2015. He began the 2022 season with Double-A Tennessee and was promoted to Iowa last month.

Although he's not ranked among the Cubs' top 30 prospects by MLB Pipeline or Baseball America, Assad has opened eyes this season.

The right-hander has posted a combined 2.66 ERA in 23 games (21 starts), striking out 111 batters (35 walks) in 108 1/3 innings.

"First and foremost, he's pitched really, really well," Cubs VP of player development Jared Banner said. "The performance has stood out both at the Double-A and Triple-A level.

"I think on a deeper level, he's added velocity this year and it's made them somewhat of a different pitcher, raised his ceiling a bit. Looking forward to seeing him [Tuesday]."

In eight games (seven starts) with Iowa, Assad holds a 2.95 ERA in 36 2/3 innings. He features a sinker, slider and changeup with mid-90s fastball velocity.

"He's going to hopefully attack the zone with his stuff," Banner said. "He commands the ball really well, changes speeds, does everything that we like to see. Hopefully, it'll translate well up here."

Adrian Sampson will start Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader.

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