After a disappointing season filled with injuries and control issues, the Cubs are taking a different approach with Jaxon Wiggins as they look to help the top pitching prospect regain his confidence and find success.
The Chicago Cubs are trying something new with one of their top pitching prospects.
Right-handed pitcher Jaxon Wiggins, who was one of the top prospects in the Cubs farm system heading into 2026 and looked like a shoo-in to arrive at the MLB level this season, has had a seriously disappointing year riddled with injuries and control issues.
Wiggins has made 12 appearances and 11 starts during the 2026 season, throwing a total of 32.1 innings to the tune of a 7.52 ERA. In each of his last five starts, Wiggins has allowed three or more earned runs without completing four innings in a single start. He's also managed to walk 24 batters in 23 innings at Triple-A Iowa this season, which has led to a slight demotion in prospect rankings, as he now comes in as the No. 6 prospect in the Cubs organization, and more importantly, a change in his role.
The lack of success as a starting pitcher made it fairly clear that Wiggins needed to be moved to a bullpen role. That started being implemented on August 11, when Wiggins pitched a scoreless inning out of the bullpen, walking one and striking out two in the frame.
But it now appears that change may be more of a long-term thing.
Iowa Cubs manager Marty Pevey talked to the media about the plan for Wiggins moving forward, saying, “He'll probably pitch out of the 'pen a couple more times and then it'll be up to the powers that be to make that decision.”
“Right now he'll pitch out of the 'pen at least one other time. Maybe two,” concluded Pevey.
Even if Wiggins were to play out the rest of the 2026 season as a reliever, it doesn't necessarily mean he can't transition back into a starting role moving forward. But the Cubs need to figure out how he can be most effective, and given the control issues and injury concerns he's already dealt with in 2026, preserving his arm and putting him in a position to succeed out of the Triple-A bullpen might be the best way for Wiggins to regain his confidence and continue to develop.
This is not an uncommon thing to see with starting pitching prospects. Oftentimes, they make their MLB debuts out of the bullpen and get adjusted to a higher level of competition while developing their stuff to have success multiple times through the batting order.
It has certainly been an underwhelming season for Jaxon Wiggins, and highly disappointing for the Cubs fans who wanted to see him in Chicago at some point in 2026. But it's encouraging to know the Cubs are trying something different, and it will ultimately come down to the front office and player development staff to decide what's best for the young right-hander moving forward.
