Oh my, injuries are the worst. One year prior, Brandon Hughes, a left-hand pitcher, was preparing for spring training as one of the few players who was sure to be in the Chicago Cubs bullpen on Opening Day.
Following his non-tendered status in November, the left-hander has now officially moved on, inking a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
When Hughes joined the Cubs in 2022, he was a fascinating tale to watch as he went from being an outfielder in Class-A to playing the final out of games in his rookie campaign. Hughes, a Michigan State product selected in the 16th round of the 2017 MLB Draft, didn’t start pitching in the minor leagues full-time until 2019. His outstanding 2021 season—which included a 1.71 ERA in 42 innings—put him on the Cubs’ radar in 2022 and eventually resulted in his big-league promotion in May.
And who could forget Hughes’ first game in the majors.
With 57.2 innings pitched and 8 saves, the left-handed reliever concluded 2022 with a 3.12 ERA. Hughes’ innings pitched in 2023 were a career high, and it’s unclear if his knee problems were caused by the increased effort, but the lefty was unable to continue on the mound.
The Cubs severed their relationship with Hughes early in the winter due to his persistent knee problem, which likely contributed to his subpar performance. Hughes finished 17 games with a 7.24 ERA last season. Other pitchers were also promoted from the farm system.
After receiving an invitation to spring training, Hughes, who is currently 28 years old, will attempt to recover in Arizona.
Hughes missed the first several weeks of spring training in 2023 due to inflammation in his left knee. Despite his best efforts to manage the pain, Hughes ended up on the injured list at the start of the season. He was activated off the injured list by the Cubs in mid-April, but the same injury kept him out of action for exactly two weeks. Hughes returned after missing the required 15 days, but the Cubs placed him on the disabled list in June because his knee injury was not getting better.
The left-hander pitched in eight games on a rehab assignment in Triple-A in September in an attempt to make a comeback, but the Cubs didn’t call him up in the final stretch.
Along with Hughes, right-handed relievers Codi Heuer and Ethan Roberts were non-tendered back in November. The Cubs did bring back Roberts on a minor-league deal.
