Cubs Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year - 2024

Yesterday, we named Matt Shaw as the Cubs Minor League Full-Season Hitter of the Year. Today, we will discuss the brightest prospects for starting pitching in the Cubs minor leagues. 

The Cubs top four big league starters pitched to the tune of 7.4 WAR, and overall the core starters of Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Javier Assad, Justin Steele, and even Kyle Hendricks provided quality starts and a consistent presence in the rotation. Hendricks will be an unrestricted free agent in 2025, so there is room at the big kid table for some of the minor-league arms. Injury concerns up and down the development ladder also mean that depth will be of crucial need in the coming seasons. This list of starting pitcher prospects on the rise through the minor league system is worth focusing on as Cubs fans continue to evaluate the whole organization in hopes of returning to the postseason in 2025.

The North Side Baseball minor league writers and video providers were asked to vote on these awards. Before getting into the top four, some others received votes.

Honorable Mention

- RHP Nick Dean, 22, Myrtle Beach/South Bend: 22 G, 17 GS, 3.57 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 90 2/3 IP, 76 H, 26 BB, 86 K

- RHP Juan Bello, 20, Myrtle Beach: 22 G, 22 GS, 3.21 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 89 2/3 IP, 73 H, 28 BB, 91 K

- RHP Sam Armstrong, 24, South Bend/Tennessee: 27 G, 20 GS, 2.87 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 116 IP, 91 H, 36 BB, 101 K

Minor League Full-Season Relief Pitcher of the Year
Here are the top three vote-getters for Cubs Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year:

#3. Connor Noland, 25, Tennessee/Iowa – 26 G, 25 GS, 3.49 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 134 IP, 132 H, 36 BB, 116 K
The University of Arkansas native spent the 2023 campaign at South Bend High-A after being drafted by the Cubs in the 9th round of the 2022 June amateur draft. The big RHP Noland (6'2", 215 pounds) spent his 2014 season climbing from Tennessee to Iowa, making 16 starts in Double-A before getting advanced. While Noland's stat line took a hit with the promotion, doubling his ERA and increasing his WHIP from 1.12 to 1.49, if you toss out his August 29th start against Memphis (nine earned runs in less than three innings), his numbers compare much better across the competition levels. 

Noland doesn't throw hard (93-94 mph), but he is a ground ball machine and sported an improved K% at Iowa. Consistency will continue to be Noland's greatest strength as he makes his pitch to be a future innings-eater in Chicago.

#2. Kenten Egbert, 23 , Myrtle Beach: 23 G, 16 GS, 3.04 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 97 2/3 IP, 72 H, 32 BB, 104 K
Egbert signed with the Cubs as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Miami - Ohio in July 2023. The funky right handed hurler sports a big frame (6'3", 205 pounds) and an outstanding K%. Egbert spent all of his first season in the organization at Myrtle Beach, going 7-2 after starting the season as both a starter and middle innings reliever. Since June 11th, Egbert only pitched as a starter, and his he began to lengthen his outings until his last four games saw him pitch the best of the entire season and average near six innings per outing with a 0.78 ERA. Egbert could be a diamond in the rough that finds his way up the ladder, potentially even to Tennessee by the end of 2025 if needed. The Cubs would prefer to take the patient route, and hopefully a slow and successful climb where Egbert continues to build innings will work out just fine for both player and club.

And the North Side Baseball Cubs Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year is…

#1: Brandon Birdsell, 24, Tennessee/Iowa - 27 G, 26 GS, 3.91 ERA, 1.283 WHIP, 135.2 IP, 143 H, 31 BB, 134 K
After being drafted by the Astros in 2018 (39th round out of Willis, TX High School) and the Twins in 2021 (11th round out of Texas Tech), Birdsell finally said "yes" to the Cubs in the 2022 draft (5th round, still Texas Tech). The Astros and Twins' loss should be the Cubs' gain. 

The brawny RHP Birdsell (6'2", 240 pounds) delivered yet again in his second year of minor league ball, advancing to Iowa midway through the 2024 season. As Jake Russell pointed out earlier on North Side Baseball, Birdsell is young and still adding pitches like a hard slider to his arsenal. In many ways, he is finding success ahead of schedule which might be exactly what the Cubs need as durability and consistency remain important indicators of 2025 success. These present and potential attributes are what make Birdsell the 2024 Cubs Minor League Starting Pitcher of the year.

What do you think Cubs fans? Would you rank any of these pitchers differently? Comment below!

Interested in learning more about the Chicago Cubs' top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!