Cubs' Jaxon Wiggins: Nearing return to game action
Rotowire
The Cubs announced Wednesday that Wiggins (elbow) has resumed throwing bullpen sessions and facing hitters at the organization's complex in Arizona and could soon be ready to pitch in games, MLB.com reports.
One of the Cubs' top pitching prospects, Wiggins made just two starts for Triple-A Iowa this season before landing on the shelf April 15 due to right elbow inflammation. After a prolonged shutdown, Wiggins is ramping back up again and looks like he'll be ready to begin a rehab assignment in the lower levels of the minors in the near future.
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Cubs' Jaxon Wiggins: Shelved with elbow inflammation
Rotowire
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that Wiggins was placed on Triple-A Iowa's 7-day injured list Wednesday due to right elbow inflammation, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Counsell downplayed concern about the injury, noting that the 24-year-old righty should require "just a little time down" before he returns from the shelf. One of the Cubs' top pitching prospects, Wiggins made two starts for Iowa prior to being shelved, allowing five earned runs on seven hits and five walks while striking out 10 over eight innings.
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Cubs' Jaxon Wiggins: Dealing with sore arm
Rotowire
Wiggins is dealing with a sore arm at Triple-A Iowa, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.
The 24-year-old has made a pair of starts but has only thrown eight innings, posting a 5.63 ERA and 10:5 K:BB. Wiggins could be a candidate to make his major-league debut at some point this season, assuming the arm issue isn't serious.
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Cubs' Jaxon Wiggins: Moving up to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Cubs are promoting Wiggins from Double-A Knoxville to Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
The 23-year-old is one of the organization's top prospects and will move up to the highest level of the minors after posting a 1.93 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 52:17 K:BB over 42 innings (10 starts) at Double-A. Wiggins opened the 2025 campaign with High-A South Bend and is now just one step away from the majors, though he isn't likely to make his MLB debut until 2026.
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Cubs' Jaxon Wiggins: Missing in action
Rotowire
Wiggins hasn't pitched for Double-A Knoxville since July 19.
Marquee Sports Network reported that Wiggins wouldn't pitch in the Futures Game and would instead rest for a month before returning July 19. Indeed, Wiggins didn't pitch between June 20 and July 19, but it didn't seem to be part of the plan to shut Wiggins down after his two-inning appearance on that date. Wiggins threw 59.2 innings in 2024, his first year back from Tommy John surgery, and he is up to 62.1 innings this season. The 23-year-old righty has always had great stuff, and this year his control improved enough (10.4 BB% at Double-A) that he has a real chance of making it as a starting pitcher.
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Cubs' Jaxon Wiggins: Showing improved control
Rotowire
Wiggins, who has a strong 2.25 ERA across 36 innings for Double-A Knoxville this season, has benefitted from improved control and a new pitch in his repertoire, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Wiggins posted a 12.4 percent walk rate at High-A South Bend earlier in the year and has lowered that to 10.4 percent since his promotion to Double-A in May. While still a bit high, it's down from the 14.2 percent mark he posted across three levels in 2024. The 23-year-old righty is still touching the upper 90s with his fastball as well, and he's worked in a spiked curveball grip that's given him better control than he previously had with his slider. Wiggins has already struck out 48 batters in his 36 innings for Knoxville, and at this rate, he could move on to Triple-A in fairly short order. The youngster has become the Cubs' clear top pitching prospect and could debut early next year if he continues to show improved control.
