The Chicago Cubs have made an interesting move by acquiring 28-year-old right-handed pitcher Daniel Missaki from the Mexican League. Missaki, who previously played for the Diablos Rojos, finalized his signing with the Cubs.
The announcement of Missaki’s contract with the Cubs was met with well-wishes for his success, conveyed in Spanish via the club’s social media channels.
This marks a noteworthy milestone for Missaki, who has overcome hurdles to return to affiliated baseball. His journey began when he joined the Seattle Mariners in 2014, but unfortunately, a series of Tommy John surgeries interrupted his path to the majors.
Missaki first gained attention on the international stage at the tender age of 16 when he represented Brazil in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Following his impressive performance, he inked a deal with the Mariners. While with the Mariners’ affiliates, he showcased promise, but a trade to the Milwaukee Brewers, as part of the deal for Adam Lind, altered his trajectory.
Despite demonstrating potential, Missaki faced setbacks due to injuries, undergoing Tommy John surgery twice, in 2015 and 2017 respectively. After a hiatus from affiliate ball in 2016 and 2017, he attempted a comeback with the Brewers during spring training in 2018, albeit unsuccessfully, leading to his release from the club.
It wasn’t until 2020 that Missaki returned to the mound, this time with the Tochigi Golden Braves in the Baseball Challenge League. Following this stint, he signed a developmental contract with the Yomiuri Giants in 2021, where he showcased his skills over the next two seasons.
Now, as Missaki joins the Cubs, he represents a developmental project for the team. Despite his international experience, he is yet to make his debut in a major league game. However, his recent performances in the Mexican League and Columbian Winter League have been promising, boasting impressive ERAs of 1.50 and 1.26 respectively.
For the Cubs, the hope is that Missaki can continue to progress, potentially earning a spot with their Triple-A affiliate in Iowa, where he can further demonstrate his abilities and inch closer to fulfilling his major league aspirations.
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