Chicago Cubs pitcher Caleb Kilian’s recent, brief taste of the Majors was sour. But, back in Triple-A Iowa, the Cubs’ Top 30 prospect is back to pitching some sweet baseball.
Kilian, the Cubs’ No. 23 prospect, made his most recent start with the Iowa Cubs on Friday and he was scintillating — six innings, six hits, one earned run allowed and no walks. He also struck out seven.
Before that, he started on Aug. 19 and gave up five hits in 4.2 innings, giving up two runs (one earned) and a walk. He struck out three.
It’s a great bounce back for Kilian as his recent stint with the Cubs didn’t end well.
Out of the bullpen, he made two appearances on Aug. 7 against the New York Mets and Aug. 13 against the Toronto Blue Jays before he was sent back to Triple-A.
He pitched in two games, and the Mets appearance was solid — one inning, no hits and no runs. But that Blue Jays game? One inning, three hits, three earned runs, two walks and a strikeout.
That stint a little better than his starting debut for the Cubs this season — a 3.1 inning, 10-hit, seven earned run outing against Miami on April 29. He walked two and struck out four.
That’s why his MLB numbers this season look like a mess — 0-1 with a 16.88 ERA in three games (one start) and 5.1 innings.
But his Triple-A numbers? Kilian looks like a pitcher poised to make a different at Wrigley at some point.
After Friday’s game he is 7-1 in 20 games (19 starts) with a 3.73 ERA. He’s thrown 99 innings, striking out 77 and walking 29.
Kilian has been working hard toward getting a more consistent opportunity with the Cubs. Drafted in the eighth round out of Texas Tech in 2019, he has consistently moved up every run of the Cubs’ system since he started pitching for them later that summer.
For his minor league career he is 19-9 with a 3.30 ERA with 331 strikeouts and 103 walks.
With a quality right arm and more chances, Kilian appears to be the type of pitcher that could eventually be a solid piece of the Cubs’ pitching staff, whether it be as a starter or a reliever.
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