Former Shortstop Could Be Cubs Next Star Pitcher
The Chicago Cubs might have a found hidden gem of a pitcher and he actually came into the league as an infielder.
Ahead of the MLB's first Spring Breakout Series, the staff at MLB.com looked through each team's roster and named one player present that should be talked about more.
For the Cubs, they focused on right-handed pitcher Michael Arias.
The Toronto Blue Jays signed Arias as an international free agent back in 2018, but nothing ever came to fruition in the organization as he never appeared in a game.
After his release, Chicago took him and transitioned him into a pitcher in 2021. Quickly, the 22-year-old has made an impact on the mound and looks to have a lot of potential.
Now he is the Cubs' No. 14 prospect according to MLB.com and has earned a spot on the team's 40-man roster.
He made the trip for Spring Training this season but has only made one appearance. He faced five batters. Two of them struck out, one was walked and two got hits.
Arias is known for his pitching style that is somewhere between a normal release and a sidearm.
His MLB prospect page had this to say about his pitching style:
"While Arias' low arm slot and whippy arm action create deception and electric life, they also limit his ability to provide strikes. The movement on his pitches makes them difficult to land in the zone at times and he may never have enough control or command to be a starter."
He has a fastball that can reach high 90s, as well as two promising off-speed pitches.
He's the fourth-highest rated pitcher in Chicago's farm system and second-highest that projects as a reliever.
It's clear that despite him still being a work-in-progress, the team believes they can get something out of him.
Arias can be seen in the Cubs' Spring Breakout game on Friday against the Chicago White Sox.
