The Chicago Cubs have brought back left-handed pitcher, signing him to a minor league contract. Hughes, 29, pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2024, following a challenging 2023 season with the Cubs, which was derailed by a persistent knee injury. Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reported the minor league signing on Friday.
The former Michigan State pitcher who transitioned to the mound, had accumulated 91.2 innings in the minors before making his MLB debut in 2022.
In his rookie season, he was impressive, posting a 3.12 ERA and a 28.5% strikeout rate in 57.2 innings, quickly becoming one of the few relievers with a defined role in the Cubs’ bullpen for 2023. However, a knee issue hindered his performance during spring training and persisted throughout the season.
Hughes was placed on the injured list three times in 2023, limiting him to just 13.2 innings. His last appearance with the Cubs was on June 11, 2023, and he underwent knee surgery shortly afterward, ending his season. Afterward, the Cubs non-tendered him, and Hughes signed a minor league contract with the Diamondbacks for 2024.
Hughes started the 2024 season strong at Triple-A, posting a 1.84 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 14.2 innings, earning a promotion to the majors with Arizona in late April.
However, his performance in the big leagues was underwhelming, as he posted an 8.15 ERA and 1.92 WHIP in 15 appearances. Although Hughes showed he could still miss bats with 21 strikeouts in 17.2 innings, he struggled with giving up eight home runs in such a limited innings total.
The Cubs will hope that Hughes’ familiarity with the organization helps him regain his confidence in 2025. He joins a group of pitchers with previous MLB experience on minor league deals, including Brad Keller, Trevor Richards, Ben Heller, Phil Bickford, and Brooks Kriske, all competing for spots in spring training. Currently, the Cubs have only three left-handed relievers—Caleb Thielbar, Luke Little, and Rob Zastryzny—on their 40-man roster.
