Talk about the definition of a reclamation project for the Chicago Cubs. You want pedigree, how about the fifth overall pick of the 2017 MLB Draft? You want previous success, well he’s not only the last 21-game winner in baseball, but Kyle Wright has also been on three playoff teams and won the 2021 World Series.
However, this wouldn’t be a reclamation if it weren’t for some tragic downfalls in recent years. Wright won 21 games for the Atlanta Braves in 2022, but since then he’s thrown in only nine MLB games, missed all of 2024 because of shoulder surgery and in 2025, Wright was stuck in the minors where he was still trying to recover from his serious injury. Now, the 30-year-old pitcher is looking for a new lifeline and hopefully it will come with the Cubs.
On Tuesday, the Cubs reportedly agreed to a deal to sign Wright, who at this stage of his career has to prove his worth on a minor league contract. The right-hander will be in camp as the Cubs begin spring training this week. Jon Heyman first reported the deal between the Cubs and Wright.
Wright’s last stint in the big leagues was rough in 2023, when the right-hander had a 6.97 ERA in 31 innings of work. Funny enough, his last MLB game actually came against the Cubs on Sept. 28, 2023, when Wright picked up the win after pitching 2.1 innings of relief out of the bullpen. Wright had already dealt with a shoulder issue that season that forced him to miss four months of action. Then, after the season ended he underwent surgery to repair damage in his shoulder that cost him the rest of the 2024 season.
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Fast forward to 2025, and Wright still wasn’t all the way back. By then, he was in his second year in the Kansas City Royals organization after he was traded to them by the Braves on Nov. 17, 2023. So, after missing all of 2024, Wright made his 2025 debut in the minors in early May, but he suffered a setback after two starts. The pitcher returned again a few weeks later and made six more starts, but was then sidelined again after June 21, because of an oblique injury.
And that was it for Wright in 2025. A total of eight starts between Double-A and Triple-A, 23 innings and apparently enough to grab the attention of the Cubs.
His best season, 2022, was exactly the type of pitcher the Cubs love. He wasn’t the most overpowering arm, but Wright did average 95mph with his fastball. More importantly, he kept the ball on the ground, recording a 55.6 GB%, while posting a 23.6 K% and 7.2 BB%. Wright limited the long ball, 0.95 HR/9, and was durable, making 30 starts and pitching 180.1 innings. Wright finished 10th in NL Cy Young Award voting in 2022, after he had a 3.19 ERA and 21-5 record.
The Cubs have 10+ other starting pitchers who all have realistic chances of either being on the Opening Day roster because of course they’re already established in the rotation or are next up on the depth chart. So, the chances are low that Wright will win an Opening Day spot, but he’ll certainly be in the mix for a potential call-up if he remains at Triple-A as we get deeper in the regular season.
