Nobody loves soft-tossing pitchers who get ground balls more than the Chicago Cubs, and that’s exactly who they’re getting by signing left-handed pitcher Josh Fleming. The latest addition to the organization’s stockpile of random pitchers at Triple-A is a former starter-turned-reliever who has been pretty good in the minors this year.
Fleming, 30, has signed a minor league contract with the Cubs, according to Marquee Sports Network analyst Lance Brozdowski. The pitcher was recently let go by the Toronto Blue Jays after Fleming exercised an opt-out in his deal with the AL East club and was seeking a better opportunity to reach the majors in 2026. You look at the Cubs’ pitching situation, and it’s fairly easy to see why guys like Fleming are circling them right now, as the team has accumulated a laughable number of pitching injuries, creating a golden opportunity for incoming veterans.
Prior to his release, Fleming had a 3.08 ERA in 64.1 innings at Triple-A in the Blue Jays’ system. The lefty had an impressive 51/11 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 13 appearances, and throughout his MLB career, Fleming has been a ground-ball machine on the mound. His debut year came in the shortened 2020 season with the Tampa Bay Rays. Fleming had a flashy 2.78 ERA with a 63.5% ground-ball rate.
However, Fleming is prone to getting hit, as the left-hander has a career strikeout rate of only 14.4% in 257.2 innings, which has led to a 4.86 ERA in 81 MLB games.
🔥 Subscribe to the Untold Chicago YouTube channel to hear Chicago legends tell stories you’ve never seen in headlines — real moments, real experiences, straight from the athletes themselves.
It’s kind of straightforward here. The Cubs have an outstanding defense, and Fleming has a 58.5% ground-ball rate over his MLB career. He pounds the zone, has prior starting experience, and is currently stretched out, making 12 starts this season in Triple-A and throwing at least 3.2 innings in each of his 13 games.
In 2024, Fleming had a decent season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, posting a 4.02 ERA over 31.1 innings and generating a 54.3% ground-ball rate. If you haven’t gotten the hint by now, if the Cubs do call up Fleming to help out their depleted bullpen in 2026, it’s primarily because he gets ground balls. They’re betting on that skill to mask his other poor peripherals, and who knows, maybe they catch lightning in a bottle with Fleming.
He does have some big names to compete with at Triple-A, as the Cubs already have Antoine Kelly, Jayden Murray, and Jake Woodford on the 40-man roster, while seasoned veterans Liam Hendriks and Aaron Bummer are also vying for a shot in the majors in Triple-A Iowa. Not to mention other guys battling for an opportunity, such as Eduarniel Nunez, Luis Peralta, Collin Snider, Corbin Martin, and Andrew Wantz.
