Oh baby! OK maybe this isn’t the call up Chicago Cubs were hoping for, but after Thursday night’s debacle in the ninth inning, you love to see that there’s potentially a new closer in the bullpen now.

Javier Assad pitched three innings in a spot start against the Los Angeles Dodgers last night, filling in for Jameson Taillon who went on the injured list because of a groin strain. Assad pitched three innings and then David Ross used six more relievers. So, it was safe to assume that Assad would be optioned back down to make room for another relief pitcher and right-hander Jeremiah Estrada is finally back with the Cubs.

It’s probably a big ask for Estrada to come in and immediately take over as the Cubs closer, but we shouldn’t be surprised whatsoever if the 24-year-old does win that role eventually in 2023.

There was a chance Estrada was going to be called up last weekend, as he flew to Los Angeles and was part of the team’s taxi squad, but the right-handed reliever ultimately went back to the Iowa Cubs.

Estrada has pitched in five games this season for the Iowa Cubs and he hasn’t allowed a run in six innings of work. The right-hander has seven strikeouts, two walks and has surrendered just two hits down at Triple-A prior to his promotion on Friday.

Jeremiah Estrada Background

Last year, Estrada made his MLB debut with the Cubs in late August against the Toronto Blue Jays. Overall, the righty made five outings out of the bullpen for the Cubs and struck out eight batters in 5.2 innings. He allowed two earned runs in his first cup of coffee in the major leagues.

Estrada was selected in the sixth round of the 2017 draft out of high school and although the 2015-20 Cubs did not develop a lot of pitchers, Estrada is on his way to being another success story for home grown pitchers in the past couple of years. In parts of five minor league seasons, Estrada has posted a 1.83 ERA in 56 games, striking out 144 hitters in 93.1 innings. Like many pitchers, Estrada dealt with injuries early in his pro career, missing all of 2018 and then had Tommy John surgery after coming back in 2019.

The 2020 minor league season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic and in 2021 Estrada was limited to 11 games after being hospitalized with COVID-19.

Estrada is mainly going to feature a fastball/slider combo while throwing a curve ball and change up on rare occasions. The righty averaged 96.8mph on his fastball when he came up to the Cubs last year.

The Cubs have used Michael Fulmer as their closer to begin the 2023 season, but the right-hander has already blown two saves and has two losses to his name through the first three weeks. If Estrada keeps rolling like he was at Triple-A, then you are very likely looking at the Cubs new closer this season.