The Chicago Cubs have quickly became a center for pitching development, with Tyler Zambro being the main figure to thank for that. Last year, both Brad Keller and Drew Pomeranz re-rejuvenated their careers in the organization, Matthew Boyd put together his best full season, and Cade Horton was one of the best pitchers in the league during the second half.
Looking ahead to 2026, the pitching staff has experienced significant turnover. They’ve added a good mix of proven talent such as Edward Cabrera, Phil Maton, and Hoby Milner while also securing some players who are low risk fliers, with Ryan Rolison being a recent addition to the 40-man roster.
Chicago Cubs’ pitching development could unlock Ryan Rolison’s potential
Sep 13, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Ryan Rolison (50) throws a pitch during the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images
Formerly selected 22nd overall in the 2018 MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies, left-hander Ryan Rolison has had quiet the off-season. He began with the Rockies, as he had just made his MLB Debut in 2025 posting a 7.02 ERA over 31 games and 42.1 innings pitched, but was traded to the Atlanta Braves for cash considerations.
Shortly after joining the Braves organization, he was designated for assignment and claimed by the Chicago White Sox. The South Siders held onto him for a few weeks, before also designating him for assignment, in which the Cubs then claimed him on the same day that the Edward Cabrera news was announced.
What went wrong for Ryan Rolison in 2025?
As a player who previously had enough talent to be taken in the first round, another look at his arsenal and some minor adjustments may be just what he needs. Rolison has a fastball that sits in the low 90s, but it is extremely flat and has little movement. This explains why big league hitters teed off on it a season ago.
His secondary arsenal consists of a changeup, slider, and curveball. Among those offerings, the slider stands out, featuring sharp movement and notable vertical drop. Evaluators on the South Side have suggested it is good enough to develop into his primary pitch, allowing him to pitch in a backward manner, similar to Dylan Cease. Whether that approach is something Chicago agrees with remains to be seen, but the Cubs’ pitching development staff will determine how best to deploy his mix moving forward.
Overall, this is a low-risk, high-upside move for the Cubs, one that aligns well with their recent success in pitcher development. By bringing in a former first-round talent with a diverse pitch mix and a standout slider, Chicago is betting on its ability to coach him up, and get his stuff to play at the MLB level.
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