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The Cubs took a flier on right-handed pitcher Kyle Wright.
The Chicago Cubs are taking a flier on Kyle Wright
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Cubs agreed to terms on a minor-league contract with Wright, who won 21 games with the Atlanta Braves in 2022.
Wright last pitched in the majors with Atlanta in 2023 and has been recovering from a shoulder injury sustained that season. The righty pitched 23 innings in the Kansas City Royals minor-league organization in 2025.
The 30-year-old has a career record of 24-16 with a 4.45 ERA in 281 1/3 innings over 60 games and 51 starts in the major leagues.
The Cubs Are Taking a Flier on Kyle Wright
The Cubs have had success with reclamation projects, especially pitchers, through the years and are hoping to turn the previous one-hit wonder into a new pitcher.
Wright was once a top prospect in the Braves organization yet struggled with inconsistency throughout his first four major-league seasons. Still, he pitched in the World Series against the Houston Astros and earned a ring with the Braves that year.
He followed that up with one of the most surprising individual seasons in major-league history. After starting the year 4-3, Wright went 17-2 in his final 21 starts and won eight of his final nine outings to finish as the majors’ lone 20-plus-game winner that season.
He finished 10th in National League Cy Young voting.
Still, that was Wright’s only season with 50 major-league innings or double-digit appearances in his career, and he pitched to a 6.97 ERA in 2023 before his season ended due to the right-shoulder injury.
In his Triple-A career, Wright has had 59 appearances and 56 starts and has a 23-12 record with a 3.66 ERA in 302 1/3 innings.
Kyle Wright Could End Up Being a Minor Leaguer for the Cubs
Wright may have 20-win potential, but more likely he could end up spending the bulk of his season in Iowa in Triple-A.
Wright has only made nine major-league relief appearances, plus two in the postseason in 2021 when the Braves won the World Series. That makes it unlikely for him to pitch from Chicago’s bullpen — even if it converted starters like Drew Pomeranz and Michael Soroka to relief in 2025.
There could be at least one open spot for a starter like Wright to crack the Cubs rotation, especially if there is an injury. If Wright pitches well in spring training, he could break camp with Chicago — or get picked up by a rival club if the Cubs like what he did but don’t have a spot for him.
But more likely, Wright will serve as a veteran in Triple-A who can mentor some of the Cubs’ minor leagues then fill in in the bigs when there inevitably is an injury.
Chicago’s pitching staff was extremely healthy in 2025, since five pitchers made at least 20 starts and only nine pitchers made multiple starts. But having organizational depth is also important, especially with staff ace Justin Steele still recovering from elbow surgery on his pitching arm.
Plus, if Wright is awful in spring training, the Cubs are under no obligation to keep him in their organization, and Wright can pursue other options if they emerge.
Pat Pickens is an experienced sports writer and media personality who has written for outlets like NHL.com, the Associated Press, the New York Times and USA Today. He covers the NFL, NBA, NHL and NBA as a breaking news contributor at Heavy. More about Pat Pickens
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