Despite an injury scare earlier in the year, Chicago Cubs prospect C.J. Edwards (now known as Carl Edwards) has had a great campaign in his first full season as a reliever. Manager Joe Maddon believes the 24-year-old can be of use to the Cubs down the stretch and in the postseason.
A lot of the rumors earlier in the year harped on the Cubs' bullpen and whether or not it could hold up for the duration of the season. In recent weeks the team released veteran Rafael Soriano and placed the struggling Jason Motte on the disabled list.
However, the acquisition of Fernando Rodney before the waiver deadline and now the promotion of Edwards could prove to be difference-making moves. Rodney is getting comfortable in the bullpen (1-0, 2.25 ERA in four innings) while Edwards made his MLB debut on Labor Day against the St. Louis Cardinals and pitched a scoreless inning in the team's 9-0 victory.
Prior to the promotion, the right-hander was 5-3 with a 2.77 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 75 strikeouts in 36 games (55 1/3 innings) between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa.
"It definitely plays," Maddon said of Edwards' stuff before yesterday's game, via Patrick Mooney of CSN Chicago. "It's all there. We'll give him a chance to get out there, probably (in) a less-than-high-leverage moment. (But) he's that kind of a talent that can be impactful now, going into October.
"I've been asking about him all year, because he's the kind of kid I think can be a really good major-league pitcher. The biggest thing is just how quickly he adapts emotionally to the whole thing."
The Cubs' bullpen ERA (3.57) ranks 16th in the MLB and it's perhaps their biggest concern for the 2015 season. Perhaps Edwards' mix of effective pitches can help stabilize the bullpen moving forward.
"At his best, Edwards delivers three above-average to plus pitches, with excellent body control leading to an easy, rhythmic delivery and strike-throwing ability," according to Baseball America's preseason scouting report. "He's very tough for hitters to square up due to late cutting action on his fastball, which generally sat 90-93 mph in August and in his Arizona Fall League stint. The late life on the pitch has allowed him to allow just two home runs in 237 career pro innings. His curveball improved over his 2013 model, with more snap now in the upper 70s. The change flashes plus, playing off his fastball. His feel for pitching returned though his command showed some rust."
In a bullpen with no clear-cut closer, in addition to the recent struggles of Justin Grimm, Travis Wood and Tommy Hunter, Edwards can really solidify his status as a mainstay if he can perform well during the final month of the season. He has faced the top competition in Triple-A (Oklahoma City Dodgers, Omaha Storm Chasers, Memphis Redbirds, Round Rock Express, Las Vegas 51s and El Paso Chihuahuas), and the next step is succeeding in the MLB.
"It's shocking and very exciting," the Cubs' former top pitching prospect said of his debut after the game, via Jesse Rogers of ESPNChicago.com. "When I pulled up I was like, 'Oh god, OK this is where I'm at.'"
He'll likely have a similar reaction if Maddon puts him on the team's postseason roster.
