Braylin Marquez won’t be throwing a triple-digit fastball in the Cubs organization in 2024.
The left-handed pitcher signed a contract with the Houston Astros this week and was assigned to Triple-A Sugar Land.
Marquez was once considered a top pitching prospect in the Cubs organization. He was ranked as high as MLB’s No. 37 prospect by Baseball America before the 2020 season and was highly rated nationally before the 2020-21 season.
Marquee Sports Network’s Lance Brozdowski ranked Marquez third among all Cubs prospects entering 2021. He’s behind Brennen Davis and Miguel Amaya (and ahead of players like Adbert Alzolay and Christopher Morell).
He made his MLB debut in 2020 after spending the first part of the season at an alternate site. Marquez appeared in just one game against the White Sox late in the shortened campaign, giving up five runs in 0.2 innings.
Marquez, now 24 years old, has barely appeared on the field in the past few years since his debut. He did not pitch in any games in 2021-22 between COVID-19 and injury bouts.
In 2023, Marquez appeared in 23 games in the Cubs system, 16 of which were with Double-A Tennessee. He posted an impressive 4.99 ERA, 44 strikeouts, and 38 walks in 30.2 innings pitched.
Marquez was selected as a free agent in November. He was also a free agent last winter, but the Cubs re-signed him to a minor league deal in December 2022.