60-Day IL
Injury Neck
Est. Return 2/1/2025
2024 Stats
W-L
1-3
ERA
3.58
WHIP
1.08
K
64
SV
0
Rest-of-Season Projections
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Acquired from the Phillies for David Robertson in a 2022 deadline deal, Brown has dealt with a fair share of arm injuries in his career, but he was able to break through and make his MLB debut early in his age-24 season. He has a powerful arsenal and stands an intimidating 6-foot-6, but a 15.8 percent walk rate last year at Triple-A raised concerns about his control, even while accounting for the automated balls and strikes system that led to inflated walk rates for Triple-A pitchers last season. Brown leans heavily on his 97 mph four-seamer and upper-80s power curveball, with his changeup serving as a below-average, seldom-used third pitch. He's also capable of throwing an above-average slider, although he has shelved that pitch early in his big-league career. Brown has a high strikeout ceiling on a per-start basis, but he carries significant long-term durability risk and still needs to prove he has the command to start long term in the majors. Read Past Outlooks
Likely done for season
Cubs manager Craig Counsell acknowledged Wednesday that Brown (neck) is unlikely to return from the 60-day injured list this season, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
ANALYSIS
On the shelf since June 11 with a stress reaction in his neck, Brown resumed throwing shortly after landing on the IL, but he's been shut down on two occasions since then while continuing to experience lingering discomfort. The rookie right-hander remains at the Cubs' complex in Arizona for his rehab program, but he's not yet doing much pitching work and doesn't look like he'll be able to complete a throwing progression within the next month to put himself in position to join Chicago even as a relief option late in the season. Brown generated a 3.58 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 64:19 K:BB over 55.1 innings spanning 15 appearances (eight starts) this season prior to suffering the injury. He should be ready to go for spring training and will have a chance to stake claim to a rotation spot.
On the shelf since June 11 with a stress reaction in his neck, Brown resumed throwing shortly after landing on the IL, but he's been shut down on two occasions since then while continuing to experience lingering discomfort. The rookie right-hander remains at the Cubs' complex in Arizona for his rehab program, but he's not yet doing much pitching work and doesn't look like he'll be able to complete a throwing progression within the next month to put himself in position to join Chicago even as a relief option late in the season. Brown generated a 3.58 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 64:19 K:BB over 55.1 innings spanning 15 appearances (eight starts) this season prior to suffering the injury. He should be ready to go for spring training and will have a chance to stake claim to a rotation spot.
Pitching Stats
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2024
Minor League Game Log
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Pitching Appearances Breakdown
Average Pitch Count
57
Last 10 Games
57
Last 5 Games
68
How many pitches does Ben Brown generally throw?
1-10
11-20
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
61-70
71-80
81-90
91-100
101-110
111-120
121+
What part of the game does Ben Brown generally pitch?
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
Extra
% Games Reaching Innings Threshold
% Games By Number of Innings Pitched
Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2022
-22%
BAA vs RHP
2024
-22%
BAA vs RHP
| BAA | K | BB | H | HR | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2022vs Left | .233 | 33 | 13 | 24 | 3 | |||
| Since 2022vs Right | .181 | 31 | 6 | 17 | 2 | |||
| 2024vs Left | .233 | 33 | 13 | 24 | 3 | |||
| 2024vs Right | .181 | 31 | 6 | 17 | 2 | |||
| 2023vs Left | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2023vs Right | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2022vs Left | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2022vs Right | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | |||||||
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2022
-22%
ERA at Home
2024
-22%
ERA at Home
| ERA | WHIP | IP | K/9 | BB/9 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2022Home | 3.00 | 1.00 | 18.0 | 11.5 | 2.5 | ||||
| Since 2022Away | 3.86 | 1.13 | 37.1 | 9.9 | 3.4 | ||||
| 2024Home | 3.00 | 1.00 | 18.0 | 11.5 | 2.5 | ||||
| 2024Away | 3.86 | 1.13 | 37.1 | 9.9 | 3.4 | ||||
| 2023Home | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2023Away | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2022Home | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2022Away | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | ||||||||
Stat Review
How does Ben Brown compare to other starting pitchers?
This section compares his stats with all starting pitcher seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 120 innings)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 120 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 120 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
K/BB
3.37K/9
10.4BB/9
3.1HR/9
0.8Fastball
96.5 mphERA
3.58WHIP
1.08BABIP
.281GB/FB
0.93Left On Base
71.7%Exit Velocity
83.7 mphBarrels/BBE
5.7%Spin Rate
2225 rpmBalls Hit 95+ MPH
28.7%Swinging Strike
13.6%Prospect Rankings History
Advanced Pitching Stats
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Defensive Stats
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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2023 Fantasy Outlook
The Phillies sent Brown to the Cubs at the trade deadline in exchange for a couple months of David Robertson. It was a strong return for Chicago, as Brown has impactful stuff that should play well in relief at the very least. The 6-foot-6 righty has a plus curveball, above-average slider and mid-90s fastball, but his command and control were shaky at times, especially early last season. Over his final 19 outings, split across High-A and Double-A, Brown logged a 2.99 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 141:25 K:BB in 93.1 innings. With his power arsenal, Brown seems destined to either be a high-strikeout, mediocre-WHIP starting pitcher or a late-inning weapon. He is now on the 40-man roster, so it would make sense for him to reach the majors this summer in some role if he is pitching well in the upper minors.
More Fantasy News
Shut down from throwing
Manager Craig Counsell said Monday that Brown (neck) has been shut down from throwing "for the time being," Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
ANALYSIS
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Moved to 60-day IL
The Cubs transferred Brown (neck) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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Resuming mound work
Brown (neck) will throw a bullpen session Friday, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
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Still experiencing symptoms
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that Brown is still experiencing lingering discomfort in his neck, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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Throwing bullpen Saturday
Manager Craig Counsell said Saturday that Brown (neck) will throw a bullpen session Saturday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Opening for MLB debut?
Justin Steele is headed for the injured list after suffering a strained hamstring Thursday, per Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune, and Brown could be in the mix to fill the vacant rotation spot.
ANALYSIS
The 24-year-old righty was optioned to Triple-A Iowa in early March and never seemed to have much of a chance to make the Cubs' Opening Day roster, but he pitched well during spring training with just one run allowed and a 12:5 K:BB across 14 innings. Brown struggled upon being promoted to Triple-A Iowa last season with a 5.33 ERA in 22 outings, but his spring success and standing as a top prospect could put him on the radar for early-season starts with Chicago's rotation depth being tested.
The 24-year-old righty was optioned to Triple-A Iowa in early March and never seemed to have much of a chance to make the Cubs' Opening Day roster, but he pitched well during spring training with just one run allowed and a 12:5 K:BB across 14 innings. Brown struggled upon being promoted to Triple-A Iowa last season with a 5.33 ERA in 22 outings, but his spring success and standing as a top prospect could put him on the radar for early-season starts with Chicago's rotation depth being tested.