Caleb Kilian

Caleb Kilian

27-Year-Old PitcherSP
Chicago Cubs AAA
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Kilian has mostly pitched in the minors the past few seasons and is still waiting to take off at the MLB level. Last year, he pitched in only two games for the Cubs after logging exactly three games for the team in each of the two prior seasons. Kilian has a rough 9.22 ERA and 2.01 WHIP in his big-league career across 27.1 innings, though it's hard to draw too many conclusions from that small sample. For Triple-A Iowa last season, the righty was more effective with a 3.22 ERA and 1.15 WHIP across 44.2 innings. After almost exclusively working as a starter in 2022 and 2023 at that level, Kilian made seven starts and six relief appearances in Iowa last season. That could hint at more of a full-time shift to the bullpen for Kilian, which makes sense as Chicago appears ready to move forward with Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Javier Assad and Jordan Wicks in the rotation. Assad and Wicks don't have lengthy MLB track records, so Kilian in theory could replace one of them if they struggle, but for now the latter is largely off the fantasy radar as a bullpen depth piece. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
Rest of Season
From Preseason
#365
ADP
$Signed a one-year contract with the Cubs in March of 2024.
Sent down to Iowa
PChicago Cubs  AAA
March 1, 2025
The Cubs optioned Kilian to Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Jared Wyllys of AllCHGO.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Kilian gave up eight hits and a walk over 3.2 innings during spring training. The 27-year-old righty owns a career 9.22 ERA and 2.01 WHIP across 27.1 MLB frames, and his 40-man spot could be in jeopardy soon.
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Pitching Stats
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2024
2023
2022
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2023 MLB Game Log
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2022 MLB Game Log
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Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2023
 
 
-22%
BAA vs RHP
2025
No Stats
2024
 
 
-15%
BAA vs RHP
2023
 
 
-31%
BAA vs RHP
BAA Batters K BB H 2B 3B HR
Since 2023vs Left .407 31 3 2 11 2 0 1
Since 2023vs Right .317 50 9 6 13 3 0 1
2025vs Left 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2025vs Right 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2024vs Left .294 19 2 2 5 1 0 1
2024vs Right .250 29 5 4 6 1 0 1
2023vs Left .600 12 1 0 6 1 0 0
2023vs Right .412 21 4 2 7 2 0 0
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Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2023
 
 
-100%
ERA at Home
2025
No Stats
2024
 
 
-100%
ERA at Home
2023
 
 
-100%
ERA at Home
ERA WHIP IP W L SV K/9 BB/9 HR/9
Since 2023Home 0.00 1.00 5.0 0 0 0 7.2 3.6 0.0
Since 2023Away 12.27 2.45 11.0 0 2 0 6.5 4.9 1.6
2025Home 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2025Away 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2024Home 0.00 1.00 5.0 0 0 0 7.2 3.6 0.0
2024Away 7.94 2.12 5.2 0 1 0 4.8 6.4 3.2
2023Home 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023Away 16.88 2.81 5.1 0 1 0 8.4 3.4 0.0
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Prospect Rankings History
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Defensive Stats
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Caleb Kilian See More
Three Up, Three Down: Brewers, Cubs, Pirates
January 11, 2024
Chris Crawford takes a look at the biggest movers in three NL Central organizations, including a disappointing debut from Matt Mervis.
Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Striding to the Top
April 22, 2023
Todd Zola ranks starting pitchers for the upcoming week, with Spencer Strider's two-start week earning him the top spot.
Rookie Pitcher Tiers 2.0
Rookie Pitcher Tiers 2.0
March 13, 2023
March 13, 2023
James Anderson updates his pitching prospect tiers for 2023 value only, in which he explains why he is not paying the price to roster Orioles righty Grayson Rodriguez.
Rookie Pitcher Tiers 1.0
Rookie Pitcher Tiers 1.0
January 27, 2023
January 27, 2023
James Anderson ranks rookie pitchers for 2023 value within tiers, and Astros righty Hunter Brown is one of four pitchers in the top tier.
MLB Pitching Prospect Draft For 2023
September 15, 2022
James Anderson, Eric Cross and Chris Clegg draft pitching prospects for 2023 value only, with Astros righty Hunter Brown solidifying his place near the top.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
2022
Kilian has had a few cups of coffee at the MLB level the last two seasons, though he's yet to make a real impact. In 2023, the righty appeared in three games for the Cubs, posting a rough 16.88 ERA across 5.1 innings. He also appeared in three games in 2022, posting a 10.32 ERA across 11.1 innings. It's not a very promising start for Kilian, though it's of course still a fairly small sample size. The 26-year-old was part of the trade package San Francisco sent Chicago to acquire Kris Bryant, and the skills are there for improved performance. Kilian averaged 94 mph on his fastball last year, and while his K/9 sat below 8.5 for both the Cubs and Triple-A Omaha, he did post a 10.59 K/9 in the minors a season earlier. Heading into 2024, it seems unlikely that Kilian begins the year in Chicago's rotation, as Jordan Wicks, Javier Assad and Hayden Wesneski are all likely ahead of him in the competition for the final few starting spots. Kilian is worth keeping an eye on, particularly if he impresses in the minors and earns a promotion, though his fantasy value is limited at this point.
Kilian opened the season with Triple-A Iowa. The primary return in the Kris Bryant trade made his MLB in early June, fanning six Cardinals in five frames. Kilian started two more games, before being sent back to the farm. In those two outings, he walked 10 with only three punchouts in 6.1 innings. Kilian finished the season in Triple-A where walks were still an issue as he issued 59 free passes in 106.2 stanzas. Kilian will turn 26-years-old in June, so time is running out to lay claim to a career as a starter. The Cubs rotation is more about quantity than quality, so if Kilian exhibits better control, he has a chance to make the opening day roster. Chances are, he'll return to Triple-A and have to earn a spot. With his ability to miss bats, Kilian will always have the bullpen as a fallback, but for now the Cubs envision him as a starter.
Kilian was quite busy last season, first breaking out with the Giants, then getting dealt to Chicago as the headliner for Kris Bryant, and capping his season with Championship MVP honors in the Arizona Fall League. The right-hander has prototypical size (6-foot-4, 180 pounds) and athleticism. He repeats his delivery well and pounds the zone. All told, Kilian registered a 2.42 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 112:13 K:BB in 100.1 innings across High-A and Double-A with the Giants and Cubs before striking out 18 in 14 AFL innings. He used to be a control artist with back-end starter stuff, but Kilian was touching 98 mph with good run on his heater late in the year and his command has not suffered since his stuff ticked up. His curveball is a hammer and his changeup is trending up. A big riser in offseason prospect rankings, Kilian appears poised to be one the Cubs' top starters in the coming years if he can stay healthy. If he picks up where he left off last year, he could reach the majors mid-year.
More Fantasy News
Likely on outside of rotation
PChicago Cubs  AAA
February 4, 2025
While Kilian figures to compete for a starting job in spring training, he currently projects to fall short of earning a spot in the Cubs' rotation, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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Pitches well in season finale
PChicago Cubs  AAA
September 29, 2024
Kilian tossed five scoreless innings but did not factor into the decision Sunday against the Reds. He allowed three hits and two walks while striking out four.
ANALYSIS
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Starting season finale
PChicago Cubs  AAA
September 28, 2024
Kilian will start Sunday's game against the Reds, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
ANALYSIS
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Takes loss in 2024 debut
PChicago Cubs  AAA
September 23, 2024
Kilian (0-1) took the loss Monday, allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits and four walks over 5.2 innings against the Phillies. He struck out three.
ANALYSIS
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Receives promotion
PChicago Cubs  AAA
September 23, 2024
The Cubs recalled Kilian from Triple-A Iowa on Monday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
May finish season in minors
PChicago Cubs  AAA
August 19, 2022
Kilian may not get another crack at the majors this season, reports Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune.
ANALYSIS
Cubs assistant general manager Craig Breslow said Wednesday that Kilian's development is the top priority, and that might mean finishing the season in Triple-A. The 25-year-old was roughed up in his first shot at the big leagues, posting a 10.32 ERA and 9:12 K:BB in 11.1 innings over three starts. He's been inconsistent for Triple-A Iowa and has a 5.79 ERA in nine starts since returning to the minors.
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