Chicago Cubs officially name rookie right-hander Hayden Wesneski the No. 5 starter: ‘He’s earned it’

MESA, Ariz. — Of all the trades Chicago Cubs President Jed Hoyer made since the sell-off in summer 2021, the biggest one might have involved a middle reliever instead of one of the beloved stars from the 2016 team.

The Cubs sent Scott Effross to the New York Yankees on July 31, 2022, for pitching prospect Hayden Wesneski in a deal that made little noise at the time.

But Wesneski proved himself from the start, throwing five scoreless innings against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field in his Sept. 6 debut, then dominating in his brief September audition and in Cactus League action this spring.

On Saturday manager David Ross confirmed the obvious, naming Wesneski the No. 5 starter behind Marcus Stroman, Jameson Taillon, Justin Steele and Drew Smyly. Wesneski said he was “speechless” Thursday after Ross gave him the news.

“Being called to the big leagues is special, but this is nothing to poo-poo on,” he told reporters at the Cubs complex Saturday.

Wesneski’s parents were in town, so he took them to dinner to celebrate his promotion and his mom’s birthday to boot. From being a Yankees prospect last summer to joining the Cubs rotation this week, it’s been a whirlwind for the 25-year-old Houston native.

“I haven’t looked back a whole lot, or I try not to,” he said. “I try to be present. I try to stay off my phone. I don’t do a good job of it.

“I’m in a lot different situation than I was in six months ago. It’s been crazy. I thought I would be in Tampa right now (at Yankees camp), so to see where I’m at at this moment, is just mind-blowing.”

Ross wouldn’t reveal the rotation order but was eager to reveal the Wesneski news two days after the fact.

“Piggybacking on last year and building up, he seems to be right where he left off,” Ross said. “He’s throwing the ball really well, touched 97 (mph) the other day, so the arm strength is there, executing pitches. He’s earned it.”

Wesneski posted a 2.12 ERA this spring and won the job over Javier Assad and Adrian Sampson. Assad is likely to be used as a multi-inning reliever, while Sampson was optioned to Triple-A Iowa after serving up a major-league worst 11 home runs in a subpar spring.

“As much as we try not to judge spring training stats, (in) that competition, Hayden pitched much better,” Ross said.

The chance for the Cubs to see Wesneski in September helped seal his promotion. He went 3-2 with a 2.18 ERA in six appearances, including four starts.

“The fact that he and Javy Assad and guys that pitched well down the stretch and handled moments, whether it was in New York or at home with sellout crowds, you know they’re not going to fold under the intensity of a major-league game,” Ross said. “That helps a ton.”

Pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said sending Wesneski to Ross to deliver the good news was one of the better parts of his job.

“There’s a lot more times I’m grabbing guys to tell them they’re being sent down than telling them they’re on the team,” he said. “We definitely cherish those moments, but we also know there is so much uncertainty in this game and so many things can change over the year.”

Effross is a prime example. He pitched well for the Yankees down the stretch but suffered an injury before the postseason and underwent elbow reconstruction surgery after the season. Effross likely will miss all of 2023.

The Cubs roster was shaping up Saturday with camp winding down this weekend. Reliever Brandon Hughes threw with a brace on his left knee after suffering inflammation. Ross wouldn’t say whether Hughes would be ready for opening day, but Hughes was scheduled for one more outing Monday.

The Cubs also reassigned pitcher Vinny Nittolo to minor-league camp to get down to 41 players.

Nico Hoerner was scratched again from Saturday’s lineup against the Los Angeles Angels with left biceps tightness, but Ross said Hoerner would play Sunday and Monday. Seiya Suzuki also looked strong taking live batting practice for the first time since his early-spring oblique injury and could miss only seven days of the regular season before returning.

The fourth outfield spot remains one of the last big decisions for Hoyer and Ross, though utility man Christopher Morel has impressed Ross playing both corner spots this spring and providing much-needed power to the lineup with four home runs through Friday. It looks as if Morel’s job to lose.

“We’ve brought him off the bench a little bit see what those at-bats look like from time to time,” Ross said.

Morel should know his fate in short order.

Wesneski knows he has made it but said he wouldn’t exhale.

“It’s definitely time to go,” he said. “I’m taking a breath now but I know we have to get going soon.”