Story thread · 2 reports / 2 sources

Cade Townsend is Cubs pitching's far future, but what's near future look like when starters hit free agency?

suntimes.com · 11h · first reportShare

Cade Townsend is a 21-year-old who’s been a pro ballplayer for all of two months. The Cubs ’ first-round draft pick from earlier this summer is already ranked as their No. 4 prospect, but he’s a long way from the majors, yet to play a minor league game as he gets his first taste of life in the organization. “It’s unreal. I don’t think there’s another organization like it,” Townsend said Wednesday. “I told my agents the day before the draft, ‘Get me here, no matter what. This is where I want to be.’ You really see that now, and it’s cool to see the process of: How does every day work together? It’s really a family, and I really appreciate that.” These are early days. But Townsend figures to be an important piece of the Cubs’ long-term pitching puzzle. The Cubs have used quality starting pitching as part of their formula to earn baseball’s fifth-best record and position themselves for a deep October run, and the current discussion centers on who’s going to get the ball in Game 1 of a pla