Cubs RHP Prospect Brandon Birdsell to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery

Cubs pitching prospect Brandon Birdsell was named the organization’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2024 and looked like he was in line for a 40-man roster spot next spring. A 2025 debut wasn’t out of the question after he pitched well following his return from the 60-day IL in mid-July, but he was placed back on the shelf earlier this month with a recurring elbow issue. Cubs assistant GM Jared Banner announced Tuesday that Birdsell will undergo season-ending elbow surgery.

“We’ll have more information after the surgery,” Banner said. “After the surgery, we can talk about timelines.”

The 25-year-old Birdsell was the Cubs’ fifth-round pick in 2022 out of Texas Tech and has put up very solid numbers while advancing quicking through the system. After not pitching professionally the summer he was selected, he advanced to Double-A in 2023 and Triple-A the following season. He is currently ranked as the organization’s No. 9 prospect, second only to Jaxon Wiggins (No. 4) among pitchers.

Powerfully built at 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds, Birdsell features a mid-90s fastball that has touched 98 mph. He also has a mid-80s slider with two-plane movement, with a curveball in the upper 70s and a seldom-used upper-80s changeup. Those pitches tend to play up as a result of his short arm action, which counteracts his minimal extension by presenting a funky look to hitters.

This will likely be a Tommy John revision, as Birdsell first blew out his right elbow as a high school sophomore. Even if all goes well with this latest procedure, he’s probably looking at a return in late 2026 at the earliest.