Hayden Wesneski
Chicago Cubs – No. 19
Pitcher
Born: (1997-12-05) December 5, 1997 (age 26)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 6, 2022, for the Chicago Cubs
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record6–7
Earned run average3.97
Strikeouts116
Teams

Hayden Gregory Wesneski (born December 5, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.

Amateur career

Wesneski attended Cy-Fair High School in Cypress, Texas. He played for the school's baseball team, and had a 25–9 win–loss record and a 3.56 earned run average (ERA). He graduated in 2016. The Tampa Bay Rays selected Wesneski in the 33rd round of the 2016 MLB draft,[1] but he instead enrolled at Sam Houston State University to play college baseball for the Sam Houston State Bearkats.[2]

Professional career

New York Yankees

The Yankees selected Wesneski in the sixth round of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft.[3][4] He received a $217,500 signing bonus[5] and played for the Pulaski Yankees after he signed, going 1–1 with a 4.76 ERA over 28+1⁄3 innings. He began the 2021 season with the Hudson Valley Renegades and was promoted to the Somerset Patriots and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders during the season.[1] Over 25 games (24 starts) between the three teams, he went 11–6 with a 3.25 ERA and 151 strikeouts over 130+1⁄3 innings.[6][7] Wesnewski returned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2022.[8]

Chicago Cubs

On August 1, 2022, the Yankees traded Wesneski to the Chicago Cubs for relief pitcher Scott Effross.[9] The Cubs assigned him to the Iowa Cubs.[10][11]

The Cubs promoted Wesneski to the major leagues on September 6, 2022.[12] He debuted that day and pitched five scoreless innings with eight strikeouts en route to his first career win.[13] On September 22, Wesneski pitched an immaculate inning versus the Pittsburgh Pirates.[14]

Wesneski was optioned to Triple–A Iowa to begin the 2024 season.[15]

References

  1. ^ a b Montano, Alvaro (June 22, 2021). "Sports notebook: Cy-Fair High graduate Wesneski promoted to Double-A". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  2. ^ McDaniel, Jason (March 16, 2017). "Mining Houston-area talent pays off for Sam Houston State baseball". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  3. ^ Vedia, Arianna (June 4, 2019). "Yankees pick Sam Houston State pitcher, Cy-Fair product Hayden Wesneski in sixth round". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  4. ^ Criswell, Josh. "Wesneski drafted by Yankees in sixth round". Huntsville Item. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  5. ^ "Yankees' top pitching prospect turning heads: 'He's not scared'". nj.com. June 3, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  6. ^ "How did Yankees' Hayden Wesneski shoot up prospect rankings? Righty talks breakout season, analytics, more in Q & A". February 13, 2022.
  7. ^ "Six Emerging MLB Prospects from East Division Top 10s".
  8. ^ "Cy-Fair grads Wesneski, Rizer assigned to Triple-A". April 8, 2022.
  9. ^ "Yankees trade for RHP Effross from Cubs". MLB.com.
  10. ^ "Cubs pitcher Hayden Wesneski has earned prized prospect status". Desmoinesregister.com. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  11. ^ Duer, Ethan (August 23, 2022). "Chicago Cubs Pitching Prospect Hayden Wesneski Inches Closer to Major League Promotion – Sports Illustrated Inside The Cubs". Si.com. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  12. ^ "Cubs' Hayden Wesneski to debut, joins bullpen as homestand opens – NBC Sports Chicago". Nbcsports.com. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  13. ^ "Hayden Wesneski: Chicago Cub pitches 5 shutout innings in debut". Chicagotribune.com. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  14. ^ "Wesneski twirls immaculate inning". mlb.com. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  15. ^ "Alexander Canario, Hayden Wesneski out as Cubs finalize Opening Day roster". cubbiescrib.com. Retrieved March 26, 2024.

External links

Chicago Cubs current roster
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