Today we take a look at the Cubs’ left-handed relievers.
Riley Martin has yet to pitch in a major league regular season game, but that could be the year. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound native of Salem, Ill., had been with the Cubs for five years, slowly rising through the ranks with average results until 2025, when he posted a 6-2 record, 2.69 ERA, two walks and four saves in 63 innings in 47 games. He racked up 80 strikeouts but did throw 35 free passes. 1.19 WHIP shows his success, too.
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In November 2025, he was added to the 40-man roster.
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Martin throws his fastball around 94 mph, his sinker around 92 mph, his slider around 88 mph, and his curveball and changeup around 85 mph. He didn’t throw a sinker in 2025, preferring his four-seamer and curveball, and his slider was a distant third in usage rate. Fangraphs likes his FB, slider and curve – the FB is 50/50, the slider is 55/55, and the curve is a nice 70/70. They did give him 20/20 command – you know, he pitched hard.
He was selected by Quincy University in the 2021 sixth round with the 22nd overall pick.
Martin is 27 (turning 28 in a few weeks), so he’s no longer a kid, but maybe he’s figured it out. No doubt Josh can tell you more if you ask nicely. He’ll be in spring training so we can all see it, and that number will be added to last spring’s numbers. I think it’s a bit far-fetched to expect him to leave camp on Opening Day, but it’s very possible to see him at Wrigley — most projection systems like him to taste coffee this year.
The series will resume on Monday.
