2024 Cubs Prospect Profile: Max Bain |
It's amazing how vastly different the Cubs top 30 prospect list looks in just over three years as a large number of those players are either not on the list anymore or have found their way into the major leagues. For the ones not in the majors or on the list, there are many things that play into that, with trades being the most significant thing.
Whether they are traded from the Cubs to another organization or the Cubs trade for more talent, getting knocked off the top 30 list isn't always a bad thing, as it shows how much depth the Cubs farm system has. Then, you have some players who were knocking on the door for top 30 consideration in the past before falling back a bit. That isn't to say they are bad players or anything like that, but instead, they are being overlooked, and with one strong season, they could find themselves back on the upswing. That is the case for Chicago Cubs right-hander Max Bain, who continues to be one of the more intriguing arms in the entire system. Standing at 6-5 and 240 pounds, Bain is an intimidating figure on the mound who has been impressive since arriving. Initially drafted out of Northwood University in Michigan, Bain broke into the league as a starter and had everything you could ever want in a starting pitcher. Any time you come from a small program, you have to take the success the player has with a grain of salt, but after going 14-4 with a 3.83 ERA during his time with Northwood, there was a lot to love about his game. Take away his 4.66 ERA that he had during his freshman season, and Bain had an ERA closer to 3.00 as he got into a nice groove on the mound. He also walked 58 and struck out 160, showing good command with overpowering stuff. Typically, those numbers would warrant a mid-late round draft selection. That wasn't the case for Bain, as he was part of the COVID offseason and was thus an undrafted pickup for the Cubs. His decision to come to Chicago was a surprise, but it has worked out for both parties, as Bain has become a reliable right-hander capable of filling different roles. With no baseball being played in 2020, Bain had to wait until 2021 to make his professional debut, and as expected, there were some struggles along the way. Bain pitched in 21 games that season for South Bend, posting a 5-9 record with a 5.52 ERA. He walked 56 and struck out 113 in 84 innings, so he did show some overpowering stuff at times.
One year later, Bain showed the improvements the Cubs wanted him to make, which was why he wound up in AA Tennessee. Ironically, those improvements came once he moved to the pen, as he made just seven starts in 2022. While his 3-2 mark with an ERA approaching six wasn't great, he was sitting at 2.84 with South Bend, which was why he was promoted in the first.
Not knowing what to expect from Bain in 2023, the Right-hander dealt with some early-season injuries and was never able to get on track the way he had hoped. Across 19 games last season, Bain went 2-1 with an ERA hovering around six, which has been an issue the past two seasons. Command has also been an issue since arriving in the pros, where he has had 125 walks and 201 strikeouts.
No one denies the stuff he brings to the table, but if he continues to struggle to locate the ball and allow hard contact, Bain will have difficulty reaching the majors. Although his velocity was down last season, he was recovering from an injury, so many feel he wasn't 100%. When right, Bain lives in the 94-96 MPH range with his heater and gets things up to 98 when he reaches back.
At this point in his career, along with improving his command, the key is the continued development of his secondary pitches. His 85 MPH change-up is his best secondary offering, but it has yet to be consistent enough to make a difference. Bain also has a slider that sits around 87 and has the potential to be a plus offering if he can locate the change up for strikes.
Since his injury, Bain has changed his approach on the mound and he’s now throwing his secondary stuff early in counts before trying to rush velo past hitters late. It’s plausible that, with more consistent upper-level pro instruction and the help of a big-league pitching coach, he’ll eventually polish his command enough to play a more central bullpen role. Still, he projects as an up/down relief option for now.
