Former Texas Tech starting RHP Caleb Kilian has been announced as the Chicago Cubs’ starting pitcher in the nightcap of their doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday, June 4.
Kilian, who turned 25 on June 2, tossed for the Red Raiders from 2017 to 2019. He made 29 starts in 59 appearances amassing a 23-6 record and a career ERA of 3.61. Kilian fanned 187 batters in his time, highlighted by an 89 strikeout 2019 season as a full-time starter in which he led the Red Raiders to the College World Series, earning the win against Arkansas there.
That season also saw a complete-game shutout tossed by Kilian in Morgantown on April 14 in which he fanned nine Mountaineers. It was the first complete-game shutout by a Red Raider pitcher since Cameron Smith took down the Miami Hurricanes in the deciding game of the 2014 Coral Gables Regional.
Kilian was taken in the eighth round of the 2019 MLB Draft by the San Francisco Giants but was traded to the Cubs in late July of 2021 as part of the blockbuster Kris Bryant trade. Kilian immediately made waves in the Cubs organization earning an invitation to the Arizona Fall League, reserved for top prospects. He threw six perfect frames in the AFL Championship and earned a Fall Star selection as well.
The Flower Mound High School product has been ranked as the #5 prospect in the Cubs farm system and as their top overall pitching prospect. Through nine starts with AAA Iowa this season, Kilian logged a 2.06 ERA with 41 strikeouts and 15 walks in 39 1/3 innings. Kilian has recorded three complete games in professional baseball, all coming in AA in 2021.
Here is an excerpt from Baseball America’s ranking of Kilian in the Cubs’ system:
Kilian previously succeeded with average stuff and plus control, but his stuff has ticked up to enhance his future outlook. His fastball now sits 91-94 mph and touches 97-98 mph. He has maintained his advanced feel for pitching through his velocity bump and manipulates his fastball to alternately give it cut, sink or ride or depending on the hitter. Kilian primarily succeeds throwing different varieties of his fastball, but his curveball has improved to flash plus with good depth and he can mix in both an average cutter and changeup.
It has been a near-historic season of professional accomplishment for former Red Raiders. There have been three MLB Debuts achieved to date in 2022 with Parker Mushinski on April 17 for the Houston Astros, Davis Martin on May 17 for the Chicago White Sox, and now Kilian scheduled for June 4 for the Chicago Cubs.
The 2022 season ties 2002 with three MLB Debuts for former Tech players (Travis Driskill, Josh Bard, Trey Lunsford) for the second most active season in that category. Only 2013 was more prolific with four Red Raiders debuting (Nate Karns, Colt Hynes, Roger Kieschnick, Chad Bettis).
