Cubs Top Prospect Shines in MLB Debut

There is no other contender getting more production out of their rookie players than the Chicago Cubs this season. In their starting rotation, two of their top prospects have turned into legitimate starters late in the year, bolstering their once suspect unit.

Getting young players experience is something that the organization focuses on as a philosophy. The difference this season is that they're attempting to chase down a NL Central divisional crown while firmly holding a Wild Card spot.

Perhaps the strong performances of Javier Assad and Jordan Wicks gave the front office confidence to call up their latest rookie who made his MLB debut on Wednesday.

The Cubs made a roster move ahead of their series finale against the San Francisco Giants. They designated for assignment one of their veteran pitchers and called up big left hander Luke Little.

Manager David Ross wasted no time in seeing what the top prospect had, using him in the ninth inning to close out the game.

Little shined during his debut, showing why he made a meteoric rise from High-A baseball at the beginning of the year to Major League Baseball.

The 23-year-old struck out two batters and allowed only one hit in his first action for Chicago. He showed off his sweeper that caused three misses on three swings of the bat during the inning. Little also touched 98 mph with his fastball.

"It means everything. Being in high school, thinking I wasn't gonna get anywhere other than college, to getting to college and thinking I had a chance to play pro ball, to not just playing pro ball, but playing in the Major Leagues. It means everything," the lefty told Jordan Bastian of MLB.com.

Little is ranked as the No. 25 prospect in the Cubs pipeline, but leapfrogged other talented prospects to a major league appearance before them. Much of that had to do with the organization moving him from a starting role into the bullpen. That reduced his ERA to 2.63 with a staggering 87 strikeouts across 48 innings.

As Chicago continues to stay hot, it looks like they have another rookie ready to produce down the stretch as they attempt to win the NL Central.