"Naikys Piedra officially signed with the Chicago Cubs. At 23 years old, he reaches 96-98 mph and projects as a bullpen arm. Piedra will report straight to the Cubs' complex in Arizona."
"Piedra first defected from Cuba back in 2019, was not able to sign with an MLB organization, and eventually went back to Cuba. He was showcasing for teams back in 2024 and has been on the international prospect radar since he was 18."
"His only full year at the highest level in Cuba was back in the winter of 2023-24, when he was just 21 and the results were pretty ugly (25 ER over 43.1 innings, 38 K, 44 BB)."
"Even though Piedra is older and has some pro experience, this may be a bit of a development project for the Cubs."
Naikys Piedra, a 23-year-old Cuban right-handed pitcher, has officially signed with the Chicago Cubs and will report to their complex in Arizona. He has a fastball that reaches 96-98 mph and is expected to serve as a bullpen arm. Piedra's journey includes a defection from Cuba in 2019, unsuccessful attempts to sign with MLB teams, and a challenging season in Cuba during 2023-24. His signing with the Cubs was initially reported last summer, raising questions about the delay in finalizing the deal.
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