The Cubs announced Thursday the team claimed lefty Jack Leathersich off of waivers from the New York Mets. The 25-year old lefty had Tommy John surgery at the end of July after making his Major League debut on April 29, 2015.
With the addition of Jack Leathersich, the Cubs’ 40-man roster officially stands at 32 players.
Leathersich was 0-1 in 17 games out of the Mets’ pen this past season with a 2.31 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 2.79 FIP. Leathersich gave up three runs on 12 hits with seven walks and 14 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings.
During his time in 2015 with Triple-A Las Vegas, Leathersich appeared in 13 games and allowed eight runs on 10 hits with seven walks and 22 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings.
Over five seasons in the Mets’ system, Leathersich posted a 9-9 record with a 3.55 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 160 games, all in relief.
Baseball America ranked Leathersich as the 23rd best prospect in the Mets’ organization prior to the 2014 season. Leathersich averaged 14.1 strikeouts per nine innings in 2012 and 15.7 strikeouts per nine innings at the Double-A and Triple-A levels in 2013. Leathersich has issued more than his fair share of free passes and averaged 6.9 walks per nine innings.
Prior to Tommy John, Leathersich threw a 92-94 mph tailing fastball and he features a breaking ball with “wicked depth at times” according to Baseball America. Leathersich also throws a fringe-average changeup.
Jack Leathersich was added to the Mets’ 40-man roster in November 2014. Leathersich has two minor league options left.
The addition of Leathersich is a move for beyond Opening Day due to him being only three and a half months post Tommy John surgery.
• Jack Leathersich’s Page on Baseball-Reference