The Chicago Cubs quietly parted ways this week with one of the most intriguing—and ultimately heartbreaking—pitching prospects of the past decade. According to the MiLB.com transactions log, the organization released left-hander Burl Carraway, officially ending a development journey that once carried enormous promise but was derailed by injuries, lost seasons, and mounting control issues.
Carraway, now 26, entered professional baseball under extraordinary circumstances. The Cubs selected him with the 51st overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, a year unlike any other in league history. That draft was reduced to just five rounds because of the COVID-19 pandemic, making every pick far more valuable than usual. Being chosen in the second round of that draft effectively placed Carraway among the most coveted amateur talents in the country.
At the time, the selection made perfect sense. Carraway had emerged as a dominant force at Dallas Baptist University, where his left arm became must-see viewing for scouts. His fastball routinely touched 100 miles per hour, a rare feat for any pitcher, let alone a southpaw. In his third and final collegiate season, he overwhelmed hitters with pure velocity, earning national attention and rapidly climbing draft boards.
His résumé was already impressive before the Cubs called his name. Carraway was the third-highest draft pick in Dallas Baptist program history and became the first player from the school ever selected to represent the United States national collegiate team. Industry evaluators saw him as a future high-leverage reliever with closer potential, and MLB Pipeline labeled him “the top relief prospect in the 2020 draft.”
The buzz around Carraway was immediate. Cubs fans, desperate for high-end pitching talent during a transitional period for the franchise, quickly latched onto the flame-throwing lefty. Comparisons began circulating between Carraway and Garrett Crochet, the White Sox’s own first-round left-handed pitcher selected in that same unusual draft year. Crochet had rocketed through the minors and debuted in the majors almost immediately, raising questions on the North Side about whether the Cubs might attempt a similarly aggressive path with Carraway.
Those conversations were largely speculative, however, because Carraway never actually pitched in a professional game in 2020. The pandemic wiped out the entire minor league season, leaving newly drafted players with no competitive outlet. Instead of facing hitters, Carraway spent that year limited to bullpen sessions, simulated work, and instructional settings. He had not yet tested his electric arsenal against professional competition.
Even then, there were subtle indications that the Cubs may have had some reservations. Despite selecting Carraway with a high second-round pick, the organization signed him to a $1.05 million bonus, significantly below the $1.4 million slot value assigned to pick No. 51. While underslot deals are not uncommon, the gap suggested the Cubs were hedging their investment, perhaps wary of the inherent risk in a high-velocity reliever with limited starting experience.
Still, optimism remained high heading into 2021. When minor league baseball finally resumed, MLB Pipeline ranked Carraway as the No. 18 prospect in the Cubs’ farm system and the second-highest-rated left-handed pitcher in the organization. His combination of velocity and deception made him one of the more exciting bullpen arms in the system, and many expected him to move quickly once he finally took the mound.
What followed instead was a frustrating series of setbacks that would come to define Carraway’s professional career.
Injuries began to take their toll almost immediately. After limited action early on, Carraway managed to appear in just 10 games in 2022, never establishing a consistent rhythm or workload. According to North Side Baseball writer Jason Ross, it was during this period that Carraway also developed a case of the yips, a condition that can devastate pitchers by disrupting their ability to throw strikes consistently.
The combination of physical limitations and mental hurdles proved overwhelming. Carraway missed the entire 2023 and 2024 seasons, disappearing from game action altogether as he attempted to recover and reset. By the time he returned to the mound this season, expectations had understandably been tempered. The goal was no longer rapid advancement or late-inning dominance—it was simply getting healthy and finding a way to pitch again.
His 2025 season offered only fleeting glimpses of progress. Carraway logged 8 1/3 innings across 10 appearances, splitting time between Single-A South Bend and the Arizona Complex League. On paper, some numbers looked encouraging. He struck out 11 batters, evidence that his raw stuff still had bite. But the control issues were impossible to ignore. He also issued 17 walks, an alarming figure that underscored how far he still was from regaining command.
For a pitcher once touted for his ability to overpower hitters, the inability to locate pitches consistently was crippling. Whether due to lingering effects of injury, the mental strain of repeated setbacks, or the yips themselves, Carraway simply could not stabilize his performance. With limited innings, repeated stints on the injured list, and no clear path forward, the Cubs ultimately made the difficult decision to release him.
The move closes the book on one of the more curious prospect stories in recent Cubs history. Carraway had all the ingredients teams dream about: elite velocity, left-handedness, national recognition, and early professional acclaim. Yet he also serves as a stark reminder of how fragile pitching development can be, particularly when injuries and lost time disrupt momentum at critical stages.
What comes next for Carraway is uncertain. At 26, he still possesses raw arm strength that could intrigue another organization willing to take a low-risk chance. As a free agent, he is free to pursue opportunities elsewhere, whether in affiliated ball, independent leagues, or even overseas. Some pitchers have successfully reinvented themselves later in their careers after similar struggles, though the path is rarely easy.
There is also the possibility that Carraway’s time in professional baseball has reached its conclusion. Years of rehab, missed seasons, and mounting frustrations can take a significant toll, both physically and mentally. Walking away from the game is never an easy decision, especially for someone who once stood so close to the highest level.
Interestingly, pitching was not Carraway’s only athletic identity. Coming out of A&M Consolidated High School, he was also recruited as an outfielder before ultimately focusing on the mound at Dallas Baptist. While a position change at this stage would be unconventional, it remains a theoretical option if he chooses to continue chasing a baseball career in any form.
For the Cubs, Carraway’s release is another reminder that prospect rankings and draft-day hype are only starting points, not guarantees. Even the most electric arms can be undone by circumstances beyond anyone’s control. For fans who once dreamed of seeing a 100-mph lefty firing fastballs at Wrigley Field, the ending is undoubtedly disappointing.
Still, Carraway’s story is not defined solely by its conclusion. From his rise at Dallas Baptist to his status as a nationally recognized amateur and one of the most talked-about arms in the 2020 draft, his journey reflects both the promise and the peril of modern pitching development. Whether this marks the end of his baseball path or simply another unexpected turn remains to be seen.
For now, Burl Carraway enters the next chapter of his life as a free agent—one whose career never unfolded as expected, but whose talent once captured the imagination of an entire fan base.
