Sometimes even highly touted prospects with big signing bonuses don’t reach the major leagues, and that appears to be the case for Burl Carraway. On Thursday, the South Bend Cubs, Chicago’s Single-A affiliate, released the 26-year-old left-handed pitcher, according to MiLB.com transactions.
Carraway was the Cubs’ second-round pick in the shortened 2020 draft, going 51st overall after a standout collegiate career at Dallas Baptist, where his fastball touched 100 mph in his final season. He was the third-highest pick ever from Dallas Baptist and the first from the school to make the U.S. national collegiate team. MLB Pipeline even labeled him the “top relief prospect in the 2020 draft.”
In 2021, after the pandemic wiped out the previous minor league season, Carraway was ranked the No. 18 prospect in the Cubs’ farm system and the second-best left-handed pitcher. His triple-digit fastball generated buzz among Cubs fans, with some hoping he could get a call-up similar to White Sox draftee Garrett Crochet that same year.
However, the canceled 2020 minor league season limited Carraway to bullpen sessions, and he never faced a professional hitter in game action. Despite his high draft status, the Cubs may have been cautious about him from the start, signing him for $1.05 million—a figure below the $1.4 million slot value for the 51st pick.
Ultimately, Carraway’s release underscores the unpredictable nature of baseball, even for elite collegiate arms with standout tools.