Riley Martin

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Riley Cole Martin

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Biographical Information[edit]

Pitcher Riley Martin was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 6th round of the 2021 amateur draft out of Quincy University, a small Division II school not know for producing baseball talent. By his own admission, he wasn't much of a prospect until his senior year and had already begun the process of applying to a pharmacy school when he had an excellent senior season thanks to an improved four-seam fastball. He went 9-3, 3.55 in 12 starts in what was his fifth season playing for the school, having obtained one extra year of eligibility after the 2020 season was cancelled early due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He started his career in 2021 with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, getting into 8 games as a reliever, and only started once between 2021 and 2024. He reached AAA with the Iowa Cubs in 2023, then spent the entire 2024 season there, going 4-4, 4.48 with 2 saves in 43 games. He really emerged as a prospect in his second season at Iowa in 2025, when he started once in his 47 games and finished at 6-2, 2.69 with 4 saves. The Cubs saw his future as a potential long reliever, and had him begin the 2026 season as a starter at Iowa, in order to stretch him out. He made one start, giving up one run in 3 innings, then was called up to the parent club on April 5th when Cade Horton went on the injured list. He made his debut the next day, pitching the final inning of a 6-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field, giving up one hit in one inning of work but facing the minimum three batters thanks to an inning-ending double play.

Further Reading[edit]

  • Jordan Bastian: "Cubs' No. 28 prospect traveled an unlikely road to The Show", mlb.com, April 6, 2026. [1]

Related Sites[edit]

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