​After selecting power bats in their two second-round picks, the Cubs used their third-round choice on a tall, right-handed pitcher from Nebraska, Carson Jasa. At 6’7”, Jasa brings a fiery fastball that typically sits in the 95-96 mph range, but what the Cubs likely found most appealing are his enormous spin rates. In practice, he doesn’t rely on his fastball for extended usage, and when he does throw it, locating it can be an issue. Instead, Jasa leans on an upper-80s slider with sharp, hard break, complemented by a slow, upper-70s 12-6 curve that shows a significant vertical drop. Those two breaking balls serve as his primary weapons. He also offers a mid-80s changeup that, if he wants to function as a starter and handle left-handed hitters, will need to be more dependable.
Jasa is a redshirt sophomore who missed the 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery. He returned in 2025 and largely worked out of the bullpen, where he faced some struggles. In that year, he logged just 18.2 innings, walked 18 batters, and struck out 24, posting an 8.68 ERA during his redshirt freshman season. However, the 2026 season marked a turning point, as Jasa moved into Nebraska’s starting rotation and found considerably more success. He started 16 games, going 10-2 with a 3.59 ERA. Over 87.2 innings, he struck out 117 batters and reduced his walk rate by more than half, finishing with 47 free passes. While those numbers aren’t perfect, it represented a substantial improvement from his comeback year.
MLB Pipeline ranked Jasa as the 173rd-best prospect in the draft, with Baseball America placing him slightly higher at 158. Keith Law of The Athletic, however, offered the outlier perspective, ranking him as high as 93. Law acknowledged the loud command and control issues that accompany Jasa and the significant reliever risk that comes with those traits, but he also saw substantial upside if Jasa can learn to throw more strikes and command the zone more consistently.
For the Cubs, Jasa represents a developmental project for the pitch lab. His impressive size, elite spin rates, and above-average velocity give him a substantial foundation to build upon. The primary challenge will be helping him cultivate a more refined feel for pitching and tighter control of the strike zone. Without improved command, the risk of turning him into a reliever or facing durability concerns remains high. If the Cubs can translate his raw tools into consistent pitching, Jasa could evolve into a valuable multi-inning option or a potential starter.
Here’s some video of Jasa pitching against Ohio State in May, which showcases his delivery, repertoire, and the way his breaking balls play off his heater. This footage can provide a clearer look at how his stuff translates on the mound and illustrate the elements the Cubs may be hoping to unlock in their development process.