Former Top Prospect Facing Potential IL Stint With Cubs
The Chicago Cubs play their domestic Opening Day on Thursday against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field, but they may be without one of their top bench players. According to Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic on X, middle infielder/outfielder Vidal Brujan may start the year on the injured list after he banged his right elbow into the outfield wall trying to make a catch over the weekend. Cubs news from Tuesday:
Brad Keller has been notified he’s made the Cubs. Ben Brown will be then the fifth starter. Vidal Bruján is battling a right elbow issue, he hurt it banging against the wall trying to make a catch over the weekend. IL stint is possible. — Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) March 25, 2025 Brujan, 27, was ranked on MLB Pipeline as the No. 3 overall second base prospect while a member of the Tampa Bay Rays organization in 2021.
Notable players ranked ahead of him were Nick Gonzales of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Nick Madrigal of the New York Mets. The Dominican Republic native has struggled at the plate early in his MLB career, batting just .189 with five home runs in 202 games. After playing parts of three seasons with the Rays from 2021 to 2023,
Tampa Bay traded Brujan to the Miami Marlins in November 2023. Brujan lasted just over one calendar year with the Marlins, who traded him to the Cubs in December for first baseman Matt Mervis and cash considerations. If Brujan needs a trip to the 10-day IL to begin the season, the Cubs’ bench players who could see more playing time include third baseman/second baseman Jon Berti and third baseman Gage Workman.
Brujan has no minor league options remaining, so if the Cubs demote him at any point during the 2025 MLB season, they risk another club claiming him off waivers. The one aspect of Brujan’s game that has improved during his career in MLB is his defensive versatility. He’s made at least one appearance at every position besides catcher, including two trips to the mound in blowouts.
