Edward Cabrera stepped onto the mound in Iowa with a single mission: get the arm loose without breaking the body. The right-hander tossed just 1.2 innings for the Triple-A affiliate on a sweltering August night. He threw 43 total pitches, but only 26 of them found the strike zone. Giving up two hits and two walks for three runs, his lack of command proved costly. Yet, the one thing fans have been craving was right there for everyone to see. His fastball sat comfortably between 94 and 98 miles per hour, a number that signals he’s close to being ready.
Velocity Returns While Command Waits
It isn’t surprising that a pitcher returning from injury struggles with location first. The body remembers how to throw hard long before it remembers how to be precise. Cabrera struck out three batters during his short stint, proving he still has the stuff to miss bats. According to Bleed Cubbie Blue, the Cubs pitcher only needed a brief look to show his arm strength is back. Two of the runs he allowed actually crossed the plate after he was pulled from the game, which means his exit didn’t stop the damage immediately. Ty Blach took over the mound to finish the inning, but the harm was already done. The velocity numbers are the real story here, not the final line score.
How often do we see a pitcher trade control for pure arm talent in a rehab stint?
Teammates Shine in Iowa and Beyond
The Iowa Cubs lost that game 9-5 to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, but the offense had some genuine bright spots. Kevin Alcántara extended his on-base streak to 39 games with a single, while also driving in a run and scoring one himself. Owen Ayers got the team on the board with an RBI single, and Jonathonn Long went 3 for 5 with a double. Meanwhile, the lower levels of the system were busy too. The Knoxville Smokies fell 5-4 to Pensacola, but Alex RamÃrez hit his 13th home run of the year. The South Bend Cubs crushed Lake County 15-7, with Kohl Franklin starting his own rehab assignment. These numbers show a farm system that is grinding every single day.
That 39-game streak by Kevin Alcántara is the kind of consistency that keeps a lineup dangerous.
The Road Back to Wrigley
Rehab assignments are never about the win-loss record. They are about building up the arm and finding a rhythm. Cabrera didn’t throw enough innings to judge his readiness based on the outcome alone. The fact that he hit 98 mph on the radar gun is the only metric that truly matters right now. If he can pair that speed with better command in his next start, the call-up to Chicago could be closer than anyone thinks. The Cubs need pitching depth, and a healthy Cabrera provides exactly that. Fans should watch his next outing closely, as the numbers will tell the real story of his return.
What happens if the command doesn’t follow the velocity?
Key Stats from the Weekend:
- Cabrera Velocity: 94-98 mph
- Kevin Alcántara On-Base Streak: 39 games
- Alex RamÃrez Home Runs: 13 this season
- Iowa Cubs Result: Lost 9-5 to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
- South Bend Cubs Result: Won 15-7 vs. Lake County
