Hayden in entering his third season in the Cubs organization and his sixth professional campaign overall...In parts of two seasons with Chicago, is 6-7 with a 3.97 ERA (54 ER/122.1 IP) in 40 games (15 starts)...Has walked 39 and struck out 116...Was ranked as the Cubs' No. 5 prospect by MLB.com entering the 2023 season...Made his Major League debut Sept. 6, 2022 against Cincinnati...He threw 5.0 scoreless innings in relief...In the fifth inning Sept. 22, 2022 at Pittsburgh, tossed the Cubs' first immaculate inning since LaTroy Hawkins did so Sept. 11, 2004 against the Marlins...Was acquired from New York (A.L.) Aug. 1, 2022, for pitcher Scott Effross...During parts of four seasons in the Minors in the Yankees (2019-2022) and Cubs (2022-23) organizations, he is 19- 16 in 72 games (52 starts)...Has posted a 3.52 ERA (113 ER/289.0 IP) with 315 strikeouts, 86 walks and a 1.15 WHIP...In 2021, was named Double-A Northeast Pitcher of the Month for September, after going 3-0 with one complete game and a 1.35 ERA (3 ER/20.0 IP) in three starts...Following the 2021 season, was ranked as the No. 6 prospect in the Yankees organization by Baseball America...Was named an Organization All-Star by MiLB.com...Selected by New York (A.L.) in the sixth round of the 2019 draft out of Sam Houston State University...Attended Sam Houston State University (Hunstville, Texas)...Graduated from Cy-Fair High School (Cypress, Texas)...Named a Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American in 2017.
2023
Hayden spent a majority of the 2023 season with Chicago and in three stints with the club was 3-5 with a 4.63 ERA (46 ER/89.1 IP) and two holds in 34 games, including 11 starts...Made his first career Opening Day roster before he was optioned to Triple-A Iowa May 15...Was also with the big league club May 30-July 4 and July 28-Oct. 1...Was 1-2 with a 3.57 ERA (16 ER/40.1 IP) and a 1.26 WHIP in 23 relief appearances, walking 20 and striking out 43...In 11 starts was 2-3 with a 5.51 ERA (30 ER/49.0 IP) with 12 walks, 40 strikeouts and a 1.29 WHIP...Right-handed hitters posted a .202 average (40-for-198) with a .618 OPS against him while lefties hit .298 (42-for-141) with a .986 OPS...Stranded seven of 11 inherited runners...Made five starts with Triple-A Iowa (May 20-25, July 7-22), going 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA (3 ER/20.0 IP)...Walked eight and struck out 28...Opened the season in Chicago's starting rotation and was 2-2 with a 5.03 ERA (22 ER/39.1 IP) in eight starts through May 13...Struck out a season-high seven batters in a season-high 7.0 innings April 17 in Oakland...Did not allow a walk in the 10-1 victory...Tossed a season-high 4.1 innings as a reliever June 28 vs. Philadelphia (one ER)...Posted a 3.00 ERA (5 ER/15.0 IP) in 11 September relief appearances, holding opponents to a .226/.339/.415 slash line...Walked nine and struck out 18.
2022
Hayden in 2022 made his major league debut, appearing in six games (four starts) with Chicago, going 3-2 and posting a2.18 ERA (8 ER/33.0 IP)....Recorded 33 strikeouts, compared to seven walks, and registered a 0.94 WHIP and .198 opponent batting average....After his debut on Sept. 6, his 2.18 ERA ranked ninth among qualified major league pitchers....Registered quality starts in three of his four starts....Made his major league debut in relief Sept. 6, 2022, against Cincinnati (5.0 IP, 0 R, 2 H, BB, 8 SO) ... he earned his first career win in the outing... Became the first reliever in major league history (since at least 1901) to make his major league debut with at least 5.0 scoreless innings, allowing two or fewer hits and striking out at least eight batters....Made his first major league start Sept. 17 against the Rockies, allowing one run on three hits and seven strikeouts in 7.0 innings of work... He became the first Cubs rookie with a start of at least7.0 innings while allowing one run or fewer, walking none and striking out at least seven batters since Mark Prior (July 19, 2002)....In the fifth inning on Sept. 22 at Pittsburgh, tossed the Cubs' first immaculate inning since LaTroy Hawkins did so, Sept.11, 2004 against the Marlins....Appeared in five games (four starts) for Triple-A Iowa, posting a 5.66 ERA (13 ER/20.2 IP) prior to his selection Sept. 6....Was acquired from the Yankees on Aug. 1 for right-handed pitcher Scott Effross....Went 6-7 with a 3.51 ERA (35 ER/89.2 IP) in 19 starts for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, with 83 strikeouts....Following the season, was rated as the Cubs No. 12 prospect per MLB Pipeline.
