The Cubs are taking a flier on a once-promising left-hander, claiming Ryan Rolison off waivers from the White Sox. Chicago’s South Side club had designated Rolison for assignment to clear space on the 40-man roster for free agent reliever Sean Newcomb. The North Siders, meanwhile, had room to spare and didn’t need to make a corresponding move to bring Rolison into the fold.

Rolison’s journey to this point has been anything but smooth. A first-round pick by the Rockies back in 2018, the former Ole Miss standout was once viewed as a polished college arm with a fast track to the majors.

But injuries – most notably a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder that cost him nearly two full seasons – threw a wrench into those plans. He didn’t make his big league debut until 2025, and when he finally did, the results were rocky.

In 42 1/3 innings for Colorado last season, Rolison appeared in 31 games (just one start) and struggled to a 7.02 ERA. He was hit hard by the long ball – giving up home runs at a rate of 2.34 per nine innings – and couldn’t quite find his footing against major league hitters. But there’s more to the story than just the surface numbers.

In Triple-A, Rolison showed flashes of what once made him a top prospect. He posted a 3.34 ERA with a solid 25.2% strikeout rate, a manageable 7.1% walk rate, and a strong 48.8% ground-ball rate. Those are the kinds of underlying metrics that tend to get the attention of front offices – especially when they come from a lefty who’s finally healthy again.

One notable development: Rolison’s velocity ticked up in 2025. As a starter, he typically sat in the upper 80s to low 90s with his fastball.

But after shifting to a relief role, he averaged 93 mph – a meaningful jump that could hint at more upside in shorter stints. Despite the home run issues, he did a good job of limiting hard contact overall.

Opposing hitters averaged just 87.5 mph off the bat against him, which suggests that when he wasn’t getting burned by the long ball, he was inducing soft contact.

The Cubs clearly see enough to take a chance. Rolison has been bouncing around since Colorado first designated him for assignment – landing with the Braves, then the White Sox, and now the Cubs.

In fact, both Atlanta and Chicago acquired him via small trades before he ever hit waivers. This time, though, the White Sox tried to sneak him through, and the Cubs pounced before he could clear.

With one minor league option remaining, Rolison doesn’t need to break camp with the big league club. That flexibility makes him a low-risk depth piece who could provide value down the line.

The Cubs have been busy reinforcing their bullpen this winter, adding veterans like Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey, Jacob Webb, Hoby Milner, and Caleb Thielbar. Rolison joins a group of lefty relievers that includes Luke Little and Riley Martin – all likely ticketed for Triple-A Iowa to start the year.

Given the Cubs’ current depth, especially with a trade for Marlins righty Edward Cabrera reportedly nearing the finish line, there’s no immediate pressure on Rolison to contribute in the majors. But if he can stay healthy and build on the gains he made in Triple-A, he could find himself back in the mix sooner rather than later. For now, it’s a smart depth play by a team that’s clearly keeping an eye out for left-handed upside.