For Riley Martin, the distance between a pharmacy classroom and a Major League mound was a gap he once believed he would never bridge. The left-handed reliever, who spent years playing at a tiny Division II school in western Illinois, recently found himself staring up at the towering lights of Progressive Field, realizing that the dream he had nearly shelved was finally becoming a reality.
The Chicago Cubs officially completed the Riley Martin called up for MLB debut with Cubs transition on Sunday, promoting the rookie from Triple-A Iowa. The move was necessitated by a vacancy in the rotation after the North Siders placed starter Cade Horton on the 15-day injured list due to a right forearm strain. Martin was brought in to provide the bullpen with a versatile arm capable of eating multiple innings.
While the promotion was official by Sunday, Martin had a surreal introduction to the big leagues. A Saturday rainout in Cleveland provided the rookie a rare window of calm, allowing him to walk through the stadium and acclimate to the environment without the immediate pressure of a game. “I stepped into the stadium, and I just looked up,” Martin said. “It was like, ‘Man, this is a lot different than Iowa.’”
From Pharmacy School to the Sixth Round
By most professional baseball standards, Martin’s presence in a Major League clubhouse is a statistical anomaly. During his five-year tenure at Quincy University, a small institution near the Mississippi River, Martin reached a point where he assumed his playing days were over. He didn’t just hope for a career change; he actively planned for one, enrolling in pharmacy school to prepare for a life after the diamond.
The trajectory of his life shifted during his fifth collegiate season in 2021. Martin experienced a sudden surge in velocity and decided to overhaul his approach. He moved away from relying on a sinker and began prioritizing a four-seam fastball, adopting a philosophy of trying to “smother” opposing hitters. The results were immediate and dominant, as he posted a 3.55 ERA and recorded 152 strikeouts against just 34 walks over 78 2/3 innings.
That standout performance caught the attention of scouts, leading the Cubs to select him in the sixth round of the 2021 Draft. In a move that redefined his professional path, Martin put his pharmacy studies on hold to sign with the organization.
“I’ve always dreamed of being a big leaguer,” Martin said. “My first couple years at Quincy, I thought maybe it’s a possibility. My last couple years before my fifth year, I was like, ‘I’m just trying to have fun my last couple years of baseball.’ I came back after [the COVID pandemic] and had a really solid season and got an opportunity. But, it’s crazy. I went into my fifth year expecting to be done playing baseball after that season.”
A Steady Climb Through the Pipeline
Martin’s ascent was not a sudden leap, but rather a methodical climb. Now ranked as the No. 28-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline, the lefty spent years refining his craft in the minors. By the start of this season, he was entering his fourth year with the Triple-A Iowa affiliate, a testament to his persistence and the organization’s desire to let him mature.
The turning point for his promotion came last season, where his consistency in the minors became impossible for the front office to ignore. Across 47 games—nearly all of them in relief—Martin logged a 2.69 ERA and struck out 80 batters in 63 2/3 innings. This performance earned him a coveted spot on the 40-man roster over the winter.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell noted that the rookie’s ability to perform under pressure in the minors was a key factor. “Last season made everybody take note, for sure,” Counsell said.
The Road to the Debut: Timeline of Events
| Period/Date | Milestone | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 Season | Collegiate Breakout | 152 Ks at Quincy University; drafted 6th round |
| Winter 2023-24 | Roster Security | Added to the Cubs’ 40-man roster |
| Sunday | Official Promotion | Called up from Triple-A Iowa to replace Cade Horton |
| Monday | MLB Debut | Pitched a scoreless 8th inning vs. Tampa Bay Rays |
The Moment of Realization
The emotional weight of the call-up was amplified by the presence of a large contingent of family and friends who traveled to Cleveland. Despite the anticipation, Martin did not see action during Sunday’s doubleheader against the Guardians. The wait continued until Monday, when the Cubs traveled to Tropicana Field to face the Tampa Bay Rays.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Martin finally received the call. He entered the game and navigated a scoreless frame, contributing to a hard-fought effort in a 6-4 loss. For Martin, the box score was secondary to the fact that he had finally achieved the goal he had nearly abandoned years prior.
“It was awesome,” Martin said after the game. “Some emotions when we got through it. Went out there and competed. It was just everything I’ve dreamed of.”
The arrival of Martin provides the Cubs with a left-handed option in a bullpen that is currently managing injuries and adjusting to the long grind of the season. His ability to provide multi-inning relief makes him a flexible asset for Counsell as the team navigates its current rotation constraints.
The Cubs will continue to monitor the recovery of Cade Horton while integrating Martin into the relief corps. The rookie’s next appearances will serve as a benchmark for how his “smothering” four-seamer translates against Major League lineups over a sustained period.
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