The Chicago Cubs used their third-round pick on Nebraska right-hander Carson Jasa, adding a 6-foot-7 arm with high-spin breaking pitches to their developmental pipeline.
What the pick means for Nebraska fans
Jasa’s selection brings a local player from the Cornhuskers program into Major League Baseball’s system. For Nebraska fans, his presence in the Cubs organization highlights the program’s ability to produce professional prospects despite injuries and role changes that marked his collegiate career.
Jasa is a redshirt sophomore who missed the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery and returned to pitch in 2025, largely in relief before moving into the starting rotation this past season.
Scouting profile and recent performance
Scouts note Jasa’s physical tools: he stands about 6-foot-7 and has shown velocity in the 95–96 mph range on his fastball. More notable, evaluators point to his strong spin metrics and two primary breaking pitches — an upper-80s slider with hard, late action and an upper-70s, knee-bending 12–6 curve.
| 2025 season (Nebraska) | Figure |
|---|---|
| Starts | 16 |
| Record | 10–2 |
| ERA | 3.59 |
| Innings | 87.2 |
| Strikeouts | 117 |
| Walks | 47 |
MLB Pipeline ranked Jasa as the 173rd prospect in the draft, while Baseball America placed him at 158. Keith Law of The Athletic ranked Jasa higher, at 93, noting both his upside and concerns about command.
Upside and concerns for the Cubs
- Upside: Size, spin rates and above-average velocity give Jasa a high-ceiling profile the Cubs often target for their development-driven approach.
- Concerns: Command and control have been inconsistent; Jasa walked 18 batters in just 18.2 relief innings in 2025 and has shown control issues at points since his return from surgery.
- Developmental need: He throws a fringy mid-80s changeup that will need improvement if he is to hold left-handed hitters and remain a starter long term.
The Cubs have had success teaching new changeups to recent college pitchers in their system, and that track record may have factored into the pick. With Jasa, the organization will likely emphasize refining command and adding a dependable secondary pitch to complement his breaking offerings and power fastball.
For Nebraska’s baseball program, Jasa’s selection underscores both the challenges and promise of exporting pitchers who have recovered from major surgery and adapted roles. His jump into the third round demonstrates the value MLB clubs place on raw tools and measurable traits even when the statistical track record is mixed.
Jasa’s path forward will hinge on health, command and how quickly he can convert his arsenal into consistent, pitchable sequences against professional hitters.
Peter Novak is the Nebraska correspondent for News Block.
