Resilience in the Face of Injury: A Hidden Gem Emerges for the Cubs

The 2022 Draft featured more MLB-ready prospects selected straight out of high school than ever seen before. The No. 1 overall pick, Jackson Holliday, was removed from Stillwater High in Oklahoma. Three of the next four picks followed suit.

Resilience in the Face of Injury: A Hidden Gem Emerges for the Cubs

Druw Jones was taken second out of Wesleyan High in Georgia, Termarr Johnson went fourth overall out of Mays High school in Atlanta and Elijah Green was drafted fifth from IMG Academy in Florida.

This trend seemed to continue into the later rounds as well. In fact, the Cubs’ fourth-round selection, 18-year-old Nazier Mule from Passaic County Technical Institution, was one of the highest-graded draft picks in terms of overall value.

Who is Nazier Mule?

Nicknamed “Naz” by his little league teammates, Mule is somewhat of a public figure across the Tri-state area. He started turning heads at 16 when he hit 100 mph for the first time. From there, he continued to excel and mature as a pitcher and hitter.

Mule played for some of the most prestigious club baseball teams across the country. He also received a Perfect Game grade of 10, which is given to only the most elite high school prospects.

In the summer of 2021, Mule announced his commitment to pitch and hit at the University of Miami. At the time, he was ranked as the No. 1 player in New Jersey, and the No. 18 player across the country in his class.

But Mule’s college plans drastically changed when the Cubs selected him in 2022. He signed almost immediately and accepted a $1 million signing bonus. Right after signing, Mule was ranked as the organization’s No. 27 overall prospect.

However, his professional debut was stopped short as Mule’s elbow discomfort became more severe.

The Injury

Mule claimed the discomfort had been lingering for some time. After a specific instance, it was especially bad, and he was taken for examination.

Tests revealed a partial tear of the UCL joint, leading team doctors to advise Mule to undergo Tommy John surgery.  He was permanently shut down immediately following the news. The road ahead was daunting and treacherous, as most pitchers look at a timeline of a minimum of nine months after Tommy John.

Yet, Mule remained optimistic and used the setback as motivation to get better. His sole ambition was to return to throwing before the start of the 2024 season to make his debut in the Cubs’ system.

The Recovery

And that’s exactly what he did. With the support of countless family members, teammates, and coaches, Mule overcame Tommy John surgery.

Mule’s recovery went extremely well. After only nine months of being sidelined, he started throwing again. Early in the recovery process, he also took reps at shortstop to retrain his arm to throw in a fluid motion.

He advanced and progressed so quickly that he was ready to pitch in 2024, less than one calendar year from surgery.  A feat that was almost medically impossible.

Mule made his pro debut in the spring of 2024 in Low-A before being quickly promoted to Single-A with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.  He finished the season with an impressive 3.95 era across 13 starts, holding opponents to a batting average of just .187.

Mule’s Future with the Cubs

Mule is currently on the brink of promotion. He will likely reach Double-A within the first few weeks of the season in 2025.  His “plus plus” fastball received a 70 out of 80 grade as a prospect. That is his best and most elite pitch. He was drafted throwing a fastball, slider, and changeup mix but added a curveball in 2024. This curveball has excellent shape and will likely be his put-away pitch for years to come.

He’s only going to get better with time and reps. Mule’s fastball is dominant and MLB ready. He uses it to get ahead in counts, but he’ll need to continue to develop his curveball and changeup.

Also, he’s still just 20 years old. Mule is incredibly versatile. He’s faced the best prospects in the game countless times and has proven success against them. He’ll be a key part of the Cubs’ future, whether as a starter or reliever.

Ever since he was a child, Mule has aspired to pitch in the Big leagues. He’s proven he can overcome even the most difficult setbacks and will not let anything stand in the way of achieving his goals.