In flashes, Brown has shown the top-of-the-rotation material the Cubs saw when they traded veteran reliever David Robertson to the Philadelphia Phillies at the 2022 deadline. Brown had been overlooked in the 2017 MLB Draft — the Phillies selected him in a 33rd round that no longer exists — but he popped up as a prospect that summer.

Cubs right-hander Ben Brown had been happy with his changeup all game, but as the fifth inning continued to spin out of his control against the Royals, and with speedy Bobby Witt

The Chicago Cubs were always going to add a starting pitcher ahead of the MLB trade deadline, but after Ben Brown imploded in a loss to the Kansas City Royals on Monday night, that search just got much more desperate.