P | Bats/Throws: R/R | 6' 6" 220 lbs | Age: 26
MLB Pipeline Rank
Cubs: No. 28
W L ERA G GS SV IP SO WHIP
2026 1 4 4.03 12 11 0 51.1 60 1.15
Career Minors 11 26 4.54 80 72 0 321 341 1.30
G W-L ERA IP SO WHIP
2026 12 1-4 4.03 51.1 60 1.15
Career Minors 80 11-26 4.54 321 341 1.30
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Standard Minor League Pitching Statistics

SeasonTmLGLWLERAGGSSVIPHRERHRBBSOWHIP
2022 2 Teams Minors 0 1 5.48 6 6 0 21.1 19 16 13 3 7 19 1.22
2022 ACL Cubs ACL ROK 0 0 0.00 1 1 0 2.0 2 0 0 0 0 2 1.00
2022 Myrtle Beach Pelicans CAR A 0 1 6.05 5 5 0 19.1 17 16 13 3 7 17 1.24
2023 2 Teams Minors 3 10 4.29 23 22 0 98.2 97 54 47 10 35 105 1.34
2023 Myrtle Beach Pelicans CAR A 3 7 3.24 18 17 0 77.2 71 35 28 5 26 80 1.25
2023 South Bend Cubs MID A+ 0 3 8.14 5 5 0 21.0 26 19 19 5 9 25 1.67
2024 2 Teams Minors 1 4 6.15 13 10 0 41.0 36 30 28 3 20 47 1.37
2024 ACL Cubs ACL ROK 0 1 10.80 3 3 0 5.0 8 8 6 0 1 9 1.80
2024 South Bend Cubs MID A+ 1 3 5.50 10 7 0 36.0 28 22 22 3 19 38 1.31
2025 Knoxville Smokies SOU AA 6 7 4.22 26 23 0 108.2 86 55 51 10 57 110 1.32
2026 Knoxville Smokies SOU AA 1 4 4.03 12 11 0 51.1 43 24 23 5 16 60 1.15
ACL Cubs ACL ROK 0 1 7.71 4 4 0 7.0 10 8 6 0 1 11 1.57
Knoxville Smokies SOU AA 7 11 4.16 38 34 0 160.0 129 79 74 15 73 170 1.26
South Bend Cubs MID A+ 1 6 6.47 15 12 0 57.0 54 41 41 8 28 63 1.44
Myrtle Beach Pelicans CAR A 3 8 3.80 23 22 0 97.0 88 51 41 8 33 97 1.25

Scouting Report

2026

Scouting grades: Fastball: 40 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Cutter: 40 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

Kipp didn't have a distinguished college career at Yale, compiling a 6.95 ERA over just 79 innings in four years while losing much of 2020 and all of 2021 to pandemic cancellations. After graduating with an economics degree in 2022, he planned on attending graduate school at Notre Dame until the Cubs saw him in the Cape Cod League and signed him for $50,000 as a nondrafted free agent. Chicago may not have protected him on its 40-man roster this offseason, but he's a legitimate prospect who spins the ball as well as anyone in the system.

Kipp can exceed 3,000 rpm with his low-80s curveball and can manipulate its shape to gets swings-and-misses in the zone or elicit chases with greater depth. His slider has similar shape and spin rates to go with a tick more velocity, though it's a little less effective. The rest of his pitches all grade as below average: a 91-94 mph fastball that touches 96 with some armside run but more downhill plane than carry, an upper-80s cutter and an upper-80s changeup that's too firm and often misses the zone badly.

While Kipp has an easy delivery and an amateur track record of throwing strikes, his walk rate has risen as he has climbed through the Minors. He has such little margin for error that he has to nibble around the zone, and he can get into trouble when he falls behind in the count. He has a ceiling of a back-of-the-rotation starter but is more likely to be a multi-inning reliever who concentrates on spinning curveballs and sliders.


2025

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Cutter: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

Kipp posted a 6.95 ERA and worked just 79 innings in four years at Yale, losing much of the 2020 season and all of '21 to pandemic cancellations. He pitched briefly in the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2022 after graduating with an economics degree, and he planned to attend grad school at Notre Dame until the Cubs signed him for $50,000 as a nondrafted free agent. He has turned into a viable prospect while showing off one of the best curveballs in the system.

Kipp can top 3,000 rpm with his low-80s curve, displaying the aptitude to manipulate its shape to land it in the zone or get chases with bigger depth. He generates similar spin rates on a solid slider with tighter break and a bit more velocity, and he'll also mix in a so-so cutter in the upper 80s. The Cubs have helped him gain about 3 mph on his fastball since turning pro, and his heater now sits at 92-94 mph with high spin and carry.

Because Kipp has yet to demonstrate much feel for an upper-80s changeup that's too firm, he attacks left-handers by working up in the zone with his fastball and down with his curve. He has reasonably good control but has little margin for error, so he nibbles around the strike zone and can get into trouble with walks. If he can't make it as a back-of-the-rotation starter, his feel for spin could make him a useful reliever.



Awards




Transactions

Team Date Transaction
06/20/2026 Knoxville Smokies activated RHP Grant Kipp from the Development List.
06/10/2026 Knoxville Smokies transferred RHP Grant Kipp to the Development List.
03/05/2026 RHP Grant Kipp assigned to Chicago Cubs Prospects.
02/09/2026 Chicago Cubs invited non-roster RHP Grant Kipp to spring training.
04/03/2025 RHP Grant Kipp assigned to Knoxville Smokies from South Bend Cubs.
02/20/2025 RHP Grant Kipp roster status changed by Chicago Cubs.
02/20/2025 RHP Grant Kipp assigned to Chicago Cubs.
09/25/2024 RHP Grant Kipp assigned to Mesa Solar Sox.
06/22/2024 South Bend Cubs sent RHP Grant Kipp on a rehab assignment to ACL Cubs.
04/09/2024 South Bend Cubs placed RHP Grant Kipp on the 7-day injured list.
04/09/2024 South Bend Cubs placed RHP Grant Kipp on the 7-day injured list.
08/08/2023 RHP Grant Kipp assigned to South Bend Cubs from Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
08/11/2022 RHP Grant Kipp assigned to Myrtle Beach Pelicans from ACL Cubs.
08/11/2022 Myrtle Beach Pelicans activated RHP Grant Kipp.
08/09/2022 RHP Grant Kipp assigned to ACL Cubs.
08/02/2022 Chicago Cubs signed free agent RHP Grant Kipp to a minor league contract.