Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 35 | Overall: 40

One of the more intriguing two-way players in the 2022 Draft, Mule hit triple digits with his fastball on the showcase circuit and also exhibited raw power, arm strength and athleticism at shortstop. When he showed increased polish on the mound as a New Jersey high school senior, teams began focusing on him as a pitcher, and the Cubs signed him for an above-slot $1 million in the fourth round. Tommy John surgery in March 2023 pushed his pro debut back to May 2024, and he has displayed some of the best stuff in the system but only sporadic control since then.

Mule works at 94-96 mph and touches 98 with modest armside run on his fastball, which can straighten out at times and doesn't miss as many bats as his velocity indicates he should. His sharp mid-80s slider features more depth than sweep and can be a wipeout pitch at its best. He's in the early stages of developing a changeup, but it's too firm and has only sporadic fade.

Mule has one of the more electric arms in the system but will need plenty of time to develop. He issued 42 walks in his 52-inning debut and doesn't get many chases because he often misses the strike zone by a wide margin. Chicago will give him every chance to develop as a starter, but he might be more of a two-pitch reliever.

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

Mulé was one of the more intriguing two-way players in the 2022 Draft, reaching triple digits with his fastball on the showcase circuit while also displaying raw power, arm strength and athleticism at shortstop. His future appeared brighter on the mound when he showed increased polish there as a New Jersey high school senior, and Chicago paid him an above-slot $1 million bonus as a fourth-rounder. His elbow began bothering him that offseason, leading to a diagnosis of a torn ulnar collateral ligament and Tommy John surgery that pushed his pro debut back to 2024.

Before he got hurt, Mulé was starting to understand that pure velocity matters less than movement and command, and he was finding success with a 93-96 mph fastball with riding action. He also developed more consistency with a low-80s slider that features more depth than sweep. Though he rarely required a third pitch as an amateur, he flashed a low-80s changeup with promising fade.

Assuming he makes a full recovery from elbow reconstruction, Mulé should have one of the more electric arms in the system. He'll need time to refine his arsenal, control and command and will be handled carefully. The Cubs see him primarily as a pitcher but haven't ruled out giving him some time at shortstop.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40 

One of the better two-way players in the 2022 Draft, Mule displayed raw power, arm strength and athleticism at shortstop and hit 100 mph with his fastball on the prep showcase circuit. He displayed increased polish as a pitcher during his New Jersey high school senior season, leading most clubs to believe he had more upside on the mound. He gave up a Miami scholarship to sign for an above-slot $1 million in the fourth round, but Tommy John surgery in March 2023 will push his pro debut back to mid-2024.

Though Mule can reach triple digits with his fastball, he has learned that he's better off ignoring radar guns and working at 93-96 with increased riding action. He showed a more consistent slider last spring and his low-80s breaker features more depth than sweep. He barely needed a third pitch as an amateur but can flash a low-80s changeup with intriguing fade. 

Mule did a better job of pitching under control as a high school senior, and his athleticism should help him throw strikes. Though he'll need plenty of time to refine his secondary pitches, control and command, he has one of the more electric arms in the system. The Cubs have said they plan to develop him as a pitcher but will remain open-minded about how his role might evolve. 

Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45 

Mule impressed with his two-way ability on the showcase circuit last summer, displaying raw power, arm strength and athleticism at shortstop while also reaching triple digits with his fastball in brief appearances. He made impressive strides as a pitcher this spring, convincing most clubs that he had a brighter future on the mound. Chicago drafted him in the fourth round in July and signed him for an above-slot $1 million. 

Though Mule has reached 100 mph with his fastball, he has learned he's more effective when he doesn't try to pitch to the radar gun and works at 93-96 with more riding action. He improved the consistency of his slider this spring, showing a low-80s breaker with more depth than sweep. He's still learning feel for a changeup that he barely used as an amateur, though he'll flash some low-80s cambios with interesting fade. 

Mule's athleticism should help him throw strikes and he did a better job of pitching under control as a high school senior. He'll need time to refine his secondary pitches, control and command but his upside on the mound is obvious. Though the Cubs plan to develop him as a pitcher, scouting director Dan Kantrovitz will remain open-minded about how his role might evolve. 

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Fastball: 70 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall 45

Scouting grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 65 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40

All summer long, Mule, showed off power -- at the plate and on the mound -- at showcase events from Major League Baseball’s All-American Game to the Perfect Game All-American Classic. The New Jersey high school product seemed like a legitimate two-way threat, though he came out hot on the mound in front of a lot of decision-makers this spring, with the industry mostly talking about his pitching future.

Big and physical, the 6-foot-3 right-handed hitter has a ton of raw power at the plate and has, at times, gotten to it, posting some high exit velocities, with solid defensive actions at shortstop. But strides he made as a pitcher have put his position player skills on the back burner. He made waves over the summer by touching triple-digits with his fastball, but has shown better pitchability this spring with his fastball in the 93-96 mph range. The slider can flash plus and has been more consistent and he continues to show some feel for a changeup, even if he doesn’t use it much.

He has shown below-average command in the past when he was hitting 100 mph, more of a thrower than a pitcher, and while his control has been a bit up and down, he’s found the strike zone more reliably this spring. Committed to go to Miami, Mule may tempt a team to send him out as a position player and see if he can tap into that power, but teams are really preferring him as a pitcher at the moment.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	08/19/2025	RHP Nazier Mulé assigned to South Bend Cubs from Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
	06/15/2025	Myrtle Beach Pelicans activated RHP Nazier Mulé from the 7-day injured list.
	05/19/2025	Myrtle Beach Pelicans placed RHP Nazier Mulé on the 7-day injured list.
	05/28/2024	RHP Nazier Mulé assigned to Myrtle Beach Pelicans from ACL Cubs.
	05/28/2024	Myrtle Beach Pelicans activated RHP Nazier Mulé.
	04/30/2024	RHP Nazier Mulé assigned to ACL Cubs from Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
	04/05/2024	Myrtle Beach Pelicans placed RHP Nazier Mulé on the 7-day injured list.
	11/06/2023	Myrtle Beach Pelicans activated RHP Nazier Mulé.
	11/06/2023	Myrtle Beach Pelicans activated RHP Nazier Mulé from the full-season injured list.
	04/06/2023	RHP Nazier Mulé roster status changed by Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
	04/05/2023	RHP Nazier Mulé assigned to Myrtle Beach Pelicans from ACL Cubs.
	03/06/2023	RHP Nazier Mule assigned to ACL Cubs from Cubs Organization.
	08/16/2022	RHP Nazier Mule assigned to Cubs Organization.
	07/30/2022	RHP Nazier Mule roster status changed by Chicago Cubs.
	07/30/2022	Chicago Cubs signed RHP Nazier Mule.
	06/11/2022	RHP Nazier Mule and assigned to College Workout.
	06/11/2022	College Workout activated RHP Nazier Mule.
	08/18/2021	SS Nazier Mule and assigned to PG East.
	07/13/2021	PG National 2 - Gold activated SS Nazier Mule.
	07/08/2021	American activated SS Nazier Mule.
	07/08/2021	American activated SS Nazier Mule.