Javier Assad

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Javier Assad

|image = Javier Assad (7883003) (cropped).jpg

|width=150

|caption = Assad with the Chicago Cubs in 2023

|team = Chicago Cubs

|number = 72

|position = Pitcher

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|7|30}}

|birth_place = Tijuana, Mexico

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = August 23

|debutyear = 2022

|debutteam = Chicago Cubs

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = 2024 season

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 14–11

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 3.40

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 248

|teams =

Chicago Cubs ({{mlby|2022}}–present)

|show-medals=no

|medaltemplates=

{{Medal|Country|{{bb|MEX}}}}

}}

Javier Eduardo Assad Ramírez (born July 30, 1997) is a Mexican professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Early life, family and education

Assad was born and raised in Tijuana, Mexico. While playing Little League Baseball as a youth, he was teammates with future professional baseball player Alfonso Rivas. (Assad and Rivas became teammates on the Chicago Cubs following Assad's promotion in 2022.{{Cite web| title=From Little League teammates to Cubs teammates: Everything has come full circle for Alfonso Rivas and Javier Assad| url= https://www.marqueesportsnetwork.com/from-little-league-teammates-to-cubs-teammates-everything-has-come-full-circle-for-alfonso-rivas-and-javier-assad/|access-date=2023-04-21|website=marqueesportsnetwork.com|date=20 September 2022 |language=en}})

Career

Assad signed with the Chicago Cubs as an international free agent on July 27, 2015.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/cubs-javier-assad-make-debut-game-1-cardinals-doubleheader|title=Another Cubs pitching prospect set for MLB debut|website=RSN|date=22 August 2022 }} He made his professional debut with the rookie-level Arizona League Cubs in 2016, pitching to a 2.87 ERA in 10 games. He spent the 2017 season with the Low-A Eugene Emeralds, logging a 5–6 record and 4.23 ERA with 72 strikeouts in 13 starts.{{Cite web|title=Chicago Cubs Top 20 prospects for 2018|url=https://www.minorleagueball.com/2017/12/2/16728854/chicago-cubs-top-20-prospects-for-2018|access-date=2023-04-21|website=minorleagueball.com|date=18 December 2017 |language=en}} He pitched in 23 games (21 starts) for the Single-A South Bend Cubs in 2018, registering a 5–7 record and 4.40 ERA with 89 strikeouts in {{frac|106|1|3}} innings of work.

On May 3, 2019, while playing for the High-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Assad attempted to field a push bunt from Marco Hernández of the Salem Red Sox, but dropped the ball on the transfer. In an attempt to save the play, Assad kicked the ball towards first base, where first baseman Cam Balego caught it to record an out. A video of the play would go viral on Twitter.{{Cite web|title=You won't believe how he got the out at 1st|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/javier-assad-gets-crazy-out-on-kick|access-date=2023-04-21|website=mlb.com|language=en}} In 22 starts for Myrtle Beach in 2019, Assad posted a 4–10 record and 3.87 ERA with 91 strikeouts in {{frac|116|1|3}} innings pitched.{{Cite web|title=Pelicans' Assad maintains marvelous May|url=https://www.milb.com/news/myrtle-beach-pelicans-javier-assad-maintains-marvelous-may-307178180|access-date=2023-04-21|website=milb.com|language=en}} He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=2023-03-18|website=mlb.com|language=en}}

Assad spent the 2021 season with the Double-A Tennessee Smokies, recording a 4–8 record and 5.32 ERA with 74 strikeouts in 93 innings pitched. He began the 2022 season with Tennessee before being promoted to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. In 23 combined appearances (21 starts) Assad excelled to the tune of a 5–3 record and 2.66 ERA with 111 strikeouts in {{frac|108|1|3}} innings of work.{{Cite web|title=Chicago Cubs and Miami Marlins Prospect Notes (Double-A)|url=https://www.justbaseball.com/prospects/chicago-cubs-and-miami-marlins-prospect-notes-double-a/|access-date=2023-04-21|website=justbaseball.com|date=21 June 2022 |language=en}}

On August 23, 2022, Assad was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{Cite web|title=Cubs prospect notes: Javier Assad's debut, Brennen Davis is back and more|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3533263/2022/08/24/cubs-prospects-javier-assad-brennen-davis/|access-date=2023-04-21|website=theathletic.com|language=en | last1=Mooney | first1=Patrick }} He made his MLB debut that night in a spot start against the St. Louis Cardinals.{{Cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/cubs-javier-assad-debut-game-215032059.html|title=Cubs: Javier Assad to make debut in Game 1 of Cardinals doubleheader|website=sports.yahoo.com|date=22 August 2022 }} On September 12, Assad earned his first career victory after allowing 1 run on 5 hits and 3 walks across 6 innings of work against the New York Mets.{{Cite web|title=Javier Assad Picks Up First Career Win in Cubs 5–2 Victory over Mets|url=https://www.si.com/fannation/mlb/fastball/news/javier-assad-picks-up-first-career-win-in-cubs-5-2-victory-over-mets#:~:text=Chicago%20Cubs%20rookie%20pitcher%20Javier,New%20York%20Mets%205%2D2.|access-date=June 17, 2023|website=si.com| date=13 September 2022 |language=en}}

In 2024, the Marquee Sports Network considered Assad to have "developed into" a "crucial piece" for the Cubs, after previously being an overlooked pitcher.{{Cite web |last=Martinez |first=Andy |date=2024-05-10 |title='Who is this guy?': Once overlooked, Javier Assad has developed into crucial piece for Cubs {{!}} Chicago Cubs News |url=https://www.marqueesportsnetwork.com/who-is-this-guy-once-overlooked-javier-assad-has-developed-into-crucial-piece-for-cubs/ |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=Marquee Sports Network - Television Home of the Chicago Cubs and Sky |language=en}}

Assad was placed on the injured list to begin the 2025 season due to oblique soreness.{{Cite web|title=Javier Assad Ruled Out For Opening Day|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/javier-assad-ruled-out-for-opening-day.html|access-date=April 30, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} On April 25, 2025, Assad was shut down due to a Grade 2 strain of his left oblique.{{Cite web|title=Javier Assad Shut Down With Grade 2 Oblique Strain|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/04/javier-assad-shut-down-with-grade-2-oblique-strain.html|access-date=April 30, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on April 30.{{Cite web|title=Cubs Select Chris Flexen|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/04/cubs-select-chris-flexen-call-up.html|access-date=April 30, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}

International career

Assad played for Team Mexico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. In the Quarterfinal Game against Puerto Rico on March 12, 2023, Assad threw {{frac|2|2|3}} scoreless innings in relief.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-18 |title=Javier Assad's Cubs teammates not surprised by his WBC success: 'That's just how he is' |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2023/3/17/23645661/javier-assads-cubs-teammates-not-surprised-by-his-wbc-success-thats-just-how-he-is |access-date=2023-04-03 |website=Chicago Sun-Times |language=en}}

Personal life

On February 11, 2022, Assad married Melissa.{{cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CavO9gLJVV9/?img_index=1 |website=www.instagram.com |access-date=19 June 2024}}