Javier Assad Bio
Javier Eduardo Assad Ramírez (born July 30, 1997) is a Mexican professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). The right-hander has been a member of the Cubs organization since signing as an international free agent in 2015 and reached the major leagues in 2022. Over his career, Assad has shown promise as a key contributor in the Cubs’ rotation, building a reputation for strong performances at both the minor and major league levels.
Early Life and Background
Javier Eduardo Assad Ramírez was born and raised in Tijuana, Mexico. Growing up in a city with deep baseball roots, he was introduced to the sport at a young age and played Little League Baseball as a youth. During those early years, he was teammates with Alfonso Rivas, who would later also become a professional baseball player.
Assad and Rivas remained connected through the sport and eventually became teammates on the Chicago Cubs following Assad’s promotion in 2022. The early foundation he built in Tijuana helped shape the work ethic and competitive approach that carried him through the Cubs’ developmental system.
Path to Baseball
Assad signed with the Chicago Cubs as an international free agent on July 27, 2015, beginning his professional career at age 18. He made his professional debut with the rookie-level Arizona League Cubs in 2016, pitching to a 2.87 ERA across 10 games and giving the organization an early look at his potential.
Over the next several seasons, Assad moved methodically through the Cubs’ minor league affiliates. He spent 2017 with the Low-A Eugene Emeralds, 2018 with the Single-A South Bend Cubs, and 2019 with the High-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans, logging full seasons of work at each stop. He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but returned in 2021 with the Double-A Tennessee Smokies to continue his development.
Javier Assad Career
Early Career (2016-2021)
Assad’s first extended taste of professional baseball came in 2016 with the Arizona League Cubs, where he posted a 2.87 ERA in 10 appearances. He followed that with a 5–6 record and 4.23 ERA in 13 starts for the Eugene Emeralds in 2017, and a 5–7 mark with a 4.40 ERA and 89 strikeouts across 106 and one-third innings for the South Bend Cubs in 2018.
During his 2019 season at High-A Myrtle Beach, Assad became briefly famous online for a viral play in which he kicked a fielded bunt toward first base for an out. He went 4–10 with a 3.87 ERA and 91 strikeouts that year. After the lost 2020 season, Assad returned to post a 4–8 record and 5.32 ERA in 2021 with the Tennessee Smokies, setting the stage for his major league arrival.
Chicago Cubs Breakthrough (2022-2024)
Assad opened 2022 with Tennessee before earning a promotion to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. Across 23 combined appearances that year, he went 5–3 with a 2.66 ERA and 111 strikeouts in 108 and one-third innings. On August 23, 2022, the Cubs promoted him to the major leagues for the first time, and he made his MLB debut that night in a spot start against the St. Louis Cardinals.
His first career victory came on September 12, 2022, when he allowed one run on five hits and three walks across six innings against the New York Mets. By 2024, Marquee Sports Network considered Assad to have developed into a crucial piece of the Cubs’ rotation, and he responded with 29 starts, a 7–6 record, a 3.73 ERA, and 124 strikeouts over 147 innings. Through June 17, 2026, his MLB totals stood at a 23–13 record, a 3.48 ERA, and 296 strikeouts.
Chicago Cubs Era (2022-Present)
Assad has spent his entire major league career with the Chicago Cubs since his August 2022 promotion. He was a member of the 2022 Cubs, played a full role in 2023 and 2024, and continued as part of the team’s pitching staff in 2025 and 2026.
Notable Events and Milestones
Assad’s MLB debut on August 23, 2022, against the St. Louis Cardinals marked the start of his big-league journey, and his first win on September 12, 2022, against the New York Mets cemented his place in the rotation. Internationally, he represented Mexico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, throwing two and two-thirds scoreless innings of relief in the quarterfinal against Puerto Rico on March 12, 2023.
Javier Assad Career Wins
Javier Assad has accumulated 23 career MLB wins with the Chicago Cubs through the 2026 season, paired with a 3.48 career ERA and 296 strikeouts. His wins have come in a variety of roles, including spot starts and full-season rotation turns, reflecting his versatility on the mound.
Chicago Cubs Highlights
Assad’s first major league win came on September 12, 2022, against the New York Mets, when he allowed one run across six innings. He has since built a steady win total, including seven victories during the 2024 regular season, and was a steady presence in the Cubs’ rotation during the 2023 and 2024 campaigns.
Javier Assad Family
Personal Life
On February 11, 2022, Javier Assad married his wife, Melissa. The couple’s relationship was established before his major league debut later that summer, providing a personal anchor as he transitioned to the highest level of professional baseball.
2025 Season Performance
Javier Assad’s 2025 season began on the injured list due to oblique soreness. On April 25, 2025, he was shut down after being diagnosed with a Grade 2 strain of his left oblique, and he was transferred to the 60-day injured list on April 30. The injury kept him out of action for much of the first half of the season.
Assad was activated from the injured list for his season debut on August 12, 2025. He went on to make eight total appearances, including seven starts, compiling a 4–1 record with a 3.65 ERA and 23 strikeouts across 37 innings pitched. The strong return helped reinforce his value to the Cubs’ rotation heading into 2026.
