When Ryan Pressly first arrived in Chicago, things didn’t exactly go as planned.
The former All-Star reliever waived his no-trade clause to join the Cubs from the Houston Astros, bringing with him a strong postseason résumé and a reputation as one of the game’s most trusted late-inning arms. But early results told a different story — and it wasn’t long before fans were questioning whether the move was a mistake.
A Rocky Start in the Windy City
Pressly was handed the closer role by manager Craig Counsell at the start of the season. It was a bold move, but one that made sense on paper. Unfortunately, the early outings weren’t smooth sailing.
His appearances were filled with tension — often brought on by his own doing. Control issues, shaky innings, and high-leverage moments gone wrong led to growing concerns. Then came the infamous outing against the San Francisco Giants in early May, where Pressly allowed eight earned runs without recording a single out.
That game became a breaking point. Soon after, Porter Hodge took over the ninth-inning duties.
Turning the Corner
Despite the rough patch, Pressly never stopped working. He leaned into the support of teammates like Ian Happ, who sat down with him to dissect his approach and make adjustments. What followed was a quiet but powerful transformation.
Since that disastrous inning in May, Pressly has put together a string of 13 straight scoreless appearances. His ability to bounce back didn’t go unnoticed.
“I think Ryan deserves a ton of credit here for how he’s bounced back,” Counsell said after a recent save. “If you look at his season, he’s had one bad inning… and he’s put up zeros ever since.”
A Key Arm in a Shaky Rotation
With injuries plaguing the Cubs’ starting rotation — including setbacks for Shota Imanaga, Javier Assad, and Justin Steele — the bullpen has become more important than ever. Pressly’s resurgence couldn’t have come at a better time.
While his strikeout numbers aren’t eye-popping (16 Ks in 26 innings), his ERA sits at a respectable 3.81 — and much of that success comes down to his resilience and adjustments mid-season.
He may not be racking up strikeouts, but what he brings to the table — leadership, experience, and clutch performances — is invaluable, especially for a team trying to stay competitive in a tight division race.
Why This Turnaround Matters
It’s easy to forget just how good Pressly can be when he’s dialed in. In the postseason, he’s been lights-out — something the Cubs will need if they hope to make a deep run this year.
What started as an offseason gamble is now looking like a win. And while there were plenty of doubters along the way, Pressly’s turnaround proves that sometimes, all a player needs is a little time — and the right environment — to find their footing.
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