Ben is entering his eighth professional season and second at the Major League level in 2025...Made his Major League debut on March 30, 2024...Entered the 2024 season ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Cubs' No. 11 prospect...Finished the 2023 season ranked as the Cubs' No. 5 prospect and the No. 86 overall prospect...Was added to the Cubs' 40-man roster, Nov. 15, 2022...Was acquired by the Cubs from Philadelphia on Aug. 2, 2022 for RHP David Robertson...Was named the South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year and to the league's Post-Season All-Star team in 2022...Missed the majority of the 2019 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery...Was selected by Philadelphia in the 33rd round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of Ward Melville High School (N.Y.).
2024
Ben made his Major League debut on March 30, 2024, against the Texas Rangers, pitching 1.2 innings while recording his first Major League strikeout...Pitched to a 1-3 record with a 3.58 ERA (22 ER/55.1 IP), 64 strikeouts, a 1.08 WHIP and 10.41 strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched in 15 games (eight starts) with the Cubs this season...Recorded his first Major League quality start on April 15 against Arizona, pitching six innings, allowing just one run with four strikeouts...Picked up his first Major League win on May 10 vs. Pittsburgh (3.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 SO)...Carried a no-hitter through seven innings on May 28 in Milwaukee, recording 10 strikeouts...Became the third Cubs pitcher since 1901 with seven or more innings, 10 or more strikeouts and zero hits allowed in a game, joining Jake Arrieta on Aug. 30, 2015 and Carlos Zambrano on Sept. 14, 2008...Became the first Major League pitcher age 24 or younger with a start of at least seven innings pitched, zero hits, zero runs and at least 10 punchouts since Justin Verlander's no-hitter on June 12, 2007 vs. Milwaukee...The outing also marked the first time since 1901 that a Cub has made a start of at least 7.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R and at least 10 strikeouts at age 24 or younger...Was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left neck strain on March 30...Was transferred to the 60-day injured list on July 26.
2023
Ben in 2023 reached the Triple-A level for the first time in his career, splitting time between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa...Went a combined 8-8 with a 4.27 ERA (44 ER/92.2 IP) in 26 games (19 starts)...Struck out 130 batters in 92.2 IP, the most among Cubs Minor League pitchers...also ranked third among Cubs minor league pitchers with a 32.6% strikeout rate...Began the season in Tennessee and made four starts, allowing two runs (one earned) with 30 strikeouts in 20.0 IP (0.45 ERA)...was promoted to Iowa April 29...Recorded three double-digit strikeout efforts in his first eight starts with the I-Cubs, May 10 vs. Toledo (10), May 27 at Nashville (11) and June 14 vs. Indianapolis (11)...Struck out 11 batters while tossing 6.0 scoreless innings June 14 vs. Indianapolis...Was on the injured list from Aug. 1-Sept. 3 with a left oblique strain...Following his injured list stint, made seven relief appearances with Iowa to close the season, allowing eight runs in 7.2 IP.
2022
Ben split the 2022 campaign between High-A Jersey Shore in the Phillies organization and Double-A Tennessee in the Cubs organization....Went a combined 6-5 with a 3.38 ERA (39 ER/104.0 IP) with 149 strikeouts in 23 games (22 starts)....Posted a 12.9 strikeout per 9.0 IP ratio (149 SO/104.0 IP)....Was named the South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year and to the league's Postseason All-Star team after going 3-5 with a 3.08 ERA (25 ER/73.0 IP) and 105 strikeouts in 16 games (15 starts) with Jersey Shore....Was one of three South Atlantic League pitchers to record at least 100 strikeouts in less than 75.0 IP....Was named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week for July 11-17 after he recorded a season-high 13 strikeouts over 7.0 scoreless innings on July 17 at Aberdeen....Was named the South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Month for July after going 1-0 with a 1.57 ERA (4 ER/23.0 IP) and 35 strikeouts, compared to two walks in four games (three starts)....Was traded to the Cubs on Aug. 2 for RHP David Robertson....Concluded the season with Tennessee, going 3-0 with a 4.06 ERA (14 ER/31.0 IP) and 44 strikeouts in seven starts with the Smokies....In his first start in the Cubs organization, Aug. 6 at Rocket City, struck out nine batters over 5.0 innings (1 ER)....Was rated as the Cubs No. 7 prospect following the season by MLB Pipeline.
2021
In 2021, appeared in seven games (four starts) combined with Rookie Level FCL Phillies and High-A Jersey Shore...Began the season with Jersey Shore, before being placed on the development list on May 23.
2020
Did not pitch in 2020 due to the pandemic-cancelled minor league season.
2019
Missed the majority of the 2019 season due to a right elbow sprain and subsequent Tommy John surgery...Appeared in four games (one start) for Single-A Lakewood prior to the injury, making four scoreless outings (13.2 IP)...Recorded 20 strikeouts, compared to three walks, contributing to a 1.02 WHIP and a 13.2 strikeouts per 9.0 IP ratio.
2018
In 2018 went a combined 4-4 with a 3.65 ERA (23 ER/56.2 IP) in 12 games (10 starts) with the GCL Phillies West and Single-A Williamsport...Began the season with the GCL Phillies West, going 4-2 with a 3.12 ERA (17 ER/49.0 IP) in 10 games (eight starts)...Tallied 62 strikeouts, the third-most in the GCL, while his 49.0 IP ranked ninth...averaged 11.39 strikeouts per 9.0 IP (62 SO/49.0 IP) at the GCL level...Posted a 1.80 ERA (6 ER/30.0 IP) in his first six games (five starts)...Was named the Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Week for July 23-29 after recording a career-high 16 strikeouts in 6.0 scoreless innings July 24 at GCL Tigers East...Was promoted to Williamsport on Aug. 25.
