The Arizona Fall League, long heralded as baseball’s finishing school, is often viewed as the final stepping stone before big league careers get underway. It’s also been utilized as an avenue for talented players to continue getting reps against elevated competition in the hopes of spurring added development following one season in preparation for the next; in a sense, it’s like getting a master’s degree after completing your undergraduate studies.

But in the case of Cubs right-hander Nick Hull, he’s the rare Fall League participant to already boast an advanced degree. Equipped with both an M.A. in Leadership and a slider that exceeds 3,000 rpm, taking on the spotlight of a circuit that propelled 34 players to the big leagues from last season alone is the latest assignment.

Hull has gone from an arm that posted a 7.61 ERA as a freshman at Grand Canyon to earning the prestige of wearing a Cubs uniform during the Fall League, primarily on the back of that eye-popping slider.

• AFL stats | Mesa Solar Sox roster | Scoreboard | Complete AFL coverage

“The slider was always my best pitch in college,” Hull said. “We didn't have all the analytics we have now to where I could see all that spin and the movement back then. But now that we have that, I can see how it is a good pitch for me.”

In a sense, the marriage of Hull’s captivating -- and somewhat still developing -- arsenal and the Cubs’ extensive pitching lab was love at first sight -- or in this case, the seventh round. Each big league franchise attempts to unearth hidden gems while simultaneously maximizing the potential already equipped. (Left-hander Jordan Wicks, who impressed during his big league debut this season, is just one example.)

“Early in my career, I kind of relied too much on it,” Hull said of his aforementioned slider. “And the hitters in professional baseball make adjustments. So I've had to add other pitches to my arsenal to protect my slider and those all working together make that a good pitch.”

Equipped with a five-pitch mix, Hull believes his strongest path forward is as a member of the starting rotation. Not known as a strikeout artist, the 6-foot righty instead opts to keep opposing batters off balance, negating their ability to hit the sweet spot. That approach yielded success in his first full season, as evidenced by the .259 BABIP (the fifth-best mark among all Cubs Minor Leaguers) and 6.7 H/9 that he posted across 23 appearances between Single-A Myrtle Beach and High-A South Bend this season.

When Hull walked on campus in Phoenix in 2018, Brazell Field had undergone significant renovations and the Antelopes had won the regular-season WAC championship twice in the past four years but had been ineligible for postseason play as they transitioned to Division I. The COVID pandemic wiped out much of the 2020 campaign, opening the door for an additional year of eligibility in ‘22: enter the master’s program, and a return to the starting rotation.

“In the moment, I think it was a little frustrating just because when I was little, I always wanted to be in this moment,” Hull said. “But when I look back on my experience there, I think I learned a lot of things. That kind of set me up to start higher here. Instead of having to learn certain lessons now, I've learned those in the past. And although I am older than some of the guys here, I feel like it's helped me kind of propel my career.”

Cubs hitters in the Fall League

Kevin Alcántara, OF (No. 4, MLB No. 71): After joining the organization as part of the return package for Anthony Rizzo in July 2021, Alcántara has continued to capitalize on his potential as an impact player on both sides of the ball. His numbers at High-A during his age-20 campaign (.807 OPS, 40 extra-base hits) nearly mirror his production from the year prior. At 6-foot-6, he offers a tantalizing blend of athleticism and power as he continues to develop physically, all while getting to face advanced pitching during his stint with Mesa.

James Triantos, 2B (No. 9): Triantos’ season began on a rocky note after he sustained a meniscus tear in March that caused him to miss a month of action. He hit the ground running with South Bend, collecting multihit outings in six of his first 10 games before his production ebbed off during the summer. His bat-to-ball skills and advanced eye (.364 OBP) were on display as he drew nearly as many walks (35) as times he struck out (39). This season also served as his first at the keystone, though he displayed defensive flexibility by earning starts at the hot corner and in center field.

Christian Franklin, OF (No. 30): The club’s fourth-round selection from the 2021 Draft continues to play catch up after losing his ‘22 campaign to a torn left patellar tendon. He got a taste of four different levels this year, spending most of his year with South Bend, where he displayed solid plate discipline en route to a .380 on-base percentage. The 23-year-old draws rave reviews for his impact when he makes contact but strikeouts (24.9 career K rate) have been a bugaboo.

Carter Trice, INF: Just months after being selected in the 12th round out of NC State, Trice will hit the rare quadfecta of playing college baseball, on the Cape, pro ball and in the Fall League in the same calendar year. To make his year even more unique, the Cubs have committed to turning him into a full-time catcher after he spent nearly all of his time on the diamond in college in the infield or the outfield. Having caught just four innings during Arizona Complex League action in August, he’s been taking a crash course on the minutiae of catching by working with all of Mesa’s hurlers in the bullpen.

Cubs pitchers in the Fall League

Chris Kachmar, RHP: Back in the fold after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2021, Kachmar has thrived as his pitch count has expanded. Working with a mid-90s mph heater, an 86-88 mph slider and low-80s changeup, the 27-year-old posted a 3.83 ERA over 11 starts for Double-A Tennessee this season, a drastic improvement from the 6.33 ERA he compiled in 14 prior relief outings. One of the oldest players on the fall circuit, the 6-foot-3 hurler will be looking to utilize the added innings as a springboard ahead of competing for a big league roster spot in ‘24.

Adam Laskey, LHP: After delivering a 6.04 ERA across three seasons at Duke where he primarily worked as a starter, the Cubs converted the 6-foot-3 southpaw to the ‘pen after just nine pro starts following his selection in the 19th round of the 2019 Draft. There have been bumps in the road as it pertains to his command but he has largely utilized a low-90s mph heater and curveball to average 10 K/9 across 149 pro frames.

Jose Romero, RHP: Signed in October 2020 out of Venezuela, the 5-foot-10 hurler impressed in his pro debut in ‘21, earning a call stateside last season. He spent the entirety of his first full campaign with Single-A Myrtle Beach and posted 12.6 K/9 working out of relief. Upon moving into the closer’s role in mid-August, Romero ended the year with a dominant 14-inning stretch where he posted an 0.64 ERA and racked up 23 strikeouts. Working with a low-90s mph heater and 82-84 mph slider as his primary weapons, the 22-year-old has held opposing batters to a .187 average in pro ball.

Tyler Santana, RHP: Signed as an undrafted free agent out of Jacksonville University in July 2021, the 25-year-old has found a groove in pro ball despite swinging between relief and starting stints. Santana works with a heater that sits in the 91-93 mph range and a looping low-70s curveball. After notching a 62.4 percent ground-ball rate en route to a 2.28 ERA last year with Myrtle Beach, he saw his flyball rate nearly double (from 18.8 to 36.9 percent) this year and his ERA correspondingly inflate for South Bend.