Duane Underwood Jr. headlines latest round of cuts at Cubs camp

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PEORIA, Ariz. – Once the brightest pitching prospect in an organization stocked with hitters, Duane Underwood Jr. quietly got optioned to Double-A Tennessee on Monday without the Cubs first giving him a look in the Cactus League. 

The good news is that manager Joe Maddon says Underwood is healthy after injuries interrupted the right-hander's 2015 (elbow strain) and 2016 (forearm strain) seasons. There is only so much room in the schedule with the Cubs still having 24 pitchers in camp – even after two rounds of cuts – and projecting improved upper-level depth with guys like Rob Zastryzny, Eddie Butler and Alec Mills. 

The Cubs also understand that pitching isn't linear – at least for pitchers drafted out of high school and especially compared to those fast-track college hitters – and Underwood won't turn 23 until this summer. Underwood – a 40-man roster addition in November – will start Friday against the White Sox at Camelback Ranch.  

"I want to see him," Maddon said. "It's in his hands. This guy is really talented and you get a young player like that – I talk all the time about the levels – he really needs to figure out that he belongs here and he can do this. 

"If he does, that stuff will take off, because his stuff's that good. But he has to get there mentally for that all to happen." 

As part of Monday's pitching-focused roster moves, the Cubs: optioned Aaron Brooks, Jose Rosario and Jack Leathersich to Triple-A Iowa; assigned Seth Frankoff, Casey Kelly, Jhondaniel Medina, Conor Mullee and Zac Rosscup to minor-league camp; and released Maikel Cleto.

The Cubs saw enough potential in Underwood to grab him with a second-round pick in the 2012 draft – the first for the Theo Epstein administration in Chicago – and buy out his commitment to the University of Georgia with a $1.05 million signing bonus. 

"Physically, he's got all the tools in the world," Maddon said. "Great body. He's had the pedigree. He's got everything going in his favor. Now, I don't know. Is it confidence? It probably is.  

"But be ready for the opportunity, take advantage of it. That's where I see him, because he's a very interesting young man that has to go out there and seize the opportunity."

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