Hayden was a standout at Cy-Fair High School in the Houston area...was a first-team all-district performer as a senior, helping lead the Bobcats to a district championship that season...was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 33rd round of the 2016 MLB Draft but opted to attend Sam Houston State...Finished his career at Sam Houston State as one of the most accomplished pitchers in program history, going 25-9 with a 3.56 ERA and 224 strikeouts (288.0 IP) in three years with the Bearkats (2017-19)…was named a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball and the Southland Conference Freshman of the Year after going 10-2 with a 3.93 ERA in 19 appearances (13 starts)…his 10 wins were tied nationally for the most among freshmen pitchers in 2017...selected to the All-Southland Conference Third Team as a sophomore and followed that by landing on the All-Southland Conference First Team in his final season after posting a 3.32 ERA (39ER/105.2IP) and striking out 110 batters through 15 starts...his 110 strikeouts in 2019 were the second-most in a single season in Sam Houston State history...his 224 career strikeouts ranked fourth all-time in program history...Was selected in the sixth round of the June 2019 MLB Draft, becoming just the sixth Sam Houston State player to be selected in the first 10 rounds of the MLB Draft from 1989-2019...Has already been traded twice in his young career, first from the Yankees to the Cubs at the 2022 Trade Deadline in exchange for RHP Scott Effross...the second deal sent Wesneski, who grew up an Astros fan, to Houston, as part of the club's three-player return from the Cubs in exchange for OF Kyle Tucker... in his introductory press availability, Weskeski said the ability to play for his hometown team is "just a dream come true kind of thing."... In 2024, Hayden averaged 7.0 feet of extension, ranking in the 93rd percentile among MLB pitchers, per Baseball Savant...also in 2024, he averaged 94.6 mph with his four-seam fastball and 93.5 mph with his sinker, both the highest marks of his MLB career...Under a one-year contract for the 2025 season...he is slated to become arbitration-eligible for the first time in his career following the upcoming season.
2024
Battled a two-month IL stint (strained right forearm) to make 28 appearances (seven starts) with the Cubs, going 3-6 with a 3.86 ERA, .215 opponent batting average, a 1.14 WHIP and 67 strikeouts through three separate stints...Also appeared in seven games (three starts) with Triple A Iowa, where he went 1-0 with a 3.45 ERA (6ER/15.2IP) and 17 strikeouts. Was initially recalled from Triple A Iowa on April 17 and then optioned back the next day... made his second April 25-July 20...spent the rest of the season with the big league club after being reinstated from the IL on Sept. 20...Made his second career relief appearance of at least 4.0 scoreless innings on April 17 at Arizona (also Sept. 6, 2022 vs. Cincinnati)…Notched 6.1-consecutive scoreless innings in two relief outings from April 17-25, extending his career-high consecutive scoreless inning streak to 11.1 IP, dating to Sept. 22, 2023...After being reinstated from the IL on Sept. 20, posted a 3.00 ERA (2 ER/6.0 IP) and struck out nine batters in three relief outings to end the season.
2023
Hayden spent a majority of the 2023 season with Chicago and in three stints with the club was 3-5 with a 4.63 ERA (46 ER/89.1 IP) and two holds in 34 games, including 11 starts...Made his first career Opening Day roster before he was optioned to Triple-A Iowa May 15...Was also with the big league club May 30-July 4 and July 28-Oct. 1...Was 1-2 with a 3.57 ERA (16 ER/40.1 IP) and a 1.26 WHIP in 23 relief appearances, walking 20 and striking out 43...In 11 starts was 2-3 with a 5.51 ERA (30 ER/49.0 IP) with 12 walks, 40 strikeouts and a 1.29 WHIP...Right-handed hitters posted a .202 average (40-for-198) with a .618 OPS against him while lefties hit .298 (42-for-141) with a .986 OPS...Stranded seven of 11 inherited runners...Made five starts with Triple-A Iowa (May 20-25, July 7-22), going 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA (3 ER/20.0 IP)...Walked eight and struck out 28...Opened the season in Chicago's starting rotation and was 2-2 with a 5.03 ERA (22 ER/39.1 IP) in eight starts through May 13...Struck out a season-high seven batters in a season-high 7.0 innings April 17 in Oakland...Did not allow a walk in the 10-1 victory...Tossed a season-high 4.1 innings as a reliever June 28 vs. Philadelphia (one ER)...Posted a 3.00 ERA (5 ER/15.0 IP) in 11 September relief appearances, holding opponents to a .226/.339/.415 slash line...Walked nine and struck out 18.
2022
Hayden in 2022 made his major league debut, appearing in six games (four starts) with Chicago, going 3-2 and posting a2.18 ERA (8 ER/33.0 IP)....Recorded 33 strikeouts, compared to seven walks, and registered a 0.94 WHIP and .198 opponent batting average....After his debut on Sept. 6, his 2.18 ERA ranked ninth among qualified major league pitchers....Registered quality starts in three of his four starts....Made his major league debut in relief Sept. 6, 2022, against Cincinnati (5.0 IP, 0 R, 2 H, BB, 8 SO) ... he earned his first career win in the outing... Became the first reliever in major league history (since at least 1901) to make his major league debut with at least 5.0 scoreless innings, allowing two or fewer hits and striking out at least eight batters....Made his first major league start Sept. 17 against the Rockies, allowing one run on three hits and seven strikeouts in 7.0 innings of work... He became the first Cubs rookie with a start of at least7.0 innings while allowing one run or fewer, walking none and striking out at least seven batters since Mark Prior (July 19, 2002)....In the fifth inning on Sept. 22 at Pittsburgh, tossed the Cubs' first immaculate inning since LaTroy Hawkins did so, Sept.11, 2004 against the Marlins....Appeared in five games (four starts) for Triple-A Iowa, posting a 5.66 ERA (13 ER/20.2 IP) prior to his selection Sept. 6....Was acquired from the Yankees on Aug. 1 for right-handed pitcher Scott Effross....Went 6-7 with a 3.51 ERA (35 ER/89.2 IP) in 19 starts for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, with 83 strikeouts....Following the season, was rated as the Cubs No. 12 prospect per MLB Pipeline.
