Daniel Jesús Palencia...Made his Major League debut on July 4, 2023 in Milwaukee and earned his first career win, pitching two scoreless innings with one hit...Became the first Cubs pitcher since 1901 to earn a win on his MLB debut in an extra-inning game...Earned four straight wins in relief in his first 15 career Major League appearances, becoming the second Cub since 1901 to earn four wins in relief in his first 15 career games in the same season (also: Vic Aldridge, April 24-July 31, 1917)…Following the 2022 season, was rated as the Cubs' No. 27 prospect per MLB Pipeline...Was traded from Oakland to Chicago on July 26, 2021 with outfielder Greg Deichmann for left-handed pitcher Andrew Chafin...Was signed by Oakland as a non-drafted free agent on Feb. 14, 2020.
2025
Posted a 1-6 record with 22 saves (in 25 opportunities), six holds, a 2.91 ERA (17 ER/52.2 IP) and 61 strikeouts, good for a 10.42 strikeouts per nine innings in 54 games for the Cubs...He opened the season at Triple-A and went 0-1 with one save, one hold, a 2.25 ERA (one ER/4.0 IP) and seven strikeouts across five games with the I-Cubs before being recalled on April 15...Also made one rehab appearance with Iowa on Sept. 20 (0.2 IP, one K)...Set career highs in games (54), innings (52.2), saves (22) and strikeouts (61)...He paced Cubs pitchers and ranked seventh in the NL in saves (22)...His 88.0% save rate was eighth-best in the NL and 14th-best in the Majors among pitchers with at least 50 appearances...Was second in strikeouts per 9.0 IP (10.42) and third in strikeouts (61) among Cubs relievers...Finished the season in the 99th percentile in fastball velocity (99.6 mph) and the 95th percentile in barrel rate (4.4%)...Stranded all seven of his inherited runners...His 1.57 ERA (six ER/34.1 IP) and .160 opponents' batting average before the All-Star break both ranked eighth in the Major Leagues (min. 30 G)...Was recalled and made his season-debut on April 15 in San Diego...Tossed a season-high two innings on April 19 vs. Arizona, the eighth time in his career that he has thrown at least two innings in a game (last: Sept. 17, 2024 vs. Athletics - also 2.0 IP)...Registered a career-long 10.1-inning scoreless streak across 10 games from April 23-May 17...Did not allow an earned run from June 26-Aug. 1...The 12-game, 11.2-inning stretch is a career best...Was one of seven Major League pitchers to post a 0.00 ERA in July (min. 10 G), while he ranked in the top 10 for the month in opponents' SLG (.129; third), .306 opponents' OPS (.306; fifth) and WHIP (0.52; sixth)...Struck out a season high-tying three batters on Aug. 24 (also: June 26)...Was on the injured list Sept. 8-24 with a right shoulder strain...In six postseason appearances, he went 3-0 with a 3.52 ERA (three ER/7.2 IP) and three strikeouts. He became the first primary reliever with at least three wins in a single postseason in franchise history (since 1901).
2024
Daniel was 0-1 with one save and a 6.14 ERA (10 ER/14.2 IP) in 10 relief outings with the Cubs in 2024... In 33 games (one start) with the Iowa Cubs, went 2-1 with five saves, two holds and a 4.85 ERA (21 ER/39.0 IP)…His 98.1 average fastball velocity was in the 98th percentile...Tallied at least one strikeout in nine of his 10 games this year...Recorded his first career save April 7 vs. the Dodgers, in his first outing of the season.
2023
Daniel made his Major League debut, splitting the season between Double-A Tennessee, Triple-A Iowa and the Cubs...Went 5-3 with a 4.45 ERA (14 ER/28.1 IP) in 27 games with the Cubs...Allowed 22 runs in 29.0 IP (6.83 ERA) with two saves in 18 games (five starts) with Tennessee and Iowa...His five wins were tied for the most among Cubs relievers...Began the season with the Smokies, pitching to a 5.87 ERA (10 ER/15.1 IP) and 18 strikeouts in five starts prior to his May 23 promotion to Iowa...Switched to a relief role with Iowa, striking out 18 batters in 13.2 IP over 13 appearances, good for a 27.3% strikeout rate...Had his contract selected and made his Major League debut July 4 in Milwaukee, earning the win in the Cubs' 7-6 victory in 11 innings (2.0 IP, 1H, 0R)...Became the first Cubs pitcher since 1901 to earn a win on his MLB debut in an extra-inning game...July 4-31 held the opponent scoreless in eight of his nine outings, posting a 1.86 ERA (2 ER/9.2 IP)...Made eight-straight scoreless appearances Aug. 13-Sept. 6, spanning 8.0 IP...Earned his fourth win to improve to 4-0 Aug. 24 at Pittsburgh (0 ER/1.0 IP), becoming the second Cub since 1901 to earn four wins in relief in his first 15 career games in the same season (also Vic Aldridge, April 24-July 31, 1917)...Was optioned to Iowa Sept. 15 and recalled Sept. 16...spent the rest of the season on Chicago's roster.
2022
Spent the entire 2022 season with South Bend, going 1-3 with a 3.94 ERA (33 ER/75.1 IP) in 21 games (20 starts)...Was named the Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Month for June after going 1-2 with a 3.63 ERA (9 ER/22.1 IP) with 28 strikeouts and a 0.99 WHIP in five starts...Posted a 31.1% strikeout rate and held opponents to a .204 average (56-for-274)...June 22 vs. Peoria, tallied a season-high-tying seven strikeouts in 5.0 scoreless innings...Tossed 9.2-straight scoreless innings June 22-28...From July 10-end of the season, posted a 2.49 ERA (7 ER/25.1 IP), holding the opponent scoreless in five of his seven starts...Aug. 7 at Fort Wayne, struck out seven batters in 3.0 perfect innings...Finished the season by tossing 12.0-straight scoreless innings in his last three starts.
2021
Made his professional debut in 2021 with Single-A Stockton in the Athletics organization and Single-A Myrtle Beach...Posted a combined 4.79 ERA (22 ER/41.1 IP) in 13 starts...Was traded from Oakland to Chicago July 26 with outfielder Greg Deichmann for left-handed pitcher Andrew Chafin...Was named the Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Month for Sept. and Oct., going 1-0 with a 1.23 ERA (2 ER/14.2 IP) in three starts.
2020
Did not pitch in 2020 due to the COVID-19-canceled Minor League season.
