CLEVELAND, OH — A lifelong dream is officially becoming reality for Riley Martin.
The Salem, Illinois native and Salem Community High School graduate has been called up to the Chicago Cubs big league roster and will be with the team today, April 4, 2026, as they open a series in Cleveland. For Martin, it marks the moment every player chases — the jump from the grind of the minor leagues to the bright lights of Major League Baseball.
And in doing so, Martin is making history back home.
Martin becomes just the second Salem Community High School graduate to reach the Major Leagues, joining Morris Steevens, a 1958 Salem grad, who remains the only other player from Salem to accomplish the feat. In an incredible coincidence that feels almost scripted, both Steevens and Martin debuted with the Chicago Cubs, and both are left-handed pitchers — two southpaws from Salem, separated by nearly seven decades, connected by the same franchise.
Martin’s journey to this moment has been defined by persistence and steady improvement. After graduating from Salem, he went on to pitch at Quincy University, where he developed into one of the most dominant arms in NCAA Division II. In his standout senior season, Martin became the highest-drafted player in Quincy University baseball history when the Cubs selected him in the 6th round of the 2021 MLB Draft.
At Quincy, Martin’s final year was electric. He led the nation with 152 strikeouts in 78.2 innings, earning GLVC Pitcher of the Year honors and establishing himself as a high-upside left-hander with pro potential.
Since entering the Cubs organization, Martin has continued to climb the ladder, building his reputation as a tough, strikeout-capable arm. Along the way, he earned recognition as Carolina League Pitcher of the Week during his early professional career, signaling he was adapting quickly to the pro game.
By the time he reached Triple-A Iowa, Martin had evolved into a dependable bullpen weapon. In 2025, he posted a 6–2 record with a 2.69 ERA, striking out 80 batters in 63.2 innings while also recording four saves — numbers that helped push him onto the Cubs’ radar as a serious major league option.
Now, the call has come.
At 6-foot-1, 215 pounds, Martin brings a power left-handed arm to a Cubs bullpen that can always use another reliable southpaw, especially early in the season. Whether he’s asked to face a tough lefty, bridge innings, or deliver a key late-game out, the Cubs are betting that Martin’s combination of poise, competitiveness, and swing-and-miss stuff can translate at the game’s highest level.
For the town of Salem, it’s more than just a roster move — it’s a moment of pride.
From local diamonds to Quincy University to years of bus rides and bullpen sessions in the minors, Riley Martin has reached the top. And when he steps onto a big league mound for the first time, he won’t just be representing the Cubs.
He’ll be representing Salem — joining Morris Steevens in a small, exclusive club that now has two members, two left arms, and one shared Major League starting point: the Chicago Cubs.
