South Bend Cubs pitcher Kenten Egbert looks to build on strong finish entering opening day

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- With opening day Friday, the South Bend Cubs are preparing to welcome fans back to Four Winds Field with new amenities and a refreshed game-day experience.

As the season opener approaches, right-handed pitcher Kenten Egbert said he is eager to get back on the mound, especially in front of a home crowd.

After a strong finish to the 2025 season, Egbert said his main goal this year is consistency. Egbert appeared in a career-high 25 games for South Bend last season and posted a 4.26 ERA across 101 1/3 innings. Although he said he started slowly, he found his rhythm late in the year and carried that momentum into the offseason.

One of his standout performances came in his home state of Ohio, where he earned a win after throwing six innings of one-run ball. He closed the season with perhaps his most impressive outing, going 8 2/3 innings while allowing one run and no walks. That performance made him just the sixth Cubs pitcher to throw eight or more innings in a game.

Still, Egbert said the focus is not only on personal growth, but also on what this year’s team can accomplish together.

“I think we have a good group of guys that’s going to buy into each other,” Egbert said. “I think it’s kind of up and down through the organization as a whole. I don’t think it’s just this group of guys we have in South Bend.”

Egbert said one of his strengths is keeping hitters off balance. Rather than relying on overpowering velocity, he takes pride in pitching differently and disrupting timing.

Heading into the new season, he said his biggest priorities are improving his throwing speed and maintaining the consistency he developed late last year.

The South Bend Cubs will open the season at home Friday, marking their first home opener since 2022.