MESA, Az. - One of the most storied franchises in Major League Baseball has made a call to the bullpen.

Shortly after being selected as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 Frontier League Draft less than two weeks ago, former Northwest and Southern Miss ace Jarod Wright received a contract offer from the Chicago Cubs organization and signed at the team's Sloan Park spring training facility outside of Phoenix.

Wright is expected to join either the Cubs' Low Class-A affiliate (Myrtle Beach Pelicans) or the High Class-A affiliate (South Bend Cubs) in June.

"It still hasn't fully sank in yet," Wright said. "Everything has been such a whirlwind of emotions, but it's been a dream come true. After leaving college baseball, I had to buckle down and work harder, so being able to break through was huge. I have always relied on my faith in God and I know He moves in ways we don't understand. I am just thankful that He has opened this door for me."

After a year away from the game of baseball, Wright earned a second chance at continuing his career after being selected to play in the United Shores Professional Baseball League last summer. The Arlington, Tenn. native joined the Westside Woolly Mammoths and earned a bid to the league's all-star game in August 2020, finishing as the team's best pitcher and sporting a 3.10 ERA, while compiling 40 strikeouts against 15 walks in 49.1 innings pitched.

Prior to his stint in the USPBL, Wright spent two seasons at Southern Miss, totaling 38 strikeouts in 34 appearances from 2018-19. As part of a prominent pitching staff, he helped the Golden Eagles to back-to-back Conference USA Tournament championships and two NCAA Baseball Regionals.

Wright spent the 2016-17 seasons at Northwest and served as the team's primary ace, making 31 career appearances and helping the Rangers to back-to-back postseason trips. Wright concluded his career with a 14-9 overall record and tied Chase Ware (2006-07) for third all-time in career wins. He also struck out 129 batters (third all-time) in 28 starts and 162 innings pitched, setting program records for both categories.

"Jarod has always been a winner," said Northwest baseball coach Mark Carson. "He's a hard-worker and a high-character guy. He has always worked himself into everything that he is and it is so rewarding to see him gain this opportunity. I have no doubt that he is going to put himself into a situation to be successful."

Wright is currently one of four Rangers with a major league organization, joining Tampa Bay's Cody Reed, who was taken in the second round of the 2013 MLB Draft. Grant Black (2015) is the other Northwest alumnus in the minor leagues, after signing with the St. Louis Cardinals as a free agent in 2019. Former pitcher Peyton Plumlee also remains with the Houston Astros' Low-A affiliate Fayetteville Woodpeckers.

Additionally, another former Northwest pitcher, Tanner Cable, is also playing with the Gateway Grizzlies, a member of the independent Frontier League. (During the offseason, the Frontier League was deemed an MLB Partner League as part of the revamping of Minor League Baseball.)

Additionally, Wright marks the 15th Northwest player under Carson to sign or be drafted by a professional club.