NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Right-handed pitcher Grant Kipp '22, who was an honorable mention All-Ivy League selection for the Yale baseball team this past season, has signed a free agent contract with Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs. He is currently training with the organization in Arizona, awaiting an assignment to one of the Cubs' Minor League affiliates.
 
Kipp, a native of Dallas, Texas, was Yale's No. 2 starter throughout the Ivy season. In league games he struck out 37 and walked only 10 in 43.2 innings. Overall he tied for Yale's lead in wins with four and was second on the team in strikeouts with 56. He also tied for the team lead in innings pitched with 65.0.
 
Kipp pitched in three games for the Brewster Whitecaps in the Cape Cod Baseball League in July, striking out 10 and walking only one while allowing four hits and one earned run in 6.2 innings. He is the second Bulldog to sign a professional contract recently, as right-handed pitcher Michael Walsh signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates after they selected him in the ninth round of the 2022 MLB Draft.

"Great opportunity for Grant," said John Stuper, who coached Kipp at Yale for the past four years. "Really proud of him and how hard he worked to get here. He's got all the tools. He is big and athletic and has great stuff. He constantly works at his craft. He and Michael Walsh worked a lot together and now both get to realize their dreams. Good day for Yale Baseball." 

Kipp is a graduate of Highland Park High School. He joins a Cubs organization that includes another former Yale pitcher in Craig Breslow '02, the team's Assistant General Manager/Vice President, Pitching. Breslow,a left-handed reliever, totaled 576 appearances and had a 3.45 ERA in 12 Major League seasons (2005-06, 2008-17). He was part of the Boston Red Sox' World Series Championship in 2013 and also played for Arizona, Cleveland, Miami, Minnesota, Oakland and San Diego. 

The Bulldogs currently have four former players playing Minor League Baseball. Catcher Ryan Lavarnway '09 is with Jacksonville, the Florida Marlins' Triple-A affiliate. Infielder Simon Whiteman' 19 is with Eugene, the San Francisco Giants' High-A affiliate. Left-handed pitcher Kumar Nambiar '19 is at Lansing, the Oakland A's High-A affiliate. Left-handed pitcher Rohan Handa '23 is at San Jose, the Giants' Single-A affiliate.