CINCINNATI — Mark Leiter Jr. is a nice example of the success of the Cubs’ pitching infrastructure.

The Cubs — led by vice president of scouting Andrew Bassett — targeted Leiter as a minor-league free agent ahead of the 2022 season, signed him and worked with him to develop into a prized reliever in the big leagues.

“Worked with him on just emphasizing his split and he’s become a really good reliever, and he dominates lefties,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said. “I feel like this was fun for us to watch Mark develop into a steady big leaguer with us.”

[WATCH: Jed Hoyer’s press conference following the trade deadline]

The ability to scout and develop big league relievers is part of the reason the Cubs were fine with sending the Leiter to the Yankees on Tuesday for a pair of minor leaguers — right-handed pitcher Jack Neely and infielder Ben Cowles. Leiter was a key cog in manager Craig Counsell’s bullpen, but the Cubs feel confident in their ability to build a bullpen.

Leiter’s development is a prime case.

The Cubs’ current bullpen isn’t built out of splashy free agent signings or fully filled by their farm system. It’s a hodgepodge of waiver claims (Julian Merryweather), homegrowns (Porter Hodge, Ethan Roberts) minor-league free agents (Jorge López), trades (Tyson Miller, Nate Pearson) and free agents (Héctor Neris, Drew Smyly).

“Relievers, they come from all over,” Hoyer said.

And they’re volatile.

One good season does not equal success the next; injuries or ineffectiveness can derail a reliever. Adbert Alzolay is an example of that. So, Hoyer and the Cubs struck when Leiter’s value was highest and loaded his bullpen with another intriguing infielder and a pitcher who could potentially fill in the bullpen this year.

Neely has a 2.81 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 63 strikeouts in 41.2 innings this season across Double-A and Triple-A. His 6-foot, 8-inch frame and fastball-slider mix is an intriguing mix and could give the Cubs another leverage option.

Maybe even Pearson, who they acquired over the weekend from Toronto, could be it.

Their pitching infrastructure has them believing pitchers they bring in can develop into leverage options — Leiter himself is the proof.

Complete Cubs trade deadline content:

–Why the Cubs decided to move on from Christopher Morel
–Behind the Cubs’ trade deadline strategy – and why Jameson Taillon wasn’t moved
–Cubs players react to trade deadline moves
–Why the Cubs decided to trade Mark Leiter Jr. at the deadline
–A comprehensive look at the Cubs’ 2024 MLB trade deadline moves
–Mark Leiter Jr. shares heartfelt appreciation for Chicago in farewell post
–Cubs trade away Mark Leiter Jr. in deal with Yankees
–In a stunning move, Cubs deal away Christopher Morel in big trade with Rays
–Cubs Weekly Podcast: Breaking down the Cubs’ fascinating – and surprising – deadline moves
–Who is Isaac Paredes? The book on the new Cubs third baseman
–WATCH: Christopher Morel shares emotional farewell with teammates and coaches in Cubs dugout
–Cubs acquire hard-throwing pitcher Nate Pearson