Last summer the Chicago Cubs drafted 20 new players. The 2025 draft class is headlined by a pair of outfielders in first round selection Ethan Conrad and second rounder Kane Kepley, who enter the 2026 season as the organizations third and sixth ranked prospects.
As polished as those experienced outfielders are coming out of college, the Cubs did make a shocking move in the sixth round by committing a record $2.0 million to 19-year-old Josiah Hartshorn, who also plays outfield. That financial incentive is typically the signing bonus that second round picks see, but was enough to pry Hartshorn away from his college commitment at Texas A&M. Hartshorn profiled as one of the best power hitting prep athletes in his class and is a switch hitter.
This spring, Hartshorn has shared the field with several Cubs big leaguers and has appeared in three games so far. In his most recent contest, he collected a pair of hits, offering an early glimpse that he may be poised for a breakout first full professional season.
Chicago Cubs 19-year-old 2025 draft pick Josiah Hartshorn showcasing his skills in MLB Spring Training games
On March 7, Hartshorn collected his first hits as a professional. Sure it’s only Spring Training, but in his first at-bat he laced a base hit that left the bat at 106 MPH. The single came off Athletics 2022 draft selection Mason Barnett, who make his MLB Debut a season ago.
The Cubs drafted Josiah Hartshorn in the 6th round in 2025 out of high school.
He started a big league spring training game today and went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles, including one hit 106 mph.
He is just 19 years old and has yet to make his regular season pro debut.
— Carson Wolf (@TheWrigleyWire) March 7, 2026
In the sixth inning, he added another hit, this time off 29-year-old reliever Justin Sterner. The Athletics pitcher owns a 3.13 career ERA across two MLB seasons, making it an impressive moment for Hartshorn, especially considering he’s still a teenager.
While it’s still early, these flashes offer an encouraging glimpse of what could be ahead. For a teenager adjusting to professional baseball, holding his own against advanced competition is a promising sign. If Hartshorn continues to build on these at-bats and carries this momentum into the minor league season, he could quickly emerge as one of the more intriguing young prospects in the Cubs system.
A strong first full year in pro ball would not only validate the organization’s belief in him but could also put him firmly on the radar as a potential breakout player in 2026. He enters as the Cubs eighth ranked prospect, but could easily move into the top five by the end of the year.
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