In consecutive off-seasons, the Chicago Cubs have moved pieces from their farm system to acquire major league talent. Before the 2025 season, they traded big-leaguer Isaac Paredes along with prospects Hayden Wesneski and Cam Smith to land Kyle Tucker. This past off-season, the Cubs parted with Owen Caissie, Cristian Hernandez, and Edgardo De Leon in a deal for Edward Cabrera.
After trading away top prospects in back-to-back off-seasons, the Cubs haven’t received high marks for the depth or overall talent of their farm system. Earlier this winter, Baseball America ranked them 22nd out of 30, while ESPN placed them 25th.
Despite those rankings, Chicago still has several exciting players on the verge of their big-league debuts who aren’t yet on the 40-man roster. Pitcher Jaxon Wiggins stands out as a talented arm, while first baseman Jonathan Long is a prospect to watch, though he recently suffered an elbow injury in a Spring Training game. Meanwhile, the youngest non-roster invitee, Jefferson Rojas, is turning heads early in camp, steadily boosting his prospect stock.
Chicago Cubs youngest 2026 non-roster invitee Jefferson Rojas is turning heads early in camp
At just 20 years old, Jefferson Rojas is the youngest of non-roster invitees this spring, with Long next at 24. Despite the age gap, Rojas has already made a strong impression. In only eight at-bats, half of his balls in play have registered exit velocities over 100 mph, and he’s collected three hits, including a home run.
Jefferson Rojas’ home run today:
107.5 mph
30° LA
413 ftThe power’s been on full display. Already his 4th batted ball over 100 mph in just 8 AB this spring. pic.twitter.com/kTaUIwSq8y
— Carson Wolf (@TheWrigleyWire) February 24, 2026
Rojas, who originally signed during the 2022 international signing period, is currently ranked as the Cubs’ No. 3 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. He advanced to Double-A last season, appearing in 39 games while being one of the youngest players at that level. While he will likely start there again in 2026, although a strong campaign could earn him a promotion to Triple-A and put him on track for a potential big-league debut in 2027.
Chicago Cubs: Matt Shaw trade buzz revived after Michael Conforto signing
Read MoreFor More Great Chicago Sports Content
Get the latest Chicago sports news, analysis, and breaking stories on the Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, Cubs, White Sox, Sky, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, so you never miss a story on your favorite Chicago teams.
Follow us on Twitter at @chicitysports23 for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Chicago sports news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE
