The Chicago Cubs have a spent a bundle this year extending two prized assets on six-year deals—center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and second baseman Nico Hoerner. In total, that amounts to $256 million invested into the team’s future.

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But even with the bundle of money spent this past offseason, including the extensions and free agent signings of Alex Bregman and four relievers, the team will still have a lot of money coming off the books after 2026.

Several core members of the roster could become eligible for free agency at the end of this season, including names such as Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Carson Kelly, Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, and Jameson Taillon.

Happ or Suzuki?

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The outfield situation for Chicago is especially interesting since they could lose both corner outfielders. The 2027 free agent class is not deep with outfielders and both Happ and Suzuki would rank highly on the list of most desired acquisitions if they hit the open market. That’s why the thought is that the front office will make a move to extend at least one of them.

And although Suzuki has a better offensive upside and is a beloved member of the team, re-signing the more consistent and defensively sound Happ may be a more Cubs thing to do.

As a matter of fact, there may already be a Plan B in place for when Suzuki moves on—Ethan Conrad, the team’s first round draft pick in 2025.

By all accounts, Conrad is a true five-tool player who may already be much closer to major league-ready than many anticipate—and this is without having played in one minor league game last season due to a shoulder injury and after starting this season on the IL with a back issue.

The 21-year-old is, apparently, THAT good.

Ethan Conrad lined up to take Suzuki’s spot?

He’s at least good enough and promising enough for the Cubs to not want someone blocking his path to the majors for the next four or five years.

“He’s somebody that can turn a double into a triple with his speed, and I think he’s somebody that is gonna be able to put pressure on the defense in a number of different ways,” Cubs vice president of scouting Dan Kantrovitz said at the time of the draft. “His decision-making, his ability to make contact, his ability to hit for damage — all three of those pillars are there, and we think that he’s just getting better across the board.”

“Ethan is a five-tool player, who is a gamer,” Conrad’s head coach at Wake Forest Tom Walter said. “This is a great pick by the Chicago Cubs. Ethan will be a guy who will play in the big leagues for a long time and is a potential All-Star. His bat-to-ball skills are elite and he is just scratching the surface of his power potential.”

And the Cubs may already have a backup to Conrad.

Kevin Alcantara as a Plan B?

Kevin Alcantara, who’s flirted with a major league role over the last three seasons is tearing things up in Triple-A Iowa so far this year. The 23-year-old has already hit two home runs and a double in 13 at bats.

The Cubs could let Suzuki walk and then roll the dice on Conrad or Alcantara winning the right field spot. They may also pick up a lower-level free agent next season as temporary one-season insurance for that spot. Because of their prospects’ promise, they may not want a corner outfield spot filled for an extended period of time anyway.

Of course, Conrad has to actually play a game of pro ball before he can be anointed the next big outfield thing and Alcantara has to prove that he can be consistently good over an entire season. But the Cubs do have options and they seem more and more likely to trust in them as soon as next season.

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The Chicago Cubs are, maybe, not as secure in the starting pitching department as many thought they would be this winter.

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The names are there and there’s still an overflow of arms for the rotation, but just about every proposed starter has looked vulnerable this spring and depth has suddenly become a concern. Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, Edward Cabrera, and Shota Imanaga have been beaten up in Cactus League play and that makes one wonder about backups.

Colin Rea, Ben Brown, and Javier Assad will be around, but none project as high-end starters over the long haul.

But could the Cubs have another Cade Horton surprise this season?

The next Cade Horton surprise?

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Last year, top pitching prospect Horton came up from Triple-A in May, after Imanaga’s injury, and ended up blowing people away with a dominant post-All-Star break run.

This year, current top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins is being predicted by some to be the surprise pitching star of the season.

The 24-year-old Wiggins came to spring training this year as a non-roster invitee and turned some heads, despite getting touched up a bit in his limited play.

“There’s a lot of good signs with Jaxon, there are a lot of good things happening,” manager Craig Counsell told media. “The finishing touches can happen really fast is how I would describe it. But they can also take a while. That’s Jaxon’s job right now, just make himself a little bit more complete pitcher. It’s certainly very close.”

Big league expectations for Wiggins

Michael Brauner of Sports Illustrated fully anticipates the 6-foot-6 Wiggins getting the major league call-up at some point this season:

“He was never going to break camp with the team, but he certainly could be on a similar trajectory as Cade Horton last year, starting the season in Iowa.

Making an impact on the coaching staff, Wiggins established himself as a name to watch and once Ballesteros officially graduates he will become the top prospect in the organization. Jed Hoyer has spoken often about how much pitching depth is needed, and the 24-year-old is the next one up.

It would be a significant surprise to not see Wiggins’ big league debut in 2026.”

Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic echoes the enthusiasm, although he holds back in predicting a likely big league debut in 2026 for the pitcher he describes as having “one of the best fastballs in the minors.”

Per Sharma:

“The fastball is in the upper 90s and has the type of vertical rise that is impossible to ignore. He also has a strong curveball, a quickly developing changeup and a slider. So what are the next steps?

…He has a walk rate well above 10 percent in each of his pro seasons. That has to change. That he walked just 5.9 percent of batters this spring was something that was taken note of. Now bring that into the season.”

Wiggins is, arguably, the last homegrown high-end starting pitching prospect in the Cubs farm system, at least for now. Fast-tracking his development and bringing him up to the majors this coming season will probably be a last resort for the Cubs– and a sign that the rotation is in deep distress.

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MLB’s Opening Day is this week and on Monday, the Chicago Cubs made a flurry of moves to cut their roster down ahead of the start of the season. While the injury news to Seiya Suzuki and Ben Brown making the roster stole the headlines, one move went under the radar.

The MLB transactions page shows that the Cubs have officially optioned outfielder Kevin Alcantara to Triple-A Iowa. He joins Javier Assad who was also optioned down to Iowa earlier in the day.

Why the Chicago Cubs optioned Kevin Alcantara

The 23-year-old Alcantara had a solid shot at making the Opening Day roster but the concern was lack of playing time. Michael Conforto made the team and with the report of the Cubs looking to add another infielder, it left Alcantara as the odd man out.

The good news? Down in Iowa he can start every day and get key playing time this season. From there, he can join the big league club with a call up at some point.

Last season Alcantara hit .266/.349/.470 in Iowa, disappointing numbers. However, he did play better as the season went on and entered Spring Training as a guy who could breakout for the Cubs. Maybe more time down in the minors can help him get his confidence back moving forward.

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Chicago Cubs personnel and fans will have to stay patient a bit longer before 2025 first-round pick Ethan Conrad makes his professional debut. The 21-year-old out of Wake Forest slid to No. 17 in the draft largely because of a shoulder injury he suffered in April 2025 that required season-ending surgery.

While the Cubs were thrilled to see that misfortune work in their favor on draft day, Conrad has hit another snag. An unrelated injury will now push back his pro debut even further as he heads into 2026.

Outfielder Ethan Conrad to miss time with a back issue, thus delaying his organizational debut for the Chicago Cubs

According to Cubs director of player development Jason Kanzler, Conrad has been dealing with a back issue. There wasn’t an injury that caused this, so therefore they are going to be cautious with his return. Kanzler indicated that right now he anticipates Conrad will miss the first month of the minor league season.

That timeline isn’t devastating in the grand scheme, but it does continue a frustrating trend for a player the Cubs view as a high-upside bat. The organization will prioritize getting Conrad fully healthy over rushing him onto the field, especially after already navigating a major surgery on his shoulder just one year ago. Once he’s cleared, Conrad is expected to get regular reps in the outfield and begin building momentum in what the Cubs hope will still be a promising first full professional season.

With outfielders Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki both set to hit free agency at season’s end, getting an extended look at Conrad this year will offer valuable insight as to whether he’s on track for a big-league push in 2027. For now, that evaluation is on hold. The focus shifts to getting him healthy and back on the field, with the hope he can still perform at the level that convinced the Cubs to take him in the first round.

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The Chicago Cubs have some exciting young talent throughout their pipeline to help supplement the veteran players on the roster. The goal is to have quality prospects that either can elevate to the majors or be used in trades. The Cubs have some young prospects who can be impactful for the 2026 season. Let’s take a look at who one outlet considers to be the organization’s top prospect heading into the 2026 season.

Bleacher Report considers designated hitter Moises Ballesteros the Chicago Cubs’ top prospect

Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter curated a list of the top 100 prospects heading into the 2026 season. Every outlet seemingly has its own prospect rankings, but Reuter tells us the criteria for his prospect rankings and what he looks for. With the rankings he factors in three things: future potential, present tools, and eligibility. The Cubs have two names on this top 100 list, but we’re focused on the top player. At the 34th spot, Chicago’s designated hitter Moises Ballesteros is on the list as the team’s top prospect. Below is a snippet where Reuter mentions Ballesteros:

“Moises Ballesteros has a clear path to the regular DH job for the Cubs this year, and he earned it by hitting .333/.435/.564 with four extra-base hits in 14 games as a September call-up. He profiles as an offense-only version of Alejandro Kirk, with a bit more playable power.”

Ballesteros has already been informed he will begin the season in the majors, likely as an everyday designated hitter. This is the highest propsect ranking he finds himself on as below are his rankings from other websites:

• Baseball America: 36
• MLB: 55
• Baseball Prospectus: 80

Balllesteros had an excellent Spring Training as he finished 11 of 33 with a .965 OPS, two home runs, eight RBI, and four runs scored. He will be one of three left-handed hitters in the projected lineup, so he creates balance as well. It will be interesting to see how Ballesteros is able to handle MLB pitching on an everyday basis.

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The Chicago Cubs’ 2026 Spring Breakout roster includes multiple MLB Pipeline Top 30 prospects, most notably all 10 infielders. With three pitchers and two catchers also ranking in the Top 30, it’s an impressive looking group. Of the players on the roster, one player in particular stands out as someone who could impact the big league club in 2026.

Chicago Cubs prospect Jonathon Long could be the first prospect on the Spring Breakout roster to reach the big leagues

Ranked No. 7 in the organization, Long is firmly in the mix to make an impact in Chicago at some point this season. The first baseman suffered an elbow injury early in Spring Training, which forced him to miss the World Baseball Classic, but manager Craig Counsell recently noted that Long remains a candidate for a bench spot on the major league roster.

That said, Long’s path,and his ability to stick in the majors if he does break camp, is somewhat unclear. At the moment, he profiles as a backup first baseman, designated hitter, or pinch-hit option. However, once Tyler Austin fully recovers from offseason knee surgery, Long could find himself squeezed out of a role.

Ultimately, regular MLB at-bats may be hard to come by right away, making a start at Triple-A the more likely scenario. Even so, he stands out as the most likely player on the Cubs’ Spring Breakout roster to reach the big leagues first.

The Spring Breakout game is scheduled for Saturday night, March 21, with first pitch set for 8:05 p.m. CT. Fans can watch on MLB.TV, MLB.com, the MLB App, Marquee, SDPA, and Gameday.

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The Chicago Cubs have some intriguing decisions to make over the next week for their 26-man Opening Day roster. There are some questions about the final few roster spots, but the team made the decision on one of them. With one of the players with a lot of upside set to begin the year with the Cubs, this lineup will be even better. Let’s take a closer look at who will be beginning the season with Chicago.

Moises Ballesteros makes the Chicago Cubs’ Opening Day roster

Patrick Mooney of The Athletic is reporting that Cubs manager Craig Counsell has told Moises Ballesteros that he will be on the Opening Day roster. This should not come as a surprise as many expected this to be the case. Ballesteros has had an outstanding Spring Training at the plate, posting a .355/.394/.613 slash line with two homers, eight RBI, and four runs over 11 games played. He is known for his ability to be an outstnading hitter, and he proved just that this spring.

Ballesteros is expected to be the starting designated hitter for Chicago to begin the season. He has played catcher and first base as well in his professional career, so expect him to get some games there. He played a bit last season in the majors and played very little in the field. Ballesteros would play just six innings at catcher and four innings at first base over the course of 20 games. He has a massive bat that keeps him in the lineup as he posted a .868 OPS with two homers, 11 RBI, and 12 runs scored.

Ballesteros also adds a lefty bat in the middle of the projected lineup for Chicago. With Michael Busch and Pete Crow-Armstrong both also being left-handed hitters, this creates more balance in the lineup. It will be intriguing to see how he does as an everyday option in the majors.

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The Chicago Cubs enter the 2026 season with a unique roster makeup. There are a number of veterans on the team (Dansby Swanson, Ian Happ, Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, etc.), but there are also a lot of young, 20-something stars (Pete Crow-Armstrong, Michael Busch, Cade Horton, and Daniel Palencia, among others).

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With so many veterans possibly leaving the team for free agency at the end of the 2026 campaign, it’s reassuring that there are also so many young players still with them over the long haul.

The Athletic recently acknowledged two of the Cubs’ young stars– Crow-Armstrong and Horton– as especially valuable assets by naming them to their MLB All-Under-25 Team.

Pete Crow-Armstrong gets his props

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Pete Crow-Armstrong, who was an honorable mention in the publication’s All-Under-25 Team last year, was named the top young center fielder on this year’s list.

Per Stephen J. Nesbitt of The Athletic:

“Crow-Armstrong was another honorable mention on last year’s All-Under-25 Team; at that point, he carried a meager .652 OPS in the majors. He changed the narrative in 2025. Through Aug. 1, Crow-Armstrong batted .273/.309/.560 (.869 OPS) with 27 homers and 29 steals, then faded down the stretch. He won his first Gold Glove and finished ninth in NL MVP voting. Swing-and-miss remains an issue, but the power-defense combination in center field is immensely valuable.”

The struggles of “PCA” are well-documented, but so is his tremendous upside, which makes him a dream multi-tool star with the competitive drive to match.

The soon-to-be 24-year-old, who came to the Cubs in a 2021 trade involving Javier Baez, has been very open about the stress and strain of maintaining his progress in the rough, tough world of major league baseball. Last season’s second-half dip saw him displaying clear frustration. But it’s his openness, honesty, and competitive drive that could see him through his growing pains.

Cade Horton rewarded for breakthrough 2025

The Athletic also named Cubs starting pitcher Cade Horton to their All-Under-25 squad.

The 24-year-old was not even slated for the major league team in 2025, but was pulled up from Triple-A when starter Shota Imanaga went on the IL with a hamstring injury.

Although Horton performed well enough in his first tour of big league duty, he REALLY took off after the All-Star break.

The Cubs’ 2022 no. 1 draft pick dominated over the second half of the season, delivering an 8-1 record and posting an amazing 1.03 ERA in twelve starts after the All-Star break. Over that run, he was, arguably, the best pitcher in all of baseball. A late September rib fracture, however, put him on the shelf and prevented him from pitching in the postseason. The final season tally saw Horton finish the year with an 11-4 record and a 2.67 ERA, plus a second place finish in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.

Per Nesbitt:

“Despite missing the 2025 postseason with a cracked rib, Horton was vital for the Cubs as a rookie, posting a 2.67 ERA over 118 innings and stabilizing the rotation in the second half. Horton ran a modest strikeout rate (20.4 percent), but his plus command and the elite defense behind him made hunting early contact an effective approach.”

Both Crow-Armstrong and Horton stand to be big parts of the Cubs’ 2026 team and, in many ways, play pivotal roles in the team’s success.

22-year-old Rookie DH/catcher Moises Ballesteros, another big piece to Chicago’s 2026 puzzle, also received an honorable mention by the sports news outlet.

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The Chicago Cubs went through a lot of effort to restock a bullpen this offseason that was seriously depleted. To do this, the team went on an uncharacteristic spending spree this past winter.

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The Cubs would sign four free agent relievers for the rebuild (Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Jacob Webb, and Hunter Harvey). They also opted to re-sign lefty Caleb Thielbar. Those five join closer Daniel Palencia and swingmen Colin Rea, Javier Assad, and Ben Brown to make up the new Cubs bullpen.

One can forgive the apparent overflow in relief options. The bullpen is probably the most unstable part of any major league team. Simply put, relievers get hot and cold and they also get injured. A team’s Opening Day bullpen is almost never the same bullpen even at the All-Star break. Last season, the Cubs used 25 pitchers out of the pen.

So, when 25-year-old prospect Jack Neely was sent down to Triple-A in the first cuts this spring training, it didn’t really mean that much to his long term chances of pitching in the majors.

This year’s Daniel Palencia?

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Actually, some feel that the 6-foot-8 righty could make a big splash this year in Chicago, possibly even becoming the Daniel Palencia of 2026 with an in-season call-up that grabs everyone’s attention.

Neely came to the Cubs in the 2024 trade deadline deal with the Yankees for Mark Leiter Jr. He hasn’t put up great numbers in the Cubs’ system, but he HAS proven himself to be a strikeout machine. Last season, between South Bend and Iowa, he notched 43 strikeouts in 33.1 innings. In 2023, as part of the Yankees system, he struck out a whopping 100 batters in 66.1 innings. In a 2024 cup of coffee with the big league Cubs, he struck out 7 in 6 innings.

The biggest issue affecting him has always been control. But some feel that he may have turned a corner in that area. This spring with the Cubs, he did walk 2 in 4 shutout innings, but he generally looked more in control of his stuff.

Overlooked

Rich Eberwein of Cubbies Crib feels that Neely is an overlooked prospect who demands attention:

“Neely has the potential to be a bullpen weapon and a contributor in high-leverage situations. We know he will not begin the year in the majors, but he should be one of the first arms to get the call if/when someone goes down with an injury. Walks have been the main thorn in Neely’s side in the past and it remains to be seen if he has worked past that issue. But Daniel Palencia struggled with the same thing before he emerged as a legitimate closer last year, so Neely is a guy that I’m keeping a close eye on early in the season.”

It’s likely that Neely will get a call or two from the Cubs this season. There’s no denying that he has a high upside and that he profiles as a shutdown closer-type. The question, as is always the case when it comes to prospects, is if he can live up to his potential.

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The Chicago Cubs are going to have some questions that need answering soon regarding their Opening Day roster. With Seiya Suzuki injured, and the extent of his injury unknown, they need to figure out a solution in right field. And while Matt Shaw can certainly play the position, a bigger question is how the team is going to replace the 30+ home runs that Suzuki hit a year ago.

Indeed, the Cubs offense is going to be interesting to watch as it comes into form in 2026. With Kyle Tucker now with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago signed Alex Bregman to help replace his bat. However, losing Suzuki so late in the spring does not allow the Cubs time to go and find an external solution to replace his power (if, indeed, they need to).

But the solution to that may come internally in the form of top prospect Moises Ballesteros.

The Chicago Cubs may platoon Moises Ballesteros at DH

Ballesteros is almost certainly going to make the Opening Day roster for Chicago. Last year, in his first 20-game stint in the Majors, he hit .298/.394/.474 with two home runs and 11 RBI. This spring, he has hit .333/.357/.407 with six RBI in nine games.

The problem, though, is that he plays catcher and first, and the Cubs are set at those positions. However, Jim Bowden of The Athletic believes Chicago will actually be better off platooning Ballesteros at designated hitter:

“The Cubs believe that he will be good enough defensively to be an everyday catcher in time, but for now his best role is as a platoon designated hitter against righties. He has above-average bat-to-ball skills and can hit all types of pitches, including high velocity, sharp breaking balls and off-speed offerings. He’ll use the entire field to hit line drives with elite exit velocity.”

Using Ballesteros as a DH against right-handed pitchers will get him into the lineup most days. Additionally, it will give Cubs coaches time to work with him defensively at both first base and catcher.

From what Bowden says, it looks like he is likely going to be their future at the catcher position, but for now they need him for his bat. Using him as a platoon DH will allow them to do that while also giving him time to develop defensively.

More Chicago Cubs news from Chicity Sports

• Cubs’ Daniel Palencia’s message to PCA ahead of WBC final
• Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki gets MRI on knee after WBC injury
• Cubs fans question Seiya Suzuki Instagram post after injury

For More Chicago Sports

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The Chicago Cubs don’t typically target young prospects like Moises Ballesteros. The analytics-loving Cubs staff usually goes after the thoroughbred multi-tool athletes who, visually, stand out as blue chip prospects.

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Ballesteros was short and squat. He didn’t fit the bill of a blue-chipper by Cubs’ standards and, by all accounts, his defensive game was all but nonexistent.

Yet, the Cubs signed the kid from Venezuela anyway, snatching him up as an international free agent just about two months after his 17th birthday, forking over a $1.2 million signing bonus. And they did it all because they recognized that this kid could really hit.

Ballesteros’ impressive run

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Ballesteros would prove the team’s faith in him warranted. Despite being the youngest prospect at almost every level he reached in the organization, he never failed to impress with the bat. His advanced hitting prowess would carry him to Cubs Minor League Player of the Year recognition in 2023 and 2024.

In his first major league run last season, he hit .298 in 66 plate appearances split up over three separate call-ups, with an especially impressive .333 average over 39 at bats in September He’s now slotted in to be the team’s full-time DH in 2026.

This spring, the talk regarding Ballesteros has centered around his still-developing defensive game as a catcher because, apparently, everybody just assumes now that he’ll hit (and he HAS, hitting .333 in 27 Cactus League at bats so far after a late arrival due to Visa issues).

Catching is getting rave reviews

The assessments of Ballesteros, the catcher, have been positive.

“From a pitch-calling standpoint, I love the way he thinks,” Cubs pitcher Ben Brown told media. “I love the way he goes about hitters. He’s a great hitter himself. He has great plate discipline. What he can do offensively is really special, so I think he brings that into his catching.

“I think everyone, top to bottom, in all honesty, we truly believe that Bally can stick back there. There’s no doubt. He loves to learn. He’s such a good teammate. He’s such a light in the clubhouse. He’s a joy to be around.”

New Cubs starter Edward Cabrera also praised him for his work behind the plate.

“I was shocked,” Cabrera told reporters, via interpreter, following a game caught by Ballesteros, where the young catcher flipped three balls to strikes via ABS challenge. “Having a catcher who sees the zone that well gives me a lot of confidence, especially in tight counts. He did a great job guiding me through those innings.”

Bat first, everything else is a bonus

The reality when it comes to Ballesteros, though, is that he’ll make the major league roster almost entirely on the weight of his bat. Everything that he can give defensively, would be just a bonus.

“He’s been an exceptional hitter,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters late last season. “That’s the best development for Moisés, really, is that he’s come up to the big leagues and shown everybody what a natural hitter he is, (while being) put in the fire against some tough, tough competition. The rest is a bonus.”

Even as an all-bat prospect, expectations are high heading into this season. There’s even been some Rookie of the Year chatter.

Right now, defensively, he stands to be the Cubs’ third catcher, behind Carson Kelly and Miguel Amaya and he’ll also be in the mix as a backup to first baseman Michael Busch. But the team would be ecstatic if he could work his way into becoming an Alejandro Kirk-like asset behind the plate. Early thoughts appear to be that he has the unconventional athleticism and work ethic to develop in that direction. He is, after all, only 22.

For now, he’ll be given the bat and asked to produce come Opening Day. Defensive nuance can wait.

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The 2026 Chicago Cubs have a lot of excitement heading into the season with talent all over the diamond. However, great teams have players who come out of nowhere and are impactful throughout the season. Predicting who that player will be is always a fun exercise. Let’s take a closer look at who ESPN believes this will be.

ESPN considers Jaxon Wiggins as the Chicago Cubs’ breakout player for 2026

The Cubs have some exciting young players throughout the depth chart, so there are a lot of potential there. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel wrote an article predicting the breakout player for each team, and for the Cubs, he selected pitcher Jaxon Wiggins. Below is what he wrote:

“Wiggins has steadily progressed over the past few years, adding more feel and new pitches to his repertoire, and I have him 50-50 to be a starter or reliever. If he can stick as a starter, there’s frontline upside from his plus raw stuff.”

Wiggins is one of the more intriguing pitchers in the Cubs system. He is considered the 10th-ranked prospect in the organization and quickly climbed the ranks. In just two professional season, he would wind up in Triple-A Iowa. Over the course of three levels in 2025, he pitched in 19 games (18 starts) and was 3-4 with a 2.19 ERA and a .161 opposing batting average in 78.0 innings.

Wiggins has four different pitches (fastball, curveball, slider, changeup) and has an elite fastball. With the ability to get swings and misses, the team can expect that to continue in the big leagues. Whether as a spot starter in a loaded Cubs starting pitching staff or slotted as a bullpen arm, Wiggins should be in a position to be a legitimate arm that surprises a lot of people heading into the 2026 season.

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The Chicago Cubs will gain a familiar face in camp, with left-hander Matthew Boyd returning.

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According to New York Post columnist Jon Heyman, Boyd will return to get stretched out as a starter since he didn’t get enough innings in the World Baseball Classic. The 2025 All-Star pitched 2.1 innings, allowing five hits, no walks, and three earned runs.

Boyd made two starts in spring training before joining Team USA, with a 1.93 ERA and seven strikeouts in 4.2 innings. New York Mets right-hander Clay Holmes is in the same situation as Boyd and could also return to camp.

Matthew Boyd is expected to return to Cubs camp to be stretched out as starter for season since he wouldn’t get enough innings as a Team USA reliever. Clay Holmes is in a similar spot and may go back to Mets camp. Twins ace Joe Ryan is a candidate to take one USA roster spot.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 12, 2026

Matthew Boyd needs to focus on the season ahead for the Chicago Cubs

Boyd, 35, will likely be counted on to be the Cubs’ ace heading into this season, or the No. 2. The Cubs haven’t announced a starter for Opening Day, and Boyd is one of the candidates for the job. Right-handers Cade Horton and Edward Cabrera are also options for manager Craig Counsell.

Boyd had a breakout campaign in 2025 — 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA in 21 starts — after having Tommy John surgery in late 2023. The surgery cost Boyd most of the 2024 season, but it led to him signing his contract (two years, $29 million) with the Cubs.

The Cubs have a strong top three in the rotation of Boyd, Horton, and Cabrera. The Milwaukee Brewers and the Cincinnati Reds as the Cubs main rivals for the National League Central. So, hopefully, having a formidable starting rotation paired with a strong offense could help win the Central.

The Cubs will take on the Washington Nationals on March 26. Right-hander Cade Cavalli will be the Nationals Opening Day starter.

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Chicago Cubs top prospect Moises Ballesteros came into Mesa late, held up with visa issues from his native Venezuela for 10 crucial early spring training days. It was an especially tough development since the team wanted to have him focus on his catching this spring and work on building a rapport with the pitchers.

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The 22-year-old is expected to make the Opening Day roster as a bat-first DH, but becoming a viable backup to catchers Carson Kelly and Miguel Amaya would be huge for a Cubs team that prioritizes depth and roster flexibility.

By all accounts, he’s caught up to speed and is actually exceeding expectations, especially at catcher, where he’s surprised some observers who had previously envisioned him as a below-average receiver. New Cubs pitcher Edward Cabrera recently praised him for his keen eye behind the plate and his ability to help guide him through his outing.

Ballesteros is also not disappointing with the bat, hitting .294 after just 18 plate appearances with 6 RBIs in his abbreviated spring.

All in all, people are excited about what the Cubs’ 2023 and 2024 Minor League Player of the Year can do in a full season after posting a .298 batting average in 66 plate appearances with the major league team last season.

Rival scout raves about Ballesteros upside

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In a recent interview with the Mully & Haugh Show on 104.3 The Score, Cubs beat reporter Bruce Levine shared a rival scout’s glowing assessment of the squat, 5-foot-8 unlikely top prospect.

“I was talking to a scout who has watched him since he came into major league baseball,” Levine asserted. “He said…don’t worry about his weight as much as look at him as the baseball athlete he is at this weight. Make sure that the dietary part is good, but don’t ask this guy to lose 20 or 25 pounds, you might lose the pop in his bat if you do that…He’s a believer in Ballesteros and, like me, he believes he’s going to be a middle of the order hitter very soon. He said anywhere from fourth to sixth is where Counsell is going to hit him most of the time. He just believes he’s going to be an RBI machine.”

Another Alejandro Kirk?

The unnamed scout also went on to praise Ballesteros as an overall player, comparing him to Alejandro Kirk of the Toronto Blue Jays, who is similarly 5-foot-8 and is actually listed as 50 lbs. heavier.

“It was good to hear from someone outside the organization who thinks not only is he going to be an outstanding hitter, but that he’s going to be a better catcher,” Levine said. “And he brought up Kirk as the idea from the Toronto Blue Jays…Not the greatest body in the world, but he’s turned out to be an outstanding catcher even at a big size.”

For now, the plan with Ballesteros seems to be to DH him against mostly right-handed pitching and slot him in as the team’s emergency catcher. He can also play some first base and might see some time there as a backup to Michael Busch.

But, make no mistake about it, Ballesteros will be with the Cubs for his bat and everyone’s waiting to see how well he does there.

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The Chicago Cubs have begun trimming their spring training roster to get ready for Opening Day, going from 62 players to 53.

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Of the names cut from the roster, infielders James Triantos and Pedro Ramirez got optioned to Triple-A Iowa (Triantos) and Double-A Knoixville (Ramirez), with right-hander and MLB No. 58 prospect Jaxon Wiggins getting returned to minor league camp.

Triantos had been performing well in camp — hitting .280 with a double, four RBI, and three stolen bases in 12 games. Ramirez had been doing enough to stay to compete for a spot on the big league roster — batting .368 with a home run, a double, six RBI, three walks, and four stolen bases in 11 games — but there’s no room for Triantos or Ramirez on the roster at the moment.

Today's roster moves presented by @NuveenInv: pic.twitter.com/JYwYTReKr8

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 8, 2026

Jaxon Wiggins still has work to do before he can join the Chicago Cubs rotation

Wiggins had the opposite spring training from Triantos and Ramierz, struggling in his two appearances — allowing five runs (all earned, 13.50 ERA) on six hits, walking one, and striking out five.

The former second-round pick (2023 MLB Draft) from the University of Arkansas performed well at High-A South Bend last season — 1-2 with a 1.71 ERA in six games (five starts, 26.1 innings) — and Double-A Knoxville — 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in 10 starts (42.0 innings). However, Wiggins struggled in three starts at Triple-A Iowa, going 0-2 with a 4.66 ERA and walking six (striking out 14) in 9.2 innings.

Wiggin’s control has been his issue, having 72 walks in 137.2 innings between 2024 and 2025. In his grades as a pitcher — MLB uses a 20-80 scale for grading prospects’ tools, with 20 being the worst and 80 the best — Wiggins gets a 45 grade (below average) for his control.

Likely to start the season in the Iowa Cubs starting rotation, Wiggins working on his command is a must if he wants to get a call-up to the big league club this season.

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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.

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The Chicago Cubs continue to see their players have strong showings in the opening games of the 2026 World Baseball Classic. While not all the players competing in the tournament are coming from major-league rosters, some are minor leaguers looking to get a spark and possibly get other teams interested in their talents. The Cubs saw one prospect play for Team Great Britain, so let’s take a closer look at how he did in today’s game.

BJ Murray has a good first game for Team Great Britain in the 2026 World Baseball Classic

Murray may be a prospect for the Cubs, but he was Team Great Britain’s starting first baseman in their first pool play game against Team Mexico. He would bat cleanup for this game and go 1 for 3 with a walk in the game. His first at-bat would be his only hit of the day, as he recorded a single in the first inning off Cubs teammate Javier Assad, but that was the highlight of the day for Murray at the plate.

Murray spent 2025 in Double-A Knoxville and swung the bat well as he would post a .242/.363/.418 slash line with 20 home runs, 89 RBI, 62 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases on 28 tries. This is his second appearance in the World Baseball Classic, competing in the 2023 edition of the event. In the four games he played, Murray would go 3 for 13 (.231) with a pair of RBI and one run scored.

With the ability to swing the bat well and play both corner infield positions and could be in the majors in the next year or two. Whether it is to be the next third baseman after Alex Bregman or if it is to be a piece in a trade, the 15th-round pick in the 2021 draft is looking to turn heads here. It will be intriguing to see how he continues to perform as he looks to impress during this year’s World Baseball Classic.

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The Chicago Cubs have one of the most exciting young rosters in Major League Baseball. Coming off of a season in which they went 92-70, many believe that they will only get better in 2026 and, perhaps, compete for a World Series this upcoming year. And best of all, they have more young Major League ready prospects ready to contibrute.

Among these, and perhaps the most notable, is Moises Ballesteros. After a successful cup of coffee in the Majors late last season, Ballesteros, Chicago’s top prospect, appears poised to make the Opening Day roster. And when/if he does, there really is just one place where the Cubs can put him.

Moises Ballesteros will likely be the Chicago Cubs DH

In his first 20 games in the Big Leagues, Ballesteros hit .298/.394/.474 with two home runs and 11 RBI. Down at Triple-A last year, he hit .316/.385/.473 with 13 home runs and 76 RBI in 114 games.

Of those 114 games, Ballesteros played 71 of them at catcher and three at first base.

At the Major League level, though, Chicago has Michael Busch entrenched at first base. He is coming off of a year that saw him hit 34 home runs, and their plan is have them there nearly everyday, even against left-handed pitchers.

Catcher, of course, is held down by Miguel Amaya and Carson Kelly, both of whom are better defensive catchers than Ballesteros.

And so, it appears that the Cubs will be best served having their top prospect start the season and spend most of his time as their designated hitter in 2026. The fact, though, is that his ability to play both first base and catcher gives him some positional versatility, which means he can get some experience in the field as well.

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Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Cubs are focused on winning big this year and would seemingly have all the horses in place right now to do that. But they still have an eye on the future…and that future is making some big noise in spring training.

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20-year-old shortstop Jefferson Rojas has been turning heads as their youngest non-roster invitee– and absolutely killing the ball in the process.

On Wednesday, the kid from the Dominican Republic crushed a 438-foot home run against the Milwaukee Brewers that left everyone in awe. So far, this spring, he’s hitting .318 with 2 home runs and 6 RBIs in 24 plate appearances.

Rojas is no stranger to being the youngest player on the field. Since being signed as a 16-year-old, he’s been steadily moved up the Cubs’ farm system, ahead of schedule, because of his advanced hitting prowess. He’s now, once again, playing up to the level of his older, more mature teammates– only this time at the major league/spring training level.

Jefferson Rojas is killing it

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“Jefferson’s made a great impression,” manager Craig Counsell told media. “Just being able to see Jefferson two years ago, and where we’re at right now — wow…We’ve got a good offensive player here that’s going to impact the baseball and do some damage. He’s going to be a dangerous hitter.”

Cubs 2025 breakthrough pitcher Cade Horton has faced Rojas seven times in the minors and Rojas has homered three times off him.

“He’s really skilled for his age, and just really mature for his age,” Horton told the Chicago Sun-Times. “So I’m happy to have him on our team.”

Cubs hitting coach Dustin Kelly is similarly in awe of Rojas’ development. He previously marveled at the young talent’s raw ability, but is now seeing some real maturity built off of solid hard work. As a matter of fact, he recently commented to the Chicago Sun-Times that he had to double check Rojas’ age when he saw how well he was performing.

“A lot of the work that he’s done down in the minor leagues is getting into his legs and using his lower half and creating a little bit of posture,” Kelly said. “So, his swing path is really cleaned up, and just the overall efficiency of his swing, where it is right now, is generating some output. He’s hitting the ball really hard — much harder than what I thought or expected from him, especially in a major-league camp at 20 years old.”

On a quick rise to the majors?

Rojas, the Cubs’ no. 5 prospect per MLB.com, just started his Double-A run with Knoxville at the end of last season, so there’s some time to go before fans might see him at Wrigley. He also had some struggles as he moved up.

But those concerns are offset by how great he’s looked this spring as he’s worked alongside major leaguers and high-level prospects.

Scouting reports show that his “average” defensive ability at shortstop may mean that second base could likely be his spot when/if he makes his way to the majors. But Rojas is where he is because of his bat and his big league hopes will ride or die based on how well he hits at Double-A and above.

For now, though, the kid has impressed and he’s definitely leaving his mark in the minds of Cubs coaches.

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The Chicago Cubs know that no. 1 ranked prospect Moises Ballesteros can hit. The experts and analysts almost universally agree that the kid’s bat will carry over into major league play.

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The 22-year-old, after all, has risen through the Cubs’ farm system– winning Cubs Minor League Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024– on the weight of his bat, alone. He’s also expected to make the Opening Day major league roster as a bat-first prospect, playing a role as the team’s primary DH.

Last season, in a small sample size of 66 regular season plate appearances sprinkled out over three call-ups, the lefty slashed .298/.394/.474. In the month of September, he really turned heads with a .333 batting average and a .435 OBP, essentially providing the offense an injured Kyle Tucker couldn’t deliver, often placed in the middle of the Cubs lineup.

The question with Ballesteros, though, is defense.

Ballesteros as a catcher: So far, so good

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A catcher by designation, with experience at first base, his defense has lagged far behind his offense. It’s been an aspect to his game that he’s worked on diligently, even trimming as much as 20 lbs. off his squat frame to help with his agility and speed.

On this 2026 Cubs team, where versatility is highly prioritized, Ballesteros will be asked to play the field, at the very least as a third catcher behind Carson Kelly and Miguel Amaya and as a backup first baseman behind Michael Busch. So, there’s an added emphasis this spring in getting the young talent some extra time behind the plate.

And…so far, so good.

While catching Edward Cabrera in Wednesday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Venezuelan made three successful ABS challenges, turning three balls into three strikes.

Ballesteros’ keen eye and feel for the strike zone did not go unnoticed.

“I was shocked [at the successful challenges],” Cabrera told reporters after the game, via interpreter. “Having a catcher who sees the zone that well gives me a lot of confidence, especially in tight counts. He did a great job guiding me through those innings.”

“It motivates me to prove people wrong”

By all accounts, Ballesteros is a hard worker and a positive, goal-oriented young man. He’s made it clear that working on his catching is a priority this spring.

“It motivates me to prove people wrong — to prove that I am a good catcher and not just a hitter,” Ballesteros told Cubs beat writer Bruce Levine.

Chicago’s coaching staff doesn’t doubt that he’ll work his way into being the catcher they expect him to be.

“Experience catching is a real goal for him and in the drill work exposure to good players, that was the goal,” manager Craig Counsell told The Chicago Tribune. “He’s not a finished product catching so we just want him to keep taking strides, and a lot of it’s just receiving work, receiving work, receiving work…He has very good instincts for the game so that part of it he’s very capable, it’s not a development goal. That part he will be very good at.”

If his bat turns out to be as good as projected over a full season, he may not need to be a stellar defensive catcher. But the goal will always be to develop a prospect into the best possible player he can be.

In Ballesteros’ case, anything above and beyond his hitting will be an absolute plus.

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The Chicago Cubs seem pretty much set when it comes to their starting, non-pitching roster. But if there’s one minor area of debate and uncertainty, it lies with the every day designated hitter spot.

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As of right now, it appears that the Cubs’ top ranked prospect Moises Ballesteros is being targeted as the man for that job.

And, really, why wouldn’t he be?

Moises Ballesteros is a hitting savant

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The 22-year-old lefty has been a hitting savant throughout his run in the Cubs farm system, carried through each level of the organization on the weight of his bat alone. He was Chicago’s Minor League Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024, again, carried there entirely by his bit.

Last season, in a small sample size of 66 regular season plate appearances over three separate call-ups, he slashed .298/.394/.474. Down the stretch, he turned a lot of heads, hitting .333 (with a .435 OBP) in the month of September, offsetting the loss of Kyle Tucker, usually working from the middle of the lineup.

But Ballesteros IS a rookie with much more modest success against left-handed pitching. He also has defensive issues, probably with a ceiling of “adequate” at catcher and first base if used sparingly.

All of that leads to the questions of where and how to use the young hitter.

Where will he hit in the Cubs lineup?

In terms of his placement in the lineup, most everyone agrees that he will get every opportunity to click at DH. There is a difference of opinion, however, in where to place him in the order.

Cubs beat writer Bruce Levine, in a recent appearance on “Mully and Haugh” on 104.3 The Score, feels that Chicago will stick him right into the heart of the lineup:

“If you’re not paying attention to Moises Ballesteros and him batting third or fourth in that lineup this year, then you’re not paying attention…I would say right in the middle, between 3 and 5…This is a guy who is, potentially, one of the top young hitters in the National League…”

David Haugh, co-host of “Mully and Haugh” disagreed with Levine:

“I have high hopes for the kid, too, but third our fourth on a playoff team…I don’t know. That’s expecting a lot…I don’t know why he would bat higher the seventh.”

Haugh’s reasoning is solid. With so many more proven bats in the lineup, why would they feature a rookie in such a prominent spot?

However, there’s also an argument to be made for aiding Ballesteros’ progression by sticking him between established players to ensure he gets more good pitches to hit.

Cubs have confidence in top prospect

Whatever the case, the Cubs seem confident in the young star and are pointing to last year’s successes as proof positive of his “realness.”

“We kind of asked a lot of him,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell told media during January’s Cubs Convention. “You saw where he was hitting in the lineup at times. I think that is a sign of a lot of confidence in a young hitter. He showed us a lot.”

As for where he might play defensively, the answer may be that he won’t be playing much in the field.

Positioned as the third catcher on the team and the second or third first baseman, he’ll likely be used exclusively as an emergency fill-in or as an in-game replacement for games that are out of reach.

Among experts and analysts, there’s a lot of excitement surrounding Ballesteros and it’ll be interesting to see how this season shapes up for him.

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The Chicago Cubs feel that they got quite the bargain in the 2025 draft when they signed outfielder Ethan Conrad with their 17th pick.

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The talented prospect was expected to go earlier in the first round, likely in the top 10 or even sooner, but an injury to his throwing shoulder in his final season of NCAA ball that year and subsequent surgery somewhat cooled down interest.

The Cubs, though, happily picked up the multi-tool 21-year-old when it came their time to pick.

And now, fully recovered from injury, without even a single game played in the minors, he’s being listed as the no. 3 prospect in the Cubs organization in the updated 2026 top 30 prospect rankings.

Ethan Conrad was a draft day steal at no. 17

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“We felt he’s somebody that, had he played out the entire season, would have been considered in the top 10,” Cubs vice president of scouting Dan Kantrovitz said at the time of the draft. “A pretty exceptional value in terms of getting him at 17.”

“He’s somebody that can turn a double into a triple with his speed, and I think he’s somebody that is gonna be able to put pressure on the defense in a number of different ways,” Kantrovitz continued. “His decision-making, his ability to make contact, his ability to hit for damage — all three of those pillars are there, and we think that he’s just getting better across the board.”

Many experts agree on Conrad’s projected major league ability and on the upside he carries with him. Despite zero experience at the pro level, the 6-foot-3 blue-chipper recently received some votes in Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects list.

A “five-tool” star

“Ethan is a five-tool player, who is a gamer,” Conrad’s head coach at Wake Forest Tom Walter said, shortly after the draft. “This is a great pick by the Chicago Cubs. Ethan will be a guy who will play in the big leagues for a long time and is a potential All-Star. His bat-to-ball skills are elite and he is just scratching the surface of his power potential.”

On the Cubs’ prospects list, only DH/C Moises Ballesteros and RHP Jaxon Wiggins rank above him at no. 1 and no. 2, respectively. Ballesteros is expected to make the big league Opening Day roster and Wiggins will be at Triple-A Iowa, expected to possibly see some major league time this season in Chicago.

Conrad, meanwhile, has been given a 2028 estimated time of major league arrival.

Last summer, the no. 1 draft pick visited Wrigley Field and had his first interaction with Cubs manager Craig Counsell. He left the introduction inspired and eager to get down to the business of playing baseball.

“It was awesome,” Conrad said during a broadcast both appearance during the game. “Just being able to meet him was really cool. We were just talking about playing baseball every single day and how you’ve got to be grateful for it. It’s hard, but just embracing it. That’s probably the biggest thing. I’m just excited to get to work, for sure.”

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The Chicago Cubs are poised to be one of the most exciting teams in Major League Baseball this year. Pete Crow-Armstrong, of course, established himself last season by becoming one of the youngest players ever to post a 30-30 season. First baseman Michael Busch is coming off of a 34 home run campaign, and is now considered one of the best players at his position in the game.

Nico Hoerner, of course, is a two-time Gold Glove winner at second base. Alex Bregman, a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner, was signed to man third base.

But all of these players, as exciting as they may be, are known Major League commodities. Perhaps the most intriguing bat is that of top prospects Moises Ballesteros.

Moises Ballesteros predicted to make the Chicago Cubs Opening Day roster

Ballesteros got his first taste of the Major last season, and did not disappoint. In 20 games, he hit .298/.394/.474 with two home runs and 11 RBI.

In their recent lineup projections of each Major League team, Bleacher Report predicts that not only will Ballesteros making the Opening Day roster, but he will also be starting:

Projected Lineup

1B Michael Busch
3B Alex Bregman
LF Ian Happ
RF Seiya Suzuki
CF Pete Crow-Armstrong
C Carson Kelly
2B Nico Hoerner
SS Dansby Swanson
DH Moisés Ballesteros (R)

IL: 1B Tyler Austin

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For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Cubs are trying to get infielder Matt Shaw to become a super utility player, as he has no starting role, but have another viable option in Pedro Ramirez waiting in the wings.

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A former international free agent signing with the Cubs in 2021, Ramirez won a Gold Glove in the minor leagues last season, which is no easy feat.

“They told me that winning a Gold Glove in the Minor Leagues was difficult, so I wanted to take that challenge, and I wanted to show that I could play that position,” he said to Patrick Brown of MLB.com. “I put in the work, and I just wanted to challenge myself every single day.

“Then, I went out there to work and just showcase that.”

So far this spring, Ramirez has hit .364 with three steals (caught once) and driven in two RBI in eight games.

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell wants Pedro Ramirez to expand his versatility

Ramirez is a primary infielder, playing second base, third base, and shortstop, but has also played four games in left field. The Cubs have a set infield, with Alex Bregman at third base, Dansby Swanson at shortstop, and Nico Hoerner at second base. Manager Craig Counsell would like Ramirez to “expand a little bit of his value defensively” if he’s to have a role on the Cubs.

“I think we’re trying to expand a little bit of his value defensively, because I think as you break into the big leagues, sometimes you’re not just going to be handed a position,” Counsell said to Brown. “You’re probably going to have to move around, and where the opportunity happens is where you get to play, but the fact that he’s got that attached to him means he should be able to handle new positions.”

Ramirez would be competing with infielder Matt Shaw, who will likely be Counsell’s utility man off the bench. Ramirez has done slightly better than Shaw at the plate, with Shaw hitting .308 with two stolen bases (has not been caught), and has one RBI in six games.

Pedro Ramirez will really need to open Craig Counsell’s eyes to make the Opening Day roster

It’s not out of the question that Ramirez could make the Cubs Opening Day roster, but it doesn’t seem likely barring an absolute standout performance this spring. Added to the 40-man roster this offseason to avoid him getting plucked in the Rule 5 Draft, the Cubs would have to use a minor league option on him if he doesn’t make the 26-man roster.

Shaw should get the chance to prove himself to start the season, with Ramirez likely to get a call-up at some point this season due to a potential injury or performance. Starting spring training strong at the plate and being solid defensively, Ramirez could force his way onto the Opening Day roster.

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The Chicago Cubs are in a position where they have a lot of young talent ready to take a massive step in how the team will do in 2026. There are some key players who will be impactful, and some that are going to need to begin their career at the big league level with the abilitiy to be a formidable bat in the lineup. With the team looking for stars to complement players like Alex Bregman and Pete Crow-Armstrong, there is one rookie who can do that.

Moises Ballesteros is considered one of the top rookies entering the 2026 season

Keith Law of The Athletic wrote an article ranking the top 20 rookies entering the 2026 season and their chances to be impactful for their team. One member of the Cubs was listed as designated hitter Moises Ballesteros was ranked 15th. Below is what Law wrote regarding why he placed him on this list:

“I’m listing Ballesteros as a DH — although he is nominally a catcher and can play first base — because he’s not good enough at the former position and not about to dislodge Michael Busch at the latter one. I also think he’s the most likely candidate to be the Cubs’ primary DH this year, even with some competition at the spot from returning players and some of their offseason additions. He’s hit everywhere, including in 20 games in the majors, and he’ll be one of their best pure hitters (bat only, that is) this year if they give him the job.”

Ballesteros was able to swing the bat well in limited action last season when called up. He played in 20 games and was 17 of 57 (.298) with a pair of home runs, 11 RBI, and 12 runs scored. Ballesteros also had great plate discipline as he had nine walks to 12 strikeouts. He is projected to be in the starting lineup to begin the season, so it will be interesting to see how he develops as the season goes on.

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The World Baseball Classic is less than a week away, beginning March 5-17, and Chicago Cubs infielder, first baseman Jonathon Long, will not be attending due to a left elbow sprain.

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Long, 24, is competing to win a spot on the Cubs Opening Day roster, and decided not to attend the World Baseball Classic was the best thing for his future. 

“You’ve got to look at it like, what’s the best long-term solution?” Long told Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times. “Obviously, in the short term, I want to go. But we’re more inclined to push through something that we shouldn’t push through with such a strict timeline.”

Long was one of the best-hitting prospects in the Cubs organization, batting .305 with an OPS of .883 and 20 home runs in 140 games with the Iowa Cubs. Long also showed his ability to get on base (.404) and walked 79 times in 514 at-bats. Long was going to represent Team Chinese-Taipei (Taiwan) in the World Baseball Classic. 

Jonathon Long is making the smart decision to improve his chances of making the Chicago Cubs

Despite the injury setback, Long has a great chance to make the Cubs as a bench bat, as his main competition, first baseman Tyler Austin, had surgery on his right knee and could miss “months.” Long also plays third base and left field, offering manager Craig Counsell some versatility to give starting third baseman Alex Bregman and left fielder Ian Happ days off.

Catchers Miguel Amaya and Moises Ballesteros will also get some work over at first, with Long having the edge as the Cubs need a right-handed power bat.

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The Chicago Cubs have some of the top power hitters in baseball throughout their roster, but it is more than what the organization as a whole believes in. Having a team with raw power is critical for success, as you can always be a threat to score runs. But which prospect in the Cubs’ system has the most power? Let’s take a look at who it is considered to be.

Kevin Alcantara is considered the Cubs’ top prospect in terms of power

MLB’s Sam Dykstra, Jim Callis, and Jonathan Mayo published an article discussing each team’s top power-hitting prospect. For the Cubs, they selected outfielder Kevin Alcantara. Below is what they wrote about the Cubs prospect:

“Part of the trade that sent Anthony Rizzo to the Yankees in July 2021, the 6-foot-6 Alcantara possesses a rare combination of size and athleticism, and his package of tools includes well-above-average raw power that enables him to knock balls out of any part of the park. He still needs to improve his selectivity to maximize his damage, but he batted .266/.349/.470 with a career-high 17 homers as a 22-year-old at Triple-A.”

Alcantara has seen a handful of games in the big leagues, as he has played in 2024 and 2025. In his career, he is 5-for-21 (.238) with one RBI, three runs scored, and a stolen base without being caught through 13 games. He is able to play all three outfield positions as well, allowing him to be a factor off the bench as a fourth outfielder with Seiya Suzuki, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Ian Happ taking the starting outfield positions.

With the signing of Michael Conforto as a non-roster invitee to Spring Training, it is expected that Alcantara would begin the season at Triple-A. It will be intriguing to see how he continiues to develop and if he can begin to develop other tools more to be a complete player when he gets an official call-up.

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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 ft

The 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.

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At long last, Chicago Cubs top prospects Moises Ballesteros is reporting to 2026 Major League Spring Training. The native of Venezuela had been delayed in reporting due to issues with his visa. Now that those issues have been resolved, he is joining the rest of the Cubs team in Arizona with his sights set on making the Opening Day roster.

Indeed, Ballesteros has generated more buzz than any other Chicago prospect in recent memory. His first cup of coffee in the Majors last season saw him hit .298/.394/.474 with two home runs and 11 RBI in 20 games. He also drew nine walks compared to 12 strikeouts.

In 114 games at Triple-A, Ballesteros hit .316/.385/.473 with 13 home runs and 76 RBI.

With his phenomenal minor league performance last year, along with his successful first run in the Majors, expectations are high for the Cubs’ top prospect in 2026.

Chicago Cubs GM says expectations are high for Moises Ballesteros

In a recent article posted by The Athletic, renowned baseball analyst Jim Bowden listed 20 prospects to watch in 2026 as they make their way to the Major Leagues. Of course, Ballesteros was among these. Of the Cubs’ top prospect, Bowden wrote:

“Ballesteros, 22, has a “hit” tool that is going to carry him, as he’s one of the most advanced hitters in this rookie class. He has above-average bat-to-ball skills and can hit all types of pitches, including high velocity, sharp breaking balls and off-speed offerings.

“He’ll use the entire field to hit line drives with elite exit velocity. His raw power far out-paces his in-game power to date, but the homers will come in time. His best position is designated hitter, but he can backup both first base and catcher when needed with below-average defense. The bat is going to play.”

Bowden also included the following quote from Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins:

“Bally is a natural hitter with a knack for finding barrels and a mature approach that is beyond his age. We think he can catch in the big leagues as well and have high expectations for his future.”

Clearly, Chicago has is placing their faith in Ballesteros to emerge as the player that they think he can be. It will be interesting and exciting to see how he performs this year.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• The Cubs reliever with the most on the line in 2026
• Cubs top prospect remains stalled over visa issues
• Cubs power numbers way down in 2026, per projection

For More Chicago Sports

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The Chicago Cubs are ready to have some young talent make some major moves throughout the 2026 season. While some are going to begin the season in the minor leagues, others are projected to be on the 26-man roster coming out of Spring Training. Let’s take a closer look at one player on the Cubs who is ranked in the most recent prospect list despite being expected to be called up to Chicago for his rookie season to officially take place.

Moises Ballesteros is considered the 84th-ranked prospect in Major League Baseball

The Chicago Cubs have four prospects who managed to be within Fangraphs’ Top 100 Prospects heading into the 2026 season. Moises Ballesteros is projected to make the Opening Day roster with the big league squad, but is considered to be the 84th-ranked prospect. Let’s take a closer look at what they said regarding Ballesteros finding his way on this list:

“Ballesteros has an advanced bat. He’s got plus bat speed, above-average raw power, and a knack for hard contact all over the zone. The numbers under the hood reinforce the visual look: Last year, he had an 80% contact rate and 43% hard-hit rate, which make for a middle-of-the-lineup kind of combination. He’s produced at every level, including a September cameo with the Cubs last year where he hit .298/.374/.474 (143 wRC+) with good peripherals against a who’s who of big league arms. There isn’t much physical projection – only 22, Ballesteros is a thick and developed 5-foot-8 – but he’s plenty good as is.”

Ballesteros is one of the more intriguing hitters heading into the 2026 season. It will be intriguing to see how he looks facing MLB pitching consistently if he is able to make the big league club out of Sloan Park.

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Having some top-tier prospects in the organization is something the Chicago Cubs are used to. Whether it be being able to use the prospect capital to be reinforcements for the major-league club or trading prospects to get MLB talent, the Cubs have the depth to do either. One pitcher in their farm system has been named as one of the top prospects entering this upcoming season. Let’s take a closer look at who he is and what made him get this level of recognition.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Jaxon Wiggins is considered to be the 72nd-ranked prospect in baseball

The Cubs continue to see their prospects get some recognition ahead of the 2026 season, as Fangraphs released its Top 100 Prospects list. Starting pitcher Jaxon Wiggins was 72nd on the list and has shown the ability to be a force. With a four-pitch arsenal (fastball, slider, changeup, curveball) and the ability to reach 100 MPH, he is an intriguing prospect. Below is a snippet of what they said about Wiggins’ potential:

“If you’re looking for candidates to be 2026 Jacob Misiorowski, Wiggins is one of them. If a competitive Cubs team needs a healthy arm, he could come up and just try to survive for five-ish innings at a time by leaning on his fastball, but he’s still prey raw as a craftsman and would likely have some developmental growing pains as he hones his breaking ball command. He has no. 3 starter ceiling and a realistic floor as a knockout reliever.”

Wiggins was drafted in the second round of the 2023 MLB Draft by the Cubs out of Arkansas. He would pitch at three different levels in 2024, but missed last year due to Tommy John surgery. He pitched 19 games (18 starts) and was 3-4 with a 2.19 ERA and 97 strikeouts over 78.0 innings. It will be intriguing to see how he develops throughout the season coming off a major injury.

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The Chicago Cubs have a lot of young talent throughout their organization. With some talent still needing time to get acclimated to playing pro-ball, others are in a positon where they can compete to make the 26-man roster for Opening Day. Let’s take a closer look at one of the top prospects in all of baseball, according to Fangraphs, and why they view him so highly at this moment.

Kevin Alcantara finds himself on the Fangraphs Top 100 list

Fangraphs released their annual Top 100 prospects list ahead of the 2026 MLB season, and the Cubs have been represented well. Outfielder Kevin Alcantara is the 60th-ranked prospect on the list, and he is second in the organization behind shortstop Jefferson Rojas. Below is a snippet of what they wrote about Alcantara’s abilities heading into the 2026 season:

“This is one of the toolsiest players in the minors, and unlike several of his athletic peers who never really learned how to play the gaem, Alcantara has conquered Triple-A. He may need a minute to find his footing in Chicago – fortunately for the Cubs, he was granted a fourth option year – and there’s a risk that he doesn’t actualize all this potential at all. But in the long run, it pays to bet on the athletes, and this one in particular could explode if everything clicks.”

He has climbed through the ranks of the Cubs’ farm system and had a cup of coffee in the majors last season. Alcantara would play in 10 games and went 4-for-11 with one RBI, two runs scored, and one stolen base. He is currently projected to be starting the season in Triple-A, but could be competing to make the majors out of Spring Training. It will be intriguing to see how he performs and where he starts the season.

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The Chicago Cubs have been one of the top teams in terms of developing their farm system and having players be productive in the majors. They have some elite talent currently in the minor leagues, but there is still some seasoning needed before they get called up. Let’s take a look at who is the top prospect heading into the 2026 MLB season for the team as they get ready to promote a few players to the big leagues.

Chicago Cubs prospect Jefferson Rojas makes Top 100 Prospect list

Fangraphs released their Top 100 Prospects list ahead of the 2026 MLB season, and the Cubs saw four players get highlighted. The top player for the team is shortstop Jefferson Rojas, who is ranked 55th in the sport. He signed with the team during the 2022 International Signing Period out of the Dominican Republic and is still not even 21 years old. Rojas has shown some ability to be a good hitter with a strong glove. Below is a snippet from what they wrote about Rojas:

“With players who zig and zag as Rojas has, sometimes it’s best to get off the roller coaster and get back to the fundamentals. This is a good athlete with a good swing, average power, and a strog defensive foundation. He’s been challenged throughout his career, and while you can’t completely ignore how hard he’s smacked into some of those speed bumps, the good outweighs the bad. He’s a high-priority look for us this spring, and for now, we’re staying on the tools.”

Rojas began the season in Double-A Knoxville before being sent down after posting a .164/.279/.205 slashline in 39 games. He would be sent to High-A South Bend and play 67 games where he found his footing. Rojas would finish with a .871 OPS with 11 home runs, 44 RBI, 50 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases on 17 attempts. It could have been just too soon to call him up in his development, but he is the highest-rated Cubs player entering the 2026 season. It will be intriguing to see if he can take that next step as a player and get closer to being a prospect that the major league team can call upon in the next few years.

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The Chicago Cubs pulled from their farm system once again this offseason in pursuit of help in the here and now. In the trade to bring over young, team-controlled pitcher Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins, they offered up their no. 1 prospect Owen Cassie, as well as two well-regarded infield prospects.

More News: Chicago Cubs’ Shota Imanaga on 2025 struggles: “I felt ashamed I let the fans down”

Last offseason, the Cubs sent off their 2024 no. 1 draft pick Cam Smith in the deal that brought Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros.

The loss of high-end young prospects, along with the graduation of recent top-tier Triple-A talent, has left the Cubs’ farm system pretty thin and in a tough spot.

So, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that the experts and analysts have been dumping on the state of the Cubs organization and their overall standing.

Cubs’ farm system gets grim assessment

More News: Chicago Cubs: Surprising Brewers-Red Sox trade settles fate of Cubs infielders

In Baseball America’s recent ranking of MLB farm systems, the Cubs ranked 22nd among the 30 teams. The scary part is that this ranking is actually a more optimistic one than that of ESPN, which has the Cubs organization at no. 25.

There are obvious and logical reasons for this, of course. As mentioned, the Cubs have traded away two high-profile prospects in recent years, as well as a few Top 30 prospects. They’ve also seen guys like Pete Crow-Armstrong, Michael Busch, Cade Horton, Daniel Palencia, Miguel Amaya, and Matt Shaw graduate to full-time big league status.

And things are bound to get even worse for the system as current no. 1 prospect Moises Ballesteros is projected to break spring training with the big league squad.

But not everything is doom and gloom when it comes to Chicago’s young talent reserve. There’s still some intriguing talent in the minors.

MLB.com writer Joe Trezza recently looked over the Cubs system and spotlighted the best and brightest prospects in several categories, ranging from overall hitting to various components of pitching.

Hitting, running, fielding, arm

Rated the overall best hitter in the organization is the 22-year-old Ballesteros, who is the Cubs’ top prospect as well as the MLB.com no. 55 prospect in baseball.

The short, pudgy Venezuela native does not look the part of a hitting savant, but he’s excelled with the bat at every level of baseball he’s played, including in his 2025 cups of coffee in the majors, where he hit .298 and sported a .394 OBP in 66 plate appearances.

In the area of power, the 23-year-old Kevin Alcantara is rated the best in the Cubs’ system, despite his general reputation as a more toolsy, athletic three-position outfielder rather than a straight-up power hitter.

Last year in Iowa, Alcantara hit 17 home runs in 379 at bats against a .266 batting average. Although he’s lost some regard among the analysts and has been dropped from most Top 100 prospects lists, there are still many who regard him as a potential top-tier major league talent. According to this listing of prospects, he’s also rated the best overall fielder in the organization.

Middle infielder Jefferson Rojas and first baseman Jonathon Long stand to inherit the top offensive players designation when/if Ballesteros and Alcantara graduate to the major league squad.

When it comes to speed, the Cubs’ no. 19 prospect Brett Bateman gets top honors. The hard-charging outfielder and top-tier contact hitter rates a 70 in the “run” category and has stolen 49 bases in 63 tries over the last couple of seasons. He’s currently at the Double-A level.

A-ball catcher and 2025 Arizona Fall League Breakout Player of the Year Owen Ayers gets the top ranking in the “arm” category. A good offensive prospect, the 24-year-old, according to Trezza, “regularly recorded sub-1.85-second pop times in the AFL.”

Cubs’ minor league pitching

When it comes to pitching, the Cubs get bashed for an apparent dearth of high-end mound prospects, but there’s still some eye-catching talent in the organization.

Top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins (Cubs’ overall no. 2 prospect and no. 58 according to MLB.com) is given props for having the best fastball and slider in the organization. It’s speculated that the 24-year-old could even make his way to the big leagues at some point this coming season.

Brandon Birdsell (No. 8 Cubs prospect), who’s currently recovering from elbow surgery, is rated as having the best control in the Cubs’ system. The 22-year-old Dominick Reid (No. 16 Cubs prospect) is recognized as having the best changeup. The 26-year-old Grant Kipp (No. 17 Cubs prospect) is rated as having the best curveball.

While it can’t be denied that the Cubs farm system has thinned out, it’s not exactly dried out. The fortunate thing is that the major league squad boasts lots of 20-something talent that should be steady at the big league level for awhile as the organization beneath restocks and rebuilds.

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The Chicago Cubs entered the postseason needing to fill many holes on their roster, but the most important of them all was to acquire a frontline starting pitcher.

More News: Former Chicago Cubs reliever reveals how he signed with NL foe

With left-handers Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez still on the free agent market, but demanding a hefty price tag, the Cubs opted to make a trade to acquire the starter they’ve coveted. According to Bleacher Nation’s Michael Cerami, the Cubs are finalizing a deal with the Miami Marlins to acquire right-hander Edward Cabrera.

Cabrera, 27, was among the top trade candidates this offseason and has the upside of being a No. 2 starter, which is exactly what the Cubs have been looking for. Cabrera was solid, pitching to an 8-7 record with a 3.53 ERA (26 starts), while striking out 150 batters in 137.2 innings.

BREAKING: Cubs are finalizing a deal to acquire SP Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins.

— Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) January 7, 2026

The finalized trade for Cabrera included the Cubs No. 1 prospect, outfielder Owen Caissie, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

Edward Cabrera will bolster the Chicago Cubs’ rotation

Sep 23, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Miami Marlins pitcher Edward Cabrera (27) throws a pitch during the second inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn ImagesDespite not having a big name in their rotation like Cy Young award winner with divisional foe the Pittsburgh Pirates, Paul Skenes, the Cubs had the eighth-best starters’ ERA (3.83). Though he’s not a star, Cabrera will add depth to the Cubs’ rotation but also help it round out into one of the better rotations in the National League, joining All-Stars Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga.

Unlikely to re-sign outfielder Kyle Tucker, given his price tag, the Cubs are building a strong pitching staff, adding left-handers Holby Milner and Caleb Theilbar, and right-handers Hunter Harvey and Jacob Webb to one-year deals. With still a ways to go until Opening Day, the Cubs could add one or two more arms to their pitching staff to account for any potential injury that could occur.

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The Chicago Cubs have done well at identifying minor league talent and having them be part of the future of the team. With a lot of their top prospects expected to join the major league club in the next few years, there are also some who need more time to develop. Let’s take a look at one prospect who has some time to develop into a major leaguer, but is expected to have a breakout 2026 season.

Chicago Cubs prospect Juan Cabada is a breakout candidate in 2026

The Cubs have some prospects that are expected to make noise over the next few years. However, there is one that is not expected to be part of the team for another handful of years, who is projected to have a breakout 2026 season. The team’s 14th-ranked prospect second baseman/third baseman Juan Cabada was selected by MLB’s Jesse Borek, Sam Dykstra, and Ben Weinrib to be as one of the prospects who can have a breakout season. Below is the snippet the trio wrote about Cabada:

“Cabada was one of the Cubs’ biggest signings in the 2025 international class ($1.5 million) and immediately stands out for his advanced hitting ability. The left-handed-swinging infielder has quick wrists that enable a quality line-drive approach. He’s on the smaller size at 5-foot-10, 185 pounds, so there are questions about his power ceiling, but it’s easy to imagine his discerning eye helping him pick the right pitches to drive in the future. Most scouts don’t think he’ll stay at shortstop long term, in part because of the Cubs’ depth at the position on the farm, but his performance there bears watching.“

Cabada was one of three Dominican infielders the Cubs signed last January as international free agents. The 17-year-old infielder played rookie ball last season and finished with a .287/.429/.426 slashline with three home runs, 29 RBI, and 20 stolen bases in 42 games. He is not expected to make his MLB debut until 2030, so he has a lot of time to continue to develop and grow into his body. With a lefty bat and solid speed, he could be the player who eventually replaces Dansby Swanson as Chicago’s shortstop. It will be intriguing to keep an eye on him and if he can continue to sharpen his tools as he climbs the minor league rankings.

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In 2026, the Chicago Cubs will select 23rd overall in Major League Baseball’s Draft. A year ago, outfielder Ethan Conrad out of Wake Forest was the organization’s first round pick (17th overall). While the draft is still seven months away, this year MLB Pipeline has the Cubs going with an unconventional selection in their first Mock Draft.

2026 MLB Mock Draft has the Chicago Cubs selecting second baseman Chris Rembert

As MLB Pipeline pointed out in their article, second basemen are not typically selected in the first round of the draft. However, Chris Rembert of Auburn University has shown to be a force offensively, with potentially more upside, therefore putting his name in consideration of being a first round selection.

As a freshmen, Rembert posted a .344/.467/.522 slash line with 10 home runs, 14 doubles, 46 RBI, and 37 walks to 36 strikeouts. His scouting report card indicates that he has some of the quickest hands in college baseball with an advanced approach at the plate. If he can figure out how to put the ball in the air more, the power numbers could improve, potentially to the ability of being a 15 home run type of player in the big leagues.

Defensively, Rembert looked very comfortable at second base and also has experience at both corner outfield positions. While he lacks the speed and range to handle shortstop or center field, Auburn put him in spots where he was most comfortable, and he thrived there.

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The Chicago Cubs have a lot of exciting players on the brink of making the 26-man roster during the 2026 season. With names being thrown around for potential trade candidates, the team is in a position where minor leaguers may be called upon to help the team. With the World Baseball Classic taking place during 2026 spring training, one top Chicago Cubs prospect has been announced to play for Team Canada. Let’s take a deeper dive into who it is and what it means for the his chances to make the Opening Day roster.

Chicago Cubs’ Owen Caissie will play for Team Canada in 2026 World Baseball Classic

It was announced by Meghan Montemurro of The Chicago Tribune that top Chicago Cubs prospect Owen Caissie will be part of Team Canada in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Caissie had a rough stretch in his cup of coffee in the majors last season as he finished 5 for 26 (.192) with one home run, four RBI, and four runs scored over 12 games played before suffering a concussion. However, he has stepped up as a left-handed hitter in the minors with a .937 OPS and 22 home runs over 99 games with the Iowa Cubs in 2025.

This is not his first time being part of Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic, as he also participated in the 2023 edition. He would play in three of the four games the country played and was 3 for 13 with a home run. It will be intriguing to see how he does with names like Tyler O’Neill and Freddie Freeman in the lineup as well in a major tournament like the World Baseball Classic.

What does this mean for the Chicago Cubs?

The outlook for this is a lot different for the Chicago Cubs than it is for Caissie. Fangraphs has him projected as part of the projected Opening Day roster in some capacity, but participating in the World Baseball Classic means he is away from the team for a few weeks of spring training. The current starting outfield for the Cubs includes Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Seiya Suzuki, so cracking the starting outfield could be difficult. However, this feels like a battle between himself and Kevin Alcantara for the fourth outfield spot.

There is a chance this does well as stepping up in the World Baseball Classic allows Caissie to play in a pressurized environment before the season begins. He could be competing with another rookie in Moises Ballesteros for a roster spot with the Cubbies as well this year. Chicago doesn’t have a chance to see him for a stretch of time as he participates, but this could only be good for the future of the Chicago Cubs going forward.

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The Chicago Cubs were busy on Tuesday, November 18. News surrounding Shota Imanaga accepting the qualifying offer stole the headlines, but the organization also added three prospects to their 40-man roster, thus protecting them from December’s Rule 5 draft. ‘

Chicago Cubs add three prospects to the 40-man roster

New members of the Cubs 40-man roster include their eighth ranked prospect Pedro Ramirez, 10th ranked James Triantos, and unranked Riley Martin. Ramirez is an infielder, who is coming off 2025 MiLB Gold Glove honors as a third baseman, Triantos is capable of playing both the infield and outfield, and Martin is a 27 year old left-handed pitcher.

In 2025, Ramirez spent the entire season in Double-A, slashing .280/.346/.386 with 28 stolen bases along the way. Defense became his calling card a season ago, but as a switch hitter he has good contact skills at the plate, which pairs well with his speed.

Triantos, who entered the 2025 season as a top 100 prospect, endured tough times a season ago, posting just a .684 OPS in Triple-A. He took is a contact hitter who possesses good speed, but he hasn’t fully tapped into his full power potential yet. The former second round pick from the 2021 MLB Draft has a real shot at being an impact player on the Cubs roster in 2026.

Lastly, there is Martin. The 6’1″ southpaw was incredible in 2025, throwing 63.2 innings, striking out 80, and posting a 2.69 ERA. Walks have hurt him in the past, but with a mid 90s fastball and a devastating curveball, carving out a bullpen role in 2026 is not out of the question, especially given the expected turnover among the relief corps.

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The Chicago Cubs had quite a few players participating in the 2025 Arizona Fall League (AFL), which recently wrapped up its season. Playing in the highly competitive environment was 3B Cole Mathis (2024 second round pick), C Owen Ayers (2024 19th round pick), SS Ed Howard (2020 1st round pick), C Logan Poteet (2025 17th round pick), RHP Thomas Mangus (2025 18th round pick), RHP Luis Martinez-Gomez (2023 10th round pick), RHP Koen Moreno (2020 10th round pick), RHP Mathew Peters (2022 12th round pick), and J.P. Wheat (2022 16th round pick).

Among this group, it was Ayers’s performance who stood out the most. The switch-hitting catcher slashed .379/.539/.591 with 22 walks and just 10 strikeouts in 20 games. This earned him the prestigious honor of AFL Breakout Player of the Year

Cubs catching prospect Owen Ayers demolishes a pull-side bomb here. 105 MPH off the bat and 422 ft. Ayers has been a standout this fall at both the plate and behind the dish. #PLiveAFL @ProspectsLive pic.twitter.com/bNcbDDhhFS

— Jacob_Maxwell (@Jacob_Maxwell14) October 15, 2025

Chicago Cubs 24 year old prospect Owen Ayers wins 2025 AFL Breakout Player of the Year award

After missing several months of the 2025 season with a broken hand, Ayers rebounded impressively with a strong showing in the AFL. Though he doesn’t appear on the Cubs’ top 30 prospect list, this prestigious award is nothing to overlook, past winners like Oliver Dunn (2023) and Caleb Durbin (2024) went on to make their MLB debuts the very next season.

While a jump from A-ball to the majors isn’t realistic for Ayers in 2026, the track record of previous winners shows that this honor carries real significance. Ideally, he can build on his AFL success, use the experience as momentum, and turn it into a productive 2026 campaign after a season limited to just 65 games.

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This offseason for the Chicago Cubs will be a crucial one after making the playoffs for the first time in five seasons and losing to their divisional rival, the Milwaukee Brewers, who took the National League Central by five games.

More News: Chicago Cubs named a best fit for 2x All-Star Houston Astros pitcher

Outside of starting pitching, which has been a need for this team entering the 2025 season, the Cubs need to figure out how to allow their young prospects to play more. Third baseman Matt Shaw and pitcher Cade Horton showed what they could do when given opportunities to play consistently, and Owen Caissie should get the same courtesy, as he’s ready to get everyday playing time in 2026.

Owen Caissie had a great minor league season at Triple-A Iowa

After spending most of last season at Triple-A Iowa, in which he had another fantastic season, slashing .286/.386/.551 for an OPS of .937, Caissie has proven that he’s ready to be an everyday big leaguer. Caissie made his debut on August 14 in his home country of Canada and appeared in 12 games, where he hit .192 with an OPS of .568 and hit his first big league home run on August 19 against the Brewers.

Owen Caissie drives his first career homer the other way pic.twitter.com/Jiv9wKKTGg

— MLB (@MLB) August 19, 2025

Caissie was second on the Iowa Cubs in home runs (22), third in batting average, second in OPS, and fifth in RBI (55). He was also named the Player of the Week on July 6 and represented the Cubs in Futures Game ahead of the All-Star Game. 

Owen Caissie needs to be in the Chicago Cubs’ outfield plans for 2026

A corner outfielder by trade, Caissie would’ve been a candidate to break out of spring training with the Cubs if it weren’t for a groin injury and being blocked on the roster by Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki. However, with Tucker now a free agent and unlikely to return due to his market value, Caissie has the chance to split playing time in right field with Suzuki, who was the team’s primary designated hitter with Tucker playing 115 games in right.

Bringing a mixture of raw power and a strong arm, Caissie is a perfect piece to fill the void Tucker leaves behind, as he fits the Cubs’ mentality of defense and bat-to-ball skills. Having his bat in their lineup behind Ian Happ, Suzuki, Michael Busch, and Pete Crow-Armstrong could deepen the Cubs’ lineup and give them more of a spark.

Building around their young core is what the Cubs need to do, as it is what brought them their first World Series in 108 years in 2016, when they relied on players like Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, and Javier Báez; this is no different with Shaw, Horton, Caissie, and PCA being the new young core to bring another championship to Chicago.

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The Chicago Cubs have received a lot of acclaim over the last couple years for the strength of their farm system. At one point, some analysts ranked it among the very elite. One outlier analyst even ranked it no. 1.

Whatever the case, not too long ago, Chicago was regarded as an organization with an abundance of top prospects.

That’s not the case anymore. As a matter of fact, many experts now see the Cubs’ farm system as middle of the pack. A recent ranking from ESPN MLB insider Kiley McDaniel has the team moving towards the bottom tier with the no. 19 spot. In his preseason analysis, he ranked the farm system at no. 10.

From top-tier to middle-of-the-pack

McDaniel blames the downgrade on recent graduations from Triple-A and on a more sparse talent level below Triple-A. However, given the organization’s recent draftees, he does express a degree of hope for a next wave of high-end talent.

Per McDaniel:

“The Cubs graduated Matt Shaw and Cade Horton this year after Pete Crow-Armstrong, Michael Busch, Jordan Wicks, Ben Brown, and Daniel Palencia last season.

This current prospect crop is headlined by players who have already debuted (Moises Ballesteros, Owen Caissie, Kevin Alcantara) or are in the upper levels of the minors (Jefferson Rojas, Jaxon Wiggins, Jonathon Long, Brandon Birdsell). I liked their recent draft crop, led by RF Ethan Conrad, LF Josiah Hartshorn, CF Kane Kepley, and RHP Kaleb Wing, and think there’s enough talent at the lower levels to make a next wave of talent.”

Cuban draftee should help boost minors

Add Ronald Lazaro Mena to that lower-level wave of talent after the Cubs recently signed the 18-year-old Cuban standout pitcher to a six-figure deal as an international free agent. Acquiring the young talent this late in the year, so far beyond the January 15 international free agent draft and for such a comparatively large signing bonus, is regarded as a sign that the young hurler is at an advanced stage of development for his age (and that he may have had other big league teams vying for his signature). Scouts have noted that Mena is already touching 92 mph on his fastball.

The top-heavy Chicago Cubs farm system

It is true, however, that the Cubs’ minor league system is top-heavy when it comes to the distribution of its high-end prospects.

Horton, who was recently listed by Draft Kings as the betting favorite to win NL Rookie of the year honors, and Shaw graduated to the majors this year. Daniel Palencia moved from Triple-A to the majors as well. Owen Caissie is on the major league roster right now. Pete Crow-Armstrong, Michael Busch, and Ben Brown are not too far removed from being minor league assets.

Knocking on the door right now are Triple-A prospects Moises Ballesteros, Kevin Alcantara, Jonathon Long, Brandon Birdsell, James Triantos and Double-A pitcher Jaxon Wiggins. Many regard these prospects, to varying degrees, as already being major league-ready.

With so much major league talent (or near-major league talent) in their low-to-mid 20s, there’s really no dire urgency right now when it comes to the farm system. There is definitely time for the organization to restock and nurture younger talent. And it’s not like there is a total dearth of talent at the lower levels.

The Cubs’ tumble from the top-tier of the farm system rankings is more of a warning shot than a death blow, right now.

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The Chicago Cubs have had an interesting series north of the border, dropping the first game to the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1, but came back last night off a dominant pitching performance from Cade Horton and tied the series. Sadly for the Cubs, last night’s win came at a cost, with catcher Miguel Amaya getting carted off the field after awkwardly hitting first base attempting to beat out an infield hit.

The Cubs activated Amaya from the 60-day injured list before the start of the series after dealing with an oblique strain, but unfortunately will be returning to the injured list. Since Amaya will be going back on the IL, the Cubs decided to call up their top prospect, Owen Caissie, to take Amaya’s place and debut in his country.

Chicago Cubs top prospect, Owen Caissie, is batting fifth in his debut

Today is a special day for the 23-year-old native of Burlington, Canada, not only because it’s his first game in the show, but because it’s his first game debuting in front of his fellow countrymen. This moment is so special for Caissie that manager Craig Counsell decided to pencil Caissie into the fifth spot in the lineup, sandwiched between Carson Kelly and Nico Hoerner.

“Caissie Debut Day.”

Caissie Debut Day.

Watch the game live on the Marquee Sports Network App. pic.twitter.com/SDWSdfipcD

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 14, 2025

Caissie debuts after getting hot down on the farm

Caissie getting called up to the big leagues doesn’t come without merit, as he has checked off all the boxes that he needed to check off. Having one of the better seasons in his minor league career, Caissie has had the best season from a power perspective, having the highest slugging percentage of his career at .566, and tied his career high in home runs at 22 in only 93 games.

Caissie also had a great showing this summer, hitting .316 with an OPS of 1.040 in 22 games in June, improving to a .393 average and 1.107 OPS in nine games this month.

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The Chicago Cubs took an intriguing approach in the 2025 MLB Draft, selecting 16 college players across the 20 rounds. With a clear focus on pitching and high-upside talent, their strategy is already showing promise as six of their draft picks have landed on the organization’s first Top 30 prospects list released after the draft.

Six Chicago Cubs 2025 MLB Draft picks land in top 30 prospect list rankings

Entering the top 30 prospect list rankings, per MLB Pipeline, are each of the Cubs first six selections from the 2025 draft. Here are those players, where they are ranked, and what round they were selected in:

• No. 6: Ethan Conrad, OF (first round of Draft)
• No. 12: Kane Kepley, OF (second round of Draft)
• No. 13: Kaleb Wing, RHP (fourth round of Draft)
• No. 15: Josiah Hartshorn, OF (sixth round of Draft)
• No. 18: Dominick Reid, RHP (third round of Draft)
• No. 20: Kade Snell, OF (fifth round of Draft)

What are scouts saying about Ethan Conrad?

While all of the Cubs first six draft picks have great potential, first round picks seem to generate the most buzz, but also have the most expectations placed on them due to when they were selected. Here is MLB Pipeline’s write up of Ethan Conrad, the team’s first round pick in 2025.

Conrad slashed .389/.467/.704 with nine homers and a NCAA Division I-leading 13 triples (including a record four in one game) at Marist in 2024, then finished second in the Cape Cod League in batting (.385) and OPS (.919). After transferring to Wake Forest, he continued to rake this spring until injuring his throwing shoulder diving for a ball in March and having season-ending surgery a month later. He featured some of the best all-around ability in the college class and went 17th overall in the Draft, signing for a below-slot $3,563,100.

Conrad makes repeated contact with a simple left-handed swing and gap-to-gap approach. He’s an aggressive hitter who chases all types of pitches out of the zone, yet his uncanny hand-eye coordination helps him compensate. A physical 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, he has the strength and solid bat speed to provide at least average power, though there are some concerns that he doesn’t drive balls in the air to his pull side very often.

Conrad is a threat to steal and will flash some plus run times, but his speed plays more as solid. Though he spent most of his sophomore season at first base, he covers plenty of ground on the outfield corners and is capable in center field. He has average arm strength and probably fits best in right field.

 

Cubs sleeper pick left out of the top 30

After the draft concluded, the Cubs seventh round draft pick Pierce Coppola was labeled as a sleeper pick to watch. The left-handed pitcher struggled mightily with injuries while at Florida University, but when healthy the 6’8″ southpaw topped out at 96 MPH and struck out batters at a 15:51 K:9 clip throughout his collegiate career.

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The Chicago Cubs have their work cut out to shape their roster into a playoff-caliber team. The Major League Baseball Trade Deadline is slated to expire at 6 p.m. tomorrow, and the Cubs need a starter and a bat, which will cost them a pretty penny, with that being what most every contending team needs.

Acquiring a bat may be important for the Cubs, as they put their Gold Glove outfielder Ian Happ on the injured list after he fouled a ball off his shin. The Cubs made a couple of roster moves in the aftermath of Happ’s injury, which included calling up Moisés Ballesteros and DFAing one of their bench bats.

Chicago Cubs designate veteran utility man for assignment

The thought was that with Happ going on the injured list, the Cubs’ recalling Ballesteros signaled he was taking Happ’s spot on the roster, which wasn’t the case. Instead, the Cubs, via Marquee Sports Network, announced that they have designated 27-year-old utility man Vidal Bruján for assignment, who Ballesteros is replacing.

“The Cubs have designated Vidal Bruján for assignment.

Moisés Ballesteros has been recalled.”

The Cubs have designated Vidal Bruján for assignment.

Moisés Ballesteros has been recalled. pic.twitter.com/DYhv775vNq

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) July 30, 2025

Bruján was an expendable piece for the Cubs, as he showed he couldn’t hit again, and with the deadline looming, the Cubs could upgrade. In 36 games this season, Bruján hit .222/.234/.289 for an OPS and OPS+ of .523 51.

The Cubs can hold the line till Happ is back

Hopefully, this won’t be a long stint on the injured list for Happ, as they need his bat to be valuable in the lineup, even though manager Craig Counsell removed him from the leadoff spot. They will also need his defense in the outfield, with him, along with Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker, forming a great outfield.

The Trade Deadline should help stabilize things, as the Cubs are one of the contenders for the Arizona Diamondbacks’ third baseman/designated hitter Eugenio Suárez. In the meantime, the Cubs hopefully won’t be swept by the Milwaukee Brewers, who took the first two games of this series.

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The Chicago Cubs went heavy in the pitching department during the 2025 MLB Draft, with a lot of experienced college arms being selected. Of that group, 6’8 southpaw Pierce Coppola from Florida has been labeled by ESPN one sleeper pick to watch.

Pierce Coppola was drafted in the seventh round by the Chicago Cubs

Back and shoulder injuries severely limited Coppola’s playing time in college, amassing just 49.1 career innings over three seasons at Florida. In 2025, he made seven starts, tossed 21.1 innings, struck out 43, and had a 2.53 ERA. He is leaving Florida averaging 15.51 K:9, the highest in program history.

Cubs take an upside play on Pierce Coppola, LHP from Florida. He is eligible a second year. Coppola is a massive (6’8”) and projectable lefty who has dealt with injuries. In a very small sample this season he had a 37% K-BB%. That’s frankly hilariouspic.twitter.com/HFcAq9KE2J

— Greg Zumach (@IvyFutures) July 14, 2025

What makes Pierce Coppola a sleeper pick?

Coppola’s injury history makes him a bit of a wild card, but while raw, the tools are there for him to be an impact pitcher. His fastball reaches 96 MPH and with his height he generates a ton of extension. His secondary pitches are still a work in progress, but his slider grades out as a plus pitch. If Coppola can become an effective two-pitch pitcher, he could find a path to a big league bullpen.

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The Chicago Cubs had some of their top players get promoted from MLB’s top 100 prospect lists after accruing a certain amount of service time in the major leagues. The Cubs maintain a few of their prospects on MLB’s top 100 prospects list, who were there before the season started, and who will also receive promotions once they reach that level of service time.

The Cubs will have another of their top prospects join them on MLB’s list, with right-hander Jaxon Wiggins entering the fold with the promotion of a former top 100 prospect of the Seattle Mariners.

The Chicago Cubs have another top prospect join the top 100 list

Jaxon Wiggins is the Cubs’ eighth-best prospect and has become the 100th-best prospect in all of baseball after former prospect Cole Young of the Mariners graduated from the list.

“RHP Jaxon Wiggins joins the Top 100 Prospects list upon Cole Young’s graduation.

More on the #Cubs hurler whose 65-grade fastball has led to a 2.09 ERA and 11 K/9 rate this season”

RHP Jaxon Wiggins joins the Top 100 Prospects list upon Cole Young's graduation.

More on the #Cubs hurler whose 65-grade fastball has led to a 2.09 ERA and 11 K/9 rate this season: https://t.co/ELVlWLOwkz pic.twitter.com/VKpb5Q35Is

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 16, 2025

Wiggins, a former second-round pick in the 2023 draft, has been performing great this season, with strong outings in two levels of the Cubs’ minor league system. Wiggins, in 12 starts, has a 3-2 record with a 2.09 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 60.1 innings. In seven starts with the Smokies, Wiggins has remained undefeated and has pitched to a 2.38 ERA.

The Cubs could trade Wiggins at the Trade Deadline

It is clear that the Cubs are making a push for the postseason, and they will need to add the right pieces at the deadline if they’re to win their first playoff game since 2017. Having the farm system to get a deal done, Wiggins could be one of the players the Cubs use in a trade to bring back a top-tier starter, who is also under team control.

The Cubs have a good rotation brewing, but they require an Ace to fill out their rotation and be the right-hand man to Shota Imanaga. Wiggins can help get a deal like that done now that he’s entered the top 100 prospects list, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he’s traded at or before the deadline.

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Tonight is the Major League Baseball Draft, and the Chicago Cubs hold the 17th pick, which they hope will change their future and add to the success they’re seeing.

The Cubs entered this draft needing pitching, which is the weakest part of their farm system, with not too many top arms outside Cade Horton, who is already in the big leagues. Instead of taking either a high school or a college arm to develop for the future, the Cubs selected an interesting player, which could signal a future move for the trade deadline.

The Chicago Cubs make an interesting choice with the 17th pick

The Cubs went the opposite direction from selecting a pitcher with their pick in their year’s draft, instead choosing to go with a college bat and selecting outfielder Ethan Conrad, a 21-year-old from Wake Forest University with the 17th pick. Conrad hails from Rhinebeck, New York, and also went to Marist College.

“The #Cubs tonight selected OF Ethan Conrad of @WakeBaseball with the 17th overall pick in the 2025 #MLBDraft.”

The #Cubs tonight selected OF Ethan Conrad of @WakeBaseball with the 17th overall pick in the 2025 #MLBDraft. pic.twitter.com/eA72JFCjCJ

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 13, 2025

Conrad’s best grade, according to MLB.com, is his speed, at 55/80, with the rest grading at 50/80. In 21 games at Wake Forest, Conrad hit .372/.495/.744 for an OPS of 1.238. Conrad also managed to walk more than he struck out, walking 18 times and striking out 14 times in 78 at-bats (97 plate appearances).

In his career in college, Conrad is a 2x MAAC Rookie of the Week, 2024 MAAC All-Championship Team, 2024 All MAAC First Team, 2024 All-ECAC Team, 2024 MAAC Triples Single-Season Record, and made the 2023 All-MAAC Rookie Team.

The picking of Conrad could signal a future move down the road

The Cubs selecting Conrad at 17 could signal the end of the road for someone like Owen Caissie, who has been the subject of trade rumors. The Cubs need a top-of-the-line starter, and with Caissie swinging a hot bat and the Cubs selecting Conrad, that could signal that a trade is incoming.

Conrad has a long road ahead of him to prove that he’s not just an average player, but his journey all starts tonight with getting selected by the Cubs!

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The Chicago Cubs will select 17th overall in this year’s 2025 MLB Draft. Sunday, July 13 marks the start of the first round and there will be lots of talented players available when the Cubs turn comes around. Here, we take a look at three potential first round options.

Three potential first round options for the Chicago Cubs in the 2025 MLB Draft

• OF Brendan Summerhill

In Jonathan Mayo’s final mock draft, he had the Cubs selecting the Arizona Wildcats outfielder Brendan Summerhill in the first round. The 6’3″ left-handed hitter is one of the best at making contact in this year’s draft, evidenced by striking out just 24 times this year while walking on 36 occasions. Summerhill also slashed .343/.459/.556 over 44 games, with gap power being more prevalent than home runs.

• SS Marek Houston

Wake Forest shortstop Marek Houston is MLB.com’s 15th ranked prospect, but if he is still available when Chicago is up to draft they should not pass him up. This year the 6’3″ righty had more home runs (15) than doubles (14), but overall finished with a 1.055 OPS. Houston also has a 60-grade fielding rating, with the ability to stick at shortstop long term.

• RHP Gage Wood

University of Arkansas pitcher Gage Wood turned heads during the College World Series this year when during an elimination game he pitched a no-hitter with 19 strikeouts.  2025 was Wood’s only year as a starter, as he initially worked as a closer his freshman year and a long reliever as a sophomore. His fastball is one of the best in the draft, topping out at 98 MPH and consistently sitting 94-96 MPH.

The Cubs last four first round picks have all made impacts at the MLB level in 2025. Jordan Wicks was their selection in 2021, Cade Horton in 2022, Matt Shaw in 2023, and Cam Smith in 2024. It will be interesting to see who they take in this year’s draft.

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The Chicago Cubs wrapped up their three-game series with the Minnesota Twins, where they dropped two of three games but salvaged the last game off a spectacular performance from Pete Crow-Armstrong. Crow-Armstrong continued to make his case to be the National League’s MVP by hitting two home runs to get him to the 25/25 mark on the season.

PCA and the rest of the Cubs’ offense have gotten them this far, but they add to their pitching staff at the deadline to take that next step. The Cubs have the farm system to acquire a top-of-the-rotation arm and under team control, but it may cost one of their prospects who is having a great July.

Chicago Cubs’ top prospect is having a power surge

Since Matt Shaw and Cade Horton graduated from the prospect list, their top spot went to 23-year-old outfielder Owen Caissie, who is having a very productive season. Caissie, who hails from Canada, is having a great season, hitting .278/.386/.575 for an OPS of .961.

Caissie is known for his power, which grades out at 60/80, and has led to him having 19 home runs on the season. Caissie’s power has been on full display this month, as he homered for the seventh time last night in eight games in July for the Iowa Cubs. Last night’s homer was also Caissie’s third in three games.

“If you make a mistake to this guy, he’s gonna do that to it!”

Owen Caissie (@Cubs) tees off AGAIN, giving him 7 homers in 8 July contests for the Triple-A @IowaCubs“

Caissie will be a valuable trade piece

Caissie finding his swing at the plate couldn’t have come at a better time, as it will only increase his value. The Cubs have a deep outfield, and if they are to sign Tucker to an extension, there will be no room for Caissie on the big league roster.

If the Cubs are serious about winning a World Series, then trading away someone like Caissie for a controllable top-of-the-rotation arm is what they need to do. The Trade Deadline is only a few weeks away now, and Jed Hoyer will have his work cut out for him if he’s to outbid other teams.

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The MLB Trade Deadline is now a little over four weeks away, and the Chicago Cubs should be one of the more aggressive teams to acquire the talent to push them over the edge. The Cubs’ most pressing need is a starting pitcher, but they have also indicated they could add a bat.

The Cubs have inquired about the Miami Marlins’ top two arms, Sandy Alcántara and Edward Cabrera, who, if they could add one or both, would bolster the starting rotation. The bullpen started the season off shaky, but has been one of the better aspects of the team as of late, with Daniel Palencia, Porter Hodge, and Ryan Pressly looking like solid late-inning options out of the pen.

With the Cubs already inquiring about arms and getting things in motion to outbid other teams, one ex-MLB executive thinks the Cubs will win the Trade Deadline in the National League Central.

Former MLB executive believes the Cubs will win the Trade Deadline in the NL Central

President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer and general manager Carter Hawkins’ contracts expire after this season, and they need a great Trade Deadline to get them into the postseason and to justify renewing their contracts. There could potentially be more sellers at the deadline as more teams drop out of contention, giving Hoyer and Hawkins options to get the deal they want.

Former MLB executive Jim Bowden, who was the Senior VP and general manager of the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, said on a recent appearance on the popular baseball YouTube show, Foul Territory, that he thinks the Cubs will win the Trade Deadline for the Central, with his sources in the industry, saying Hoyer and Hawkins are “all-in.” Bowden also adds that the Cubs are willing to part with top outfield prospect Owen Caissie to get a deal done.

“The Cubs are going to win the trade deadline in the NL Central, says @JimBowdenGM.

“As I talk to people in the industry, they’re all-in.”

The Cubs are going to win the trade deadline in the NL Central, says @JimBowdenGM.

"As I talk to people in the industry, they're all-in." pic.twitter.com/h7cfaGTWJw

— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) June 30, 2025

The Cubs need to go all-in if they’re to have a shot at winning

The Cubs have not made the playoffs for five seasons, with 2020 being the last season they made it, and 2017 being the last time they won a playoff game. Acquiring Kyle Tucker in the offseason was the first indication that the Cubs were making this season about getting into the playoffs, and adding another big name to better the roster should help get the fan base more excited than they are.

If the Cubs want to have any hope of re-signing Tucker past this season, they need to show Tucker they’re willing to go all-in to win it all.

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The Chicago Cubs could have a few players take home a few accolades this season, which could also culminate in the team making the playoffs for the first time in five seasons. The Cubs’ top player this season has not been Kyle Tucker, who most would’ve assumed would be leading the team to success, but Pete Crow-Armstrong, who is on pace to win the National League MVP award.

Crow-Armstrong and Tucker are also the leading vote-getters in the National League to start in centerfield and rightfield for the All-Star game. Other players on the roster, such as Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki, have also done well this season helping to produce runs alongside PCA and Tucker.

The one player the Cubs had high hopes for was Matt Shaw, who, for the most part, has not lived up to the hype and has struggled this season. Even though Shaw has struggled and has taken his licks as a rookie playing on a team vying for a spot in the playoffs, he could turn things around in the second half, which could help his case to win a prestigious award.

Matt Shaw ranks highly in the latest poll for rookies in the National League

The National League has a few talented rookies making names for themselves, with a few being the top candidates to win the NL Rookie of the Year. In the latest poll by Major League Baseball, Shaw has emerged as the fifth-best rookie in the NL behind players like Hyeseong Kim of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who ranks second, and Drake Baldwin of the Atlanta Braves, who came out on top.

“Drake Baldwin emerges as the new No. 1 in the latest NL Rookie of the Year Poll”

Drake Baldwin emerges as the new No. 1 in the latest NL Rookie of the Year Poll pic.twitter.com/yLJChyQT16

— MLB (@MLB) June 18, 2025

Baldwin is having a great rookie season for the Braves, hitting .285/.333/.467 for an OPS of .800 in 47 games. Kim has also done well in his first season since deciding to come over from the KBO. In 17 fewer games than Baldwin (30), Kim has hit .382/.425/.544 for an OPS of .969.

Shaw will have his work cut out to dethrone Baldwin and Kim from the top two spots, as he’s only hit .230/.301/.331 for an OPS of .632 in 43 games. Shaw’s struggles this season even had him take a trip back down to Iowa to fix and adjust his swing.

The Chicago Cubs will need a strong second half from Shaw

If Shaw wants to have any chance to win the NL Rookie of the Year award, he will need to have a strong second half, and for Baldwin and Kim to go cold. Shaw has the talent to turn things around and work through these struggles, but just letting him play through it is the only way he can fix things.

Shaw shouldn’t be any more trips down to Iowa this season, and hopefully, this runway the Cubs are giving him to play every day can net him that ROTY award.

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The Chicago Cubs have been firing on all cylinders this season, and it’s all thanks to their offense and the top-of-the-order getting the job done. Players like Pete Crow-Armstrong have been playing to an MVP level and Pete has been the main driver of this Cubs offense.

PCA is the Cub’s leader in home runs (15), stolen bases (16), and hits (62) while being one RBI behind Seiya Suzuki (51) for the team lead. Other guys like Kyle Tucker, Ian Happ, and Nico Hoerner have been the players they normally are, putting up their career numbers, and other guys like Carson Kelly have been better than advertised.

Then there’s first baseman Michael Busch, who is having a respectable season but is not quite living up to the expectations that were set for him coming into this season.

Michael Busch has not met expectations this season

Busch (27) enters his third season in Major League Baseball. The front office set high expectations for him this season, with President of Baseball Ops Jed Hoyer stating that Busch could be a Gold Glover at first base. So far, through 53 games, Busch has shown to be an average player at the plate and a slightly above-average defender over at first.

Overall, Busch is hitting .253/.350/.448 with an OPS and OPS+ of .798 and 127 and adds seven home runs, 11 doubles, and 29 RBIs to his stat line. Busch did get off to a hot start through the Cubs’ first couple of games in March and carried that over into a strong April, hitting .270/.365/.554 for an OPS of .919 in 22 games during the month.

Busch’s strong start didn’t carry over into May, as he hit .234/.330/.390 for an OPS of .720 through 25 games. He also hasn’t shown the ability to hit left-handed pitching, hitting .130 and slugging .174 for an OPS of .433 in 20 games (23 at-bats) against lefties.

Busch’s Baseball Savant page shows that he has been average, with his highest ranking coming with his sweet-spot percentage ranking in the 88th percentile at 40.%. For his defensive metrics, his Savant page has him with a -2 (23rd percentile) for his Range (OAA), but Baseball Reference has a positive 3 for defensive runs saved.

Having such high expectations coming into a pivotal year for the young first baseman could be why Busch isn’t putting up the numbers that he was expected to put up. Having players like PCA, Happ, Tucker, and Suzuki, who are having above-average seasons and hit in front of him, should help Busch do better by getting him into fastball counts and coming up with men on base.

Players waiting in the wings for the Chicago Cubs at first base

The Cubs have some insurance waiting in the wings if Busch isn’t the long-term solution at first base. The Cubs have a few prospects down on the farm who could be possible replacements, with 23-year-old Jonathon Long leading the pack.

Long is the Cubs 13th ranked prospect and does not appear on MLB’s top 100 prospects list. Long is considered an under-the-radar prospect, and he has quietly put up great numbers down at Triple-A.

Overall through 50 games with the Iowa Cubs, Long is hitting .352/.420/.560 for an OPS of .980, and his .352 average is good enough for second in the International League, four points behind the New York Yankees prospect Jesus Rodriguez, who is hitting .356. Long could be a potential option for the Cubs to either call up and use as a platoon with Busch or be possible trade bait, given how well he is doing.

Whatever the rest of the season brings, if Long continues his hot streak at the plate, he will force the Cubs to give him a look at the big league level.

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The Chicago Cubs currently have an incredible group of outfielders at the big league level. Kyle Tucker is a well known star, Pete Crow-Armstrong is putting together a MVP type of season, Ian Happ has continued to be solid, and Seiya Suzuki, who has been primarily a designated hitter this year, is having a breakout offensive season.

In the minor leagues, the Cubs have some outfielders doing great things as well.  Here we take a look at how some of their top outfield prospects are performing so far this season.

Checking in on some of the Chicago Cubs top outfield prospects

• Kevin Alcantara 

Nicknamed “The Jaguar”, Alcantara came to the Chicago Cubs as a part of the Anthony Rizzo deal. He made his MLB debut a season ago, but has spent all of 2025 in the minor leagues. His numbers are down from normal so far this year, evidenced by a .239/.328/.396 slash line, but he is continuing to make hard contact. However, strikeouts continue to be a concern for him, as this year he has struck out 31.8% of the time.

• Owen Caissie 

Caissie came to Chicago as a part of the Yu Darvish deal and he is yet to make his MLB debut. The 22 year old outfielder also has strikeout concerns, with a 32.4% k rate clouding his .237/.343/.462 slash line this year.

• Christian Franklin

Franklin, Chicago’s fourth round pick in the 2021 MLB draft, currently owns a .802 OPS through 43 games in Triple-A. The 25 year old has hit 12 doubles already, which puts him just three away from tying his career best in a single season. He is continuing to show an advanced approach at the plate, resulting in a walk rate of 17.3% and an on-base percentage of .389. The uptick in gap power this year has been his most notable improvement this year.

• Brett Bateman 

Formerly an eighth round pick out of the University of Minnesota in the 2023 MLB draft, Bateman has continued to play to his strengths as a professional baseball player. He excels at making contact and using his speed. During his first full professional season, he had 71 walks to 86 strikeouts with 30 stolen bases. This year, in Double-A, he is on a similar path with 15 walks to 22 strikeouts and eight stolen bases.

There is a lot to be excited about with this group of outfield prospects, but there are areas where they need to improve upon. With the Cubs MLB outfield group performing above all expectations, their development in the minor leagues will be worth monitoring as we move through the summer.

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The Chicago Cubs survived one of the most challenging schedules in Major League Baseball. They faced some of the best the National League had to offer and had the Texas Rangers sprinkled in for good measure. During their 20-game span of running the gauntlet, the Cubs did better than expected by going 12-8 and 4-1 against the Los Angeles Dodgers and outscoring them 38 to 18.

Thankfully, that’s all done as the Cubs move on to play the Pittsburgh Pirates and have one of the easier schedules left to play. The Cubs offense is firing on all cylinders, while their pitching staff is holding their own since the injury to Justin Steele.

The Cubs have so many players clicking offensively that it’s causing a ripple effect down in the minor leagues with their Triple-A squad replicating exactly how the Cubs are winning ballgames. One of those players who is going off down at Iowa is Moisés Ballesteros, who is proving he’s getting more deserving of a call-up to the show.

Ballesteros is proving he needs to get called up to the Chicago Cubs

Ballesteros is the Cub’s fourth-ranked prospect while MLB has him as the 65th-best prospect in all of baseball. The Cubs invited Ballesteros to spring training, where he played in a few games and showed he was ready to join the big league club out of camp. Sadly, that didn’t happen, as the Cubs had Miguel Amaya and Carson Kelly as their two backstops to start the year.

Since being assigned to Iowa, Ballesteros hasn’t missed a beat, as he’s the hottest hitter in the Iowa Cubs lineup. So far this season, the 21-year-old Ballesteros is riding a 14-game hitting streak, and ranks first in the International League in hits (36) and average (.414).

14 straight reasons to watch Moises Ballesteros
#iowacubs #milb #onlyindesmoines #IOWAAA #baseball pic.twitter.com/u6ueKvjAkA

— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) April 29, 2025

Ballesteros’s 14-game hitting streak is the longest by an Iowa Cub since Pete Crow-Armstrong did it in August of 2023. To add to his gaudy numbers, Ballesteros has a base of .475 and a slugging percentage of .586 for an OPS of 1.061.

Why the Cubs should call up Ballesteros?

This hot start for Ballesteros this season is just a continuation of his dominance last season, where at Double and Triple-A combined he hit .289/.354/.471 for an OPS of .825 in 124 games. Ballesteros is showing growth at the plate, so much so that he is forcing the Cubs to call him up to the show.

The only issue with that is there is no position for him to play at, as both Kelly and Amaya are off to strong starts at catcher, and Micheal Busch is having an All-Star type of season over at first base, which is Ballesteros secondary position. The designated hitter spot is a no-go, as Seiya Suzuki occupies that role and is also playing like an All-Star this season.

The only option Ballesteros has to make the big league roster will be when Kelly becomes a free agent. However, that won’t be until after next year since he signed a two-year deal with the Cubs this offseason.

Potential trade bait

The Cubs have a few areas of need on the big league roster, and one area where they need the most help is with their starting pitching. The Cubs lack an Ace, and with Steele missing the rest of this season they must trade for one to win the division and make the playoffs.

The top two starters available at the trade deadline this year will be the Miami Marlins’ Sandy Alcántara and the Minnesota Twins’ Pablo López, both of whom would give the Cubs the Ace they need to make the playoffs.

If the Cubs can’t find a spot for Ballesteros with the big league club or move someone to create a space for him, the Cubs could look to include him in a trade for Alcántara or López, who will cost a premium price.

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The Chicago Cubs will welcome the Los Angeles Dodgers to the confines of Wrigley Field for the Dodger’s only time in Chicago and this will be the last time the Cubs and Dodgers play each other this season. The Cubs will be sending their Ace Shota Imanaga to the mound, who has been amazing this season and could be in the running for the Cy Young when it’s all said and done.

Given Justin Steele’s recent injury, Imanaga will be counted on more than ever to take down as many innings as possible. The Cubs have been utilizing Colin Rea to eat some of Steele’s innings, and he has done well in his last two starts for the Cubs. Overall, he has a 1.32 ERA for the season.

Since Rea was moved to the rotation, the Cubs added more pitching depth by trading for left-hander Drew Pomeranz of the Seattle Mariners, who will give them another left-handed option for their bullpen. Outside of the pitching staff, the Cubs have seen their lineup be successful and stay healthy to begin the year, with Kyle Tucker leading the pact, as he looks like he’s already in MVP form.

Outside of Tucker, the Cubs have seen contributors from even guys on the bench who are showing up where it matters, which is the late innings. One Cubs bench bats, Gage Workman, has been better than expected and could be an even better offense player once he turns on the power.

The Chicago Cubs Rule 5 Draft pick

Workman has been one of the under-the-radar bats for the Cubs this season, with Tucker and Carson Kelly stealing the headlines with their hot months of April. The Cubs plucked Workman from the Detroit Tigers organization with their pick in the Rule 5 Draft this past offseason, and he’s looked like a great selection for Jed Hoyer and the Cubs scouting department.

The 25-year-old Workman is ranked as the Cub’s 29th overall prospect and is known for his fielding, having grades of 60/80 for his arm strength and 65/80 for his overall fielding ability. Workman is not known for his ability to put the ball in play but has big-time power, which is why the Cubs selected him with their pick, given they needed a power-hitting lefty off their bench.

Workman has looked better than advertised to start the year

Oddly enough, Workman has hit for average instead of power, as he hasn’t hit a home run yet in his eight games played. Overall, Workman is hitting .273/.333/.364 for an OPS of .697.

Workman has also shown up where it matters, which is in the clutch, and is hitting .333 in three at-bats between the eighth and ninth innings. Workman could see more opportunities in the later innings, as his playing time has increased since Matt Shaw was optioned to Triple-A.

If Workman starts turning on his power and continues to hit for average, he could be one of the better Rule 5 picks for the Cubs and be one of the key pieces that help them compete for a spot in the postseason.

A great find for the Cubs

If Workman can continue his success, it could help Hoyer’s case to keep his job, as his contract is up after this season. More moves will have to be made to build a World Series team but having Workman on the roster is a great foundation to start with.

It’s moves like scouting and finding a player like Workman to help a team fill out the edges of their roster and become a viable playoff team. It’s still the beginning of the season, but if Workman can continue his run of being at the very minimum a great defensive player off the bench and become that power bat the Cubs need, then the Cubs could go a long way.

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The Chicago Cubs need starting pitching help after losing left-hander Justin Steele for the rest of the season as he recovers from Tommy John surgery to repair his left elbow. The Cubs could also use relief help to aid the defense, as the team boasts one of the best offenses in the league through the first month.

At 14-10, the Cubs have a one-game lead on the Milwaukee Brewers. Chicago has amassed a surprising record given their tough competition in March in April. With the Cubs’ schedule looking much easier in May, the team’s prospects look good for winning the NL Central.

The Chicago Cubs might have to trade a promising outfielder

Bruce Levine of 670 The Score is reporting that the Cubs front office is exploring options to trade for a starting pitcher and a relief pitcher this spring. Levine thinks the Cubs would have to part with outfielder Owen Caissie to land a starting pitcher like Sandy Alcantara from the Miami Marlins.

“If the Cubs were to make a deal for Alcantara at this time of the season, the price would be really steep and likely include outfielder Owen Caissie heading to the Marlins, among others,” Lavine wrote. “The Cubs have the prospect capital to pay a high price, a dynamic that’s helped by the fact that first baseman Michael Busch, catcher Miguel Amaya and center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong are all key contributors to the big league club now and are under contract control through at least 2029.

“Other names to keep an eye on as summer approaches are Twins right-hander Pablo Lopez, Cardinals right-hander Sonny Gray and Cardinals right-hander Erick Fedde.”

Owen Caissie has been a solid player in Triple-A

Caissie was drafted by the San Diego Padres with the No. 45 pick in the 2020 draft. The promising prospect bats as a lefty and throws right-handed. The native of Burlington, Ontario, came to Chicago in a trade that sent pitcher Yu Darvish and catcher Victor Caratini to the Padres.

The Cubs optioned Caissie to Iowa to begin 2025. He hit .278/.375/.473 with 19 home runs and 75 RBI in 127 games with Iowa in 2024.

Levine thinks the Cubs could go after Athletics closer Mason Miller for help in the reliever trade market, but that would be an expensive acquisition.

“The most dominant young closer in the game is Athletics right-hander Mason Miller, who has struck out 13.3 batters per nine innings in his MLB career, which is now in its third season,” Levine wrote. “His command is outstanding, as evidenced by his 0.57 WHIP this season. The Athletics would demand a boatload of talent in a trade of Miller.”

These are the types of moves teams make if they’re all-in on a season. Given that the Cubs are the darling of sportsbooks to win the World Series in 2025, Chicago might make an aggressive move soon to land pitching help to complement their hot bats.

For More Chicago Sports:

Follow me on Twitter at @JordanSig, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Jordan Sigler via email at jordanmsigler@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks.

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The Chicago Cubs have one of the best Triple-A teams in the minor leagues, as most of their top prospects are there trying to prove themselves worthy of a call-up. The Iowa Cubs are getting the Cub’s top prospect, Matt Shaw, who was optioned after a slow start.

Shaw will join prospects like Cade Horton, Moisés Ballesteros, and Kevin Alcántara, to name a few, who are all off to hit starts. Horton was impressive in his most recent start, where he added six more strikeouts to his total.

Ballesteros was the Cub’s standout star in their win over the St. Paul Saints, who they demolished. Ballesteros is swinging a hot bat and is forcing the issue and will test the theory of “if your bat can play then they’ll find a spot for you”.

Ballesteros standout performance

The Cubs gave a shellacking to the Saints, defeating the Saints by a score of 20-6 and hitting

eight home runs in the game, which was a franchise record. The more impressive feature of the game was the Cubshad 24 total hits, which was six times more than the Saints, who had four.

“I think we won?”

I think we won? pic.twitter.com/xcqzx06hxL

— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) April 16, 2025

The Player of the Game for the Cubs, without question, was Ballesteros, who displayed his power at the plate. In the Cub’s dominant victory, he went 4-5 (.800), hitting a double, two home runs, driving in three RBI, and a walk.

“Moises Ballesteros had himself a day and takes our PLAYER OF THE GAME!”

Moises Ballesteros had himself a day and takes our PLAYER OF THE GAME! pic.twitter.com/DP8QR8ZtDN

— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) April 16, 2025

Ballesteros is the Cub’s top-catching prospect, and since he’s swinging a hot bat, he is forcing the Cubs to call him up, as his bat is ready for the big leagues. Ballesteros doesn’t have a spot as Miguel Amaya and Carson Kelly are doing well behind the dish and at the plate.

The Chicago Cubs may need to call up Ballesteros

Ballesteros overall for the Triple-A season is hitting out of his mind, slashing .368/.419/.579 for an OPS of .998 in 14 games. Ballesteros has been a doubles machine so far as he has four in 57 at-bats and added a triple and two home runs to his credit, which he hit in the win over the Saints.

The Cubs have been doing great offensively, but adding another bat couldn’t hurt, as they could score as many runs as they can to help their depleted starting staff out. Ballesteros does have the positional flexibility to play first base, but since Michael Busch is off to a hot start as well, he is blocked at that position.

Unless there’s an injury to either Amaya, Kelly, or Seiya Suzuki, the team’s designated hitter, Ballesteros will have to wait down in the minors for his opportunity. However, if his offensive rampage continues, a spot will be made available for him. The Iowa Cubs will again play the Saints today, and have three more games left in the series.  

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The Chicago Cubs are riding on a high after last night’s win against the San Diego Padres, where it took them ten innings to complete their 2-1 victory and take two games to one in the series.

The good news of another Cubs win comes with a heavy price, as the Cubs’ top prospect and starting third baseman Matt Shaw is being sent down to Triple-A after getting off to a slow start.

Fans are rightfully worried and speculate that the worst-case scenario has happened and that’s Shaw could be a bust, but that can’t be farther from the truth, as this is common and happens to rookies all the time.

Shaw’s struggles to start the season

Shaw being sent down to Triple-A is nothing to fear and is not out of the ordinary. Rookies always struggle in their first season and Shaw, even though he is a top prospect in baseball, is no exception.

Shaw’s fellow rookie on the Washington Nationals, Dylan Crews, has also seen his fair share of struggles to start the season, so that should give some fans and Shaw some relief.

In 18 games this season, Shaw has hit under .200 with a slash line of .172/.294/.241 with an OPS and OPS+ of .535 and 58.

Shaw’s struggles haven’t just been on the offensive side and carried over to his defense. He has committed four errors at third base in 23 attempts (141.0 innings), which leads Major League Baseball.

Chicago Cubs fans need to pump the breaks on their fears

President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer spoke to the media about Shaw’s demotion and said he felt comfortable making the decision, given the Cub’s track record of sending their highly taunted prospects down and having them be successful when they come back up.

The Cubs in their recent history have sent down Ian Happ, Kyle Schwarber, Anthony Rizzo, and Javy Báez at one point and all came back to be successful and have successful MLB Careers.

“We look at Schwarber, Happ, Rizzo, Javy, all of those guys have gone back at some point. This is part of it.”

Jed Hoyer on the decision to send Matt Shaw to Triple-A Iowa.”

“We look at Schwarber, Happ, Rizzo, Javy, all of those guys have gone back at some point. This is part of it.”

Jed Hoyer on the decision to send Matt Shaw to Triple-A Iowa. pic.twitter.com/qQimSFdJL6

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) April 16, 2025

This track record should give fans hope that Hoyer and the Cubs know what they’re doing, and Shaw should come back better than ever.

Shaw isn’t long for the minors

Shaw shouldn’t be down in the minors for too long and could be back up in the big leagues by June if he figures out how to hit big-league pitching.

One issue Shaw has is his high leg kick when he swings the bat. Shaw has an extremely closed stance and his high leg kick will affect his ability to hit breaking balls with high spin rates and fastballs up in the zone with velocity.

While down with Iowa Shaw could look to cut down his leg cut a little to better his timing.

Hopefully, Shaw can figure things out and get back up to Wrigley to help the Cubs make their push to the playoffs.

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The Chicago Cubs received terrible news that one of their top left-handers, Justin Steele, will miss the rest of this season due to an elbow injury and require surgery.

The Cubs are playing great baseball, and not having Steele be an anchor in their rotation will hurt dearly, as the Cubs will have to find production elsewhere.

Thankfully the Cubs have a few internal options they can turn to, which should hold them over if they decide to trade for another starter at the trade deadline.

The most immediate option for the Chicago Cubs’ starting rotation

The Cubs have at least three options to choose to replace Steele in the rotation, even though the guys replacing Steele won’t provide the same level of production Steele would bring.

The first and most immediate option the Cubs have is right-hander Colin Rea. Rea was signed this off-season for something like this and could slide into the rotation for a few starts.

Rea has appeared in three games this season and has not allowed a run in any of his outings. His longest outing came against the Athletics in Sacramento, throwing 3.0 innings in a mop-up role.

For his career, Rea has made 76 career starts and a career ERA of 4.52. Rea will take the mound tonight for the Cubs when they play the Los Angeles Dodgers for the last game of the series.

A sign of one of the Cub’s top pitching prospects could get the call

Another option the Cubs have is promoting their top pitching prospect, Cade Horton.

Horton was a non-roster invite to spring training and pitched in three innings, with a 3.00 ERA in two games.

Horton is the Cub’s second-ranked prospect and is off to a hot start at Iowa, where he has a 1.23 ERA in 7.1 innings.

The 23-year-old Horton would’ve debuted last season if it hadn’t been for an injury that caused him to miss his whole season. The injury to Steele could provide an opening for Horton to get a chance to make his big league debut, as the Cubs could use another right-hander in their rotation.

One right-hander is working his way back

The last and most likely option to fill in for Steele will be right-hander Javier Assad.

Assad has been dealing with an oblique strain since the start of spring training and has been slowly progressing back to throwing in game situations.

The latest injury update on Assad is he pitched three innings out in Arizona on April 9th and will begin his rehab assignment with the Iowa Cubs on April 15th.

Assad beginning a rehab assignment is good news for the Cubs as it will give them another pitcher for their depth, but an experienced right-hander to plug into the rotation.

Assad made 29 starts for the Cubs last season, pitching to a 7-6 record and a 3.73 ERA in 147.0 innings.

The need for innings

Steele going down means one less arm to tackle taking down innings for this season, and will have to be found elsewhere from other guys.

These three provide good internal options, but the Cubs may not hesitate to make a move to get a high-level arm as the trade deadline gets closer.

Given they’re trying to make the playoffs for the first time in five seasons, that could be a possibility.

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The Chicago Cubs will again look to bounce back tonight after the offense went cold, losing 8-1 against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Friday’s game.

The Cubs scored ten runs on the Diamondbacks in the first game of the season, so hopefully, the offense can wake back up and pull out a win tonight for Shota Imanaga.

The Cubs will shake up the starting lineup with two main pieces getting the night off.

Chicago Cubs change up their lineup for tonight’s game

The Cubs will give second baseman Nico Hoerner and third baseman Matt Shaw the night off, as manager Craig Counsell will give Jon Berti the start at second and Gage Workman the start at third.

Sho Time in the desert.

Watch the game live on the Marquee Sports Network App. pic.twitter.com/IWuXV7442e

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 29, 2025

Workman will be making his Major League debut tonight after making the jump from Double-A to the Major Leagues.

An opportunity for Workman

Workman came from the Detroit Tigers organization when the Cubs plucked him in the Rule 5 Pick this off-season.

By rule, since Workman was a Rule 5 pick, he must stay on the Cubs roster for the whole season or be returned to the Tigers. Workman made the decision easy for the Cubs to keep him after he had a fantastic spring.

Workman had plenty of opportunities this spring to showcase his talent, playing in 20 of the Cub’s spring games where he tore the cover off the ball. In those 20 games, the 25-year-old Workman had a slash line of .364/.420/.705 for an OPS of 1.125.

Workman also displayed his power, hitting four long balls and tallying 15 RBI. Workman didn’t appear in either of the two games the Cubs played over in Japan against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but did travel with the team to Japan.  

Manager Craig Counsell is putting Workman in a good position by hitting him eighth. Batting him there should have Workman see more fastballs, which he could turn on and drive over the fence.

Is a possible platoon situation coming at third base?

If Workman shows signs of having success, the Cubs could look to go into a platoon situation for third base.

Shaw isn’t off to a great start this spring, hitting .118/.167/.118 for an OPS of .284 to start the year, but he still could get more runway to figure things out.

For now, Workman will be the guy manning third and will face Diamondbacks right-hander Brandon Pfaadt, who recently signed a five-year $45 million extension with the Diamondbacks.

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The Chicago Cubs’ most valuable acquisition this offseason was trading for outfielder Kyle Tucker of the Houston Astros to give them a legitimate star in their lineup.

Tucker, a 3x All-Star and a Gold Glover will add thump to a Cubs lineup that lacked power and bring a winning mentality to the Cubs clubhouse.

The Cubs gave up a haul to acquire Tucker, with one of those pieces set to be a core piece for the Astro’s future.

Former Chicago Cubs prospect makes the Astros roster

The centerpiece in the deal that netted the Cubs Tucker was third baseman Cam Smith, one of the Cub’s best prospects.

Smith, now ranked as the Astros top prospect, was a non-roster invite this spring and was there to foreshadow what fans would see when his time to get called up came. However, Smith had other plans and put on a show this spring.

Smith destroyed the ball this spring, hitting .342/.419/.711 for an OPS of 1.129 and mashed four home runs in 15 games. These numbers made such an impression on manager Joe Espada and his staff that it helped to make their decision easy and inform Smith that he made the team.

“The Astros brought in Cam Smith’s family to tell him he made the Opening Day roster”

The Astros brought in Cam Smith's family to tell him he made the Opening Day roster

(via @astros)pic.twitter.com/GOqp3WsA6x

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 25, 2025

What’s in store for Smith?

Now that he has made the Major League roster at 22, Smith will likely be playing rightfield for the Astros.

Former Cub Issac Paredes was also in the deal for Tucker and will likely be the Astros third baseman.

Smith should do well with the newly named Daikin Park being a hitter-friendly park.

If Smith can replicate anywhere near the numbers he put up this spring, he should be in the running for this season’s Rookie of the Year award.

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The Chicago Cubs started their season on a sour note, losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers by a score of 4-1.

Sloppy play in the field and walks contributed to the Cubs dropping their first game of the regular season.

Luckily, the Cubs can try to split the two-game series against the Dodgers as they play them again today.

The second game of the series featured an exciting moment that featured the Cubs top-ranked prospect, Matt Shaw.

Chicago Cubs’ top prospect gets his first hit

After going 0-4 in his debut, Shaw finally got his first big league hit, which came on an infield single against Dodgers left-hander Jack Dreyer.

First MLB hit for @Cubs top prospect Matt Shaw! pic.twitter.com/ExU5O8DtSj

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 19, 2025

Officially, a big leaguer

Shaw is officially a big leaguer now and will look to remain the Cubs starting third baseman for the rest of the season.

Shaw’s strong spring helped win him the job, hitting .313/.421/.375 in six games.

Hopefully, getting his first knock out of the way can help Shaw put more of them together.

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Tuesday marks the beginning of the 2025 season for the Chicago Cubs, and the roster will look slightly different from any of those in recent memory. The blend of younger and older pieces is a newer appearance for these Cubs, but it’s a combination that shows promise at making a run at a division title.

Two exciting young position players who will be getting their shots from the jump this season are Pete Crow-Armstrong and Matt Shaw. Crow-Armstrong made his big league debut at the end of the 2023 campaign but started last year in Iowa. His time in AAA didn’t last long, as PCA joined the Cubs in April and went on to play 123 big league games.

Shaw was a first-round draft pick of the Cubs in 2023 out of Maryland. He won the Brooks Wallace Award in his final collegiate season, given the nation’s best shortstop. Shaw will slot in as Chicago’s Opening Day third baseman after having an impressive first full season of Minor League Baseball. He clubbed out 21 homers between AA and AAA to go with 71 runs driven in and a .284 batting batting average.

While the Cubs will lean on their veterans to carry a bulk of the load this season, plenty of their success will depend on how Shaw and Crow-Armstrong perform. One of the team’s key leaders had nothing but great things to say about the two as they get ready for Opening Day on Tuesday.

Dansby Swanson thinks highly of Chicago Cubs youngsters

Dansby Swanson used his media availability on Monday to address how prepared Crow-Armstrong and Shaw are to tackle the 2025 season with full steam.

“They’re both winning players….they care about the team,” Swanson said. 

“They’re both winning players … they care about the team.”

Dansby Swanson is excited for Matt Shaw and PCA to grow as Cubs. pic.twitter.com/GP2o0IPeem

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) March 17, 2025

Crow-Armstrong has shown his talent to make unreal grabs in center field on a daily basis and the electricity that he brings on the basepaths is very reminiscent of Javier Baez, the guy he was traded for. If his bat can stay consistent and potentially be worthy of the leadoff spot at some point in the season, the Cubs are in for something special.

It might take some time for Shaw to adjust to big league life, but there is no doubt that his bat shows potential to be a key middle-of-the-order guy down the road. His power speaks for itself and it could be the piece to the puzzle that Chicago has been desperately needing for the last couple of seasons.

More young players are on the way for the Chicago Cubs

Shaw and Crow-Armstrong aren’t the only young players who are scraping the surface in 2025. Outfielder Kevin Alcantara just missed out on making the Japan trip and he will certainly be in the fold throughout the campaign. He homered in Saturday’s Spring Breakout game against the Angels and he has proved that he won’t be in Iowa for long if at all this season.

Owen Caissie is another candidate sitting right behind Alcantara who will have an impact in Chicago for years to come. His Spring Training was cut short with the big league club due to injury, but he will be back to taking care of business at the plate in Iowa in no time.

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A few Chicago Cubs players have had great springs, which could help them make the Team’s 26-man roster come Opening Day.

The Cubs are in Japan, preparing to take on the reigning World Series Champions, Los Angeles, in the first two regular season games tomorrow and Wednesday.

There’s one Cubs, however, who received the honor of traveling to Japan with the team and has impressed this spring and made a strong case for why he should make the team.

Chicago Cubs Rule 5 Pick impressive spring training

Gage Workman was selected by the Cubs in this offseason’s Rule 5 Draft from the Detriot Tigers organization and is competing for a spot on the Cubs roster for this season. Workman has had an amazing spring and is making a strong case for why he should be on the Cubs bench.

The 25-year-old appeared in 15 games this spring, where he hit the cover off the ball. In 33 at-bats (38 plate appearances), Workman hit .424/.474/.727 for an eyedropper OPS of 1.201. Adding to his impressive slash line, Workman mashed three homers while driving in 13 runs. This showing by the Cub’s Rule 5 Pick helped him make the travel squad to make the trip to Japan.

A chance to make the squad

Workman made a strong impression this spring to be on the squad with the Cubs to travel to Japan. Workman also had a strong showing last season for the Tiger’s Double-A affiliate in Erie, where he hit .280/.366/.476 for an OPS of .843.

The knock-on Workman is since he’s a power hitter, he has a high strikeout rate, and he struck out 153 times last season.

Ranked as the Cub’s 29th overall prospect, the best quality Workman has outside his power is his ability to field. For his fielding, Workman got a plus-plus grade of 65/80, and his arm received a plus grade of 60/80.

Competition for a job

Workman is in a battle for the last spot on the Cubs bench with his main competitor being Vidal Bruján.

Workman has a leg up on Bruján, who has not proven to be an offensive threat but has the advantage of versatility.

There is a chance that Workman could get an at-bat during this quick two-game series against the Dodgers, but top prospect Matt Shaw will get most of the playing time.

If Workman does get into the game as a pinch hitter or a defensive replacement, he will have to continue his strong performance if he is to make the Cubs domestic Opening Day roster.

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The Chicago Cubs first two Spring Breakout games were cancelled due to weather, but on the third attempt they finally were able to play.

On Saturday the Cubs top prospects squared off against the Los Angeles Angels top prospects and Chicago ended up winning by a score of 8-3.  A pair of Cubbies prospects did standout during the contest.  Here, we take a further look at how pitcher Cade Horton and outfielder Kevin Alcantara performed.

Cade Horton shined during the Chicago Cubs first ever Spring Breakout game

On the bump as the starting pitcher in this contest was Horton.  The organization’s third ranked prospect, per MLB Pipeline, was shut down in May last year due to a shoulder injury.  He didn’t hold anything back in this contest as over two innings of work he struck out three batters and flashed a changeup.

Horton bareley used a changeup in year’s past, and typically never to right handed batters, but nonetheless he got Angels hitter Christian Moore out on strikes with it.

Cade Horton vs. Christian Moore: Round 1 in a battle of Top 100 prospects.

Winner? The @Cubs‘ top-ranked pitching prospect pic.twitter.com/6el7Ygr0FR

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 16, 2025

Kevin Alcantara was in full jaguar mode 

In this game Alcantara fully embraced the jaguar as he wore a glove, belt, and headband all with a jaguar print.  He also belted a towering two run home run and flashed the jaguar claws as he rounded the bases.

THE JAGUAR STRIKES!

Kevin Alcántara cranks a two-run #SpringBreakout homer for the @Cubs! pic.twitter.com/0iACMTJVKw

— MLB (@MLB) March 16, 2025

Alcantara, who many speculated had a realistic shot at cracking the Cubs 31-man roster to Japan, is going to start the year in the minor leagues.  He’s likely to impact the Cubs MLB team in 2025, but for now he is just focusing on getting better in every facet of the game and enjoying himself.

“I enjoy the game with my guys.  The first thing is to stay happy every single game. Because it’s a game. It’s not a job. It’s a game….I’m going to improve my first step.  I keep working because I know I can be an elite outfielder in the future.”

Kevin Alcantara per MLB.com

This was the last scheduled Spring Breakout game for the Cubs.  Minor league players will continue playing in exhibition games leading up until the start of their regular seasons.

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The Chicago Cubs have one of the better farm systems in Major League Baseball. According to MLB.com, they are ranked eighth-best entering this season.

In their farm system, the Cubs have seven top-100 prospects, with their top-ranked prospect Matt Shaw making the trip to Japan with the Cubs.

Outside Shaw, the six other prospects on the top-100 list are close to making the big leagues. One prospect, Moisés Ballesteros, has had a spectacular spring and impressed in the breakout game against the Los Angeles Angels.

Chicago Cubs’ fourth overall prospect shows off this spring

Ballesteros is the Cubs’ fourth-ranked prospect for their organization and their highest-rated catching prospect. Ballesteros is also one of the Cubs to make MLB’s top-100 list, ranking 68th.

The 21-year-old Ballesteros has been outstanding this spring, tearing the cover off the ball in his appearances at the plate. In nine games this spring, Ballesteros has six hits in 17 at-bats (19 plate appearances), a home run, and two RBI while walking twice and punching out three times. God enough for a whopping slash line of., .353/.421/.529 for an OPS of .951 for nine total bases.

Not only has Ballesteros had a great spring at the plate, but his defense has come a long way, with it being the biggest knock against him. MLB.com grades his defense at 40/80 but gave him a decent grade for his arm at 50/80. Ballesteros showcased his arm during the Cub’s breakout game against the Angels.

He also contributed on the offensive side, where he went 2-4, scoring a run and driving in a run on an RBI double he legged out.

Big Mo's got a cannon, and Big Mo can mash

MLB's No. 68 prospect Moises Ballesteros delivers on both sides of the ball for the @Cubs at Spring Breakout: pic.twitter.com/YZ5R09pnJj

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) March 16, 2025

Forcing the issue

Ballesteros was a non-invite this spring and was not supposed to break camp with the Cubs. However, he is making it a tough decision for the Cubs to give him a look at the Major League level at some point during the season.

The Cubs already have two catchers on the 26-man roster, Miguel Amaya and Carson Kelly, who will split time behind the dish this season. Both also made the trip to Japan with the Cubs, while Ballesteros was reassigned to minor-league camp and stayed back to play in the breakout game.

Ballesteros has shown that his bat can and will work at the big-league level, but the question is, will his defense match his offense? Starting the season at Triple-A is the right call to get Ballesteros to work behind the plate to improve his defense.

However, if he continues to hit, it will force the Cub’s hand to bring him up and find a spot for him.

A sign of good things to come

The future is bright for the Cubs, who have a nice core of young players.

Ballesteros will look to lead that group of young players looking to make the big leagues and join Shaw in building a strong nucleus.

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The Chicago Cubs officially start their season next Tuesday when they travel across the Pacific Ocean to take on the reigning World Series Champs the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Tokyo Series on March 18-19.

The Cubs have made the necessary cuts to their roster to get it down to size to start the season, with some more tough decisions to come.

The Cubs already announced a few players who will and won’t be traveling to Japan, with Rule 5 pick Gage Workman and super utilityman Vidal Bruján getting the nod to make the trip.

One player who is also hoping to make the trip is the Cubs’ top prospect, Matt Shaw, who is trying to make his case on why he should be making the trip with the club.

Chicago Cubs top prospect making his case to go to Japan

The one question on every Cubs fan’s mind as the Tokyo Series approaches is: will Shaw make the trip with the team to Japan?

Shaw earlier this spring missed the first part of camp after dealing with an oblique strain, which also hit his teammate Javier Assad hard, which will cause him to miss Opening Day. Thankfully, in the case of Shaw, his injury wasn’t as bad as Assads, and he’s been slowly ramping himself back up.

So far this spring, Shaw has appeared in four games, hitting .167/.231/.167 with an OPS of .398. Shaw had a great game yesterday against the Cleveland Guardians, where he went 2-2 with a walk, scoring a run, and driving in an RBI on a single to centerfield.

Even though Shaw hasn’t been performing at the plate, he has provided a great glove and has looked like he has been playing third base all his life.

Shaw is currently in competition with Gage Workman, who has been amazing this spring, as the two front-runners to start at third for Opening Day. Shaw has the slight edge over Workman, given his prospect status.

What will the decision be?

Fans shouldn’t have to wait too long to hear what will happen with Shaw and if he will make the trip to Japan.

Even if he doesn’t get the nod to go with the team for next Tuesday’s game, Shaw will likely be on the roster for when the Cubs take on the Arizona Diamondbacks for the opening series here in the States.

Shaw can be a star for the Cubs after having a great season at Double and Triple-A last season, where he hit .284/.379/.488 with an OPS of .867.

If he can bring that skill to the big leagues, then the Cubs will have a great player on their hands, and hopefully, Shaw will be showcasing it in Japan.

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The Chicago Cubs took a beating yesterday when they lost by a score of 10-2 to the Arizona Diamondbacks in a game that saw Pete Crow-Armstrong removed from the lineup due to a hamstring injury.

The Cubs have had a great camp outside of their injuries and have seen some of their top prospects seeing a lot of success and making their case to join the Major League roster.

The Cubs only had a few open spots on their roster for guys to make, but one prospect is forcing the issue more than the others with how great his bat has been this spring.

Chicago Cubs prospect impresses with his bat

The Cubs have a few of their top prospects in camp this season, with Matt Shaw leading the way and competing to be the Cubs starting third baseman for this season. Another prospect capturing headlines in camp is the Cubs’ 21-year-old catching prospect Moisés Ballesteros.

Ballesteros is the 68th overall prospect in Major League Baseball and is considered one of the Cub’s best-hitting prospects. The Venezuelan native has a plus-hitting tool grading out at 60/80 and has average power that could elevate into a plus tool, given how great his bat is.

Moises Ballesteros can hit. pic.twitter.com/EL1EahCfmI

— Aldo Soto (@AldoSoto21) February 22, 2025

So far this spring, Ballesteros has torn it up at the plate, slashing .308/.400/.539 for an OPS of .939 in seven games. To add to his line, the 215lb catcher launched a home run over the berm, which left his teammates in awe. Carson Kelly was the most impressed by Ballesteros when speaking to Meghan Montemuro of the Chicago Tribune, said Ballesteros had an “aura” about him.

“Everybody was like ‘Who is this kid?’” Kelly said. “He has that aura that he knows he can hit. That’s really, really fun thing to have, especially for a young kid.”

Kelly added that once Ballesteros starts to learn to pull the ball, that will take his game to the next level.

“As he gets older and starts creating a little bit more direction towards center field, you’re going to see probably some more pull-side home runs,” Kelly said.

“I think he’s always going to have that left-center field kind of low line drive doubles and a couple homers.

But as guys start to get older and mature, they really learn how to true backspin a ball to the pull side and that’s probably the next evolution for him.”

Manager Craig Counsell added in about Ballesteros’s hitting ability, saying he’s proven a lot.

“Offensively, he’s really proven a lot,” manager Craig Counsell said. “All the players know that he can really hit, which is credit to him. So really just gaining experience against some higher-level pitching, which he’s frankly never struggled with, and we don’t anticipate he will.”

All the ability to be a star

Having confidence from his future manager will help Ballesteros succeed and take his game to the next level. The one knock on the young left-handed hitter is his defense, which is nowhere near where his bat is. Per his grades given by the MLB, he grades as a below-average defender at 40/80.

Ballesteros made it a point to come into camp more slimmed down and lean to give him more mobility behind the plate.

Moises Ballesteros working his way to Wrigley. pic.twitter.com/uqdvtClK4l

— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) December 24, 2024

Ballesteros’s bat is big-league-ready, but the question for Ballesteros will be getting his defense up to pair. The Cubs brought in a couple of veteran catchers, Carlos Pérez and Reese McGuire, to help teach Ballesteros how to handle a big-league staff and work on his framing ability.

What the season will be like for Ballesteros

Currently, the Cubs don’t have a spot on the Major League roster for Ballesteros, with Miguel Amaya and Carson Taylor occupying both catching spots.

The Cubs toyed with moving Ballesteros to first base, but Michael Busch is blocking him, and he looks to be a perennial Gold Glover over there.

Ballesteros will likely begin his season down at Triple-A, where he can get everyday at-bats and playing time to work on his defense.

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The Chicago Cubs suffered their first loss of the spring yesterday when they lost 7-3 to their divisional rival, the Cincinnati Reds.

The game saw the Cubs’ top prospect, Matt Shaw, make his spring debut after being on the shelf with an oblique strain.

The question for Shaw now will be, how many more games will he appear in this spring? And will he make the trip to Japan with the team when they play the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 18?

Chicago Cubs top prospect makes spring debut

In his first appearance, Shaw batted second and played third base, where he went 0-3 on the day but looked healthy and ready to go. After the game, in an interview with Marquee Sports Network, the 23-year-old said he felt good and felt 100%.

“Matt Shaw tells @EliseMenaker that he “feels 100%” after his first spring training game.”

Matt Shaw tells @EliseMenaker that he “feels 100%” after his first spring training game. pic.twitter.com/rrksjnDu4m

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) March 2, 2025

Shaw enters camp looking to compete for the starting third base job the Cubs have open and was the frontrunner for the job once Alex Bregman signed with the Boston Red Sox. The former first-round pick is a highly skilled hitter who brings some pop and the ability to be a 20/20 guy once he figures things out.

Will Shaw travel to Japan with the Cubs?

The biggest question on everyone’s mind after Shaw after seeing Shaw for the first time is, will he travel to Japan with the team? Speaking to Cole Bradley of MLB.com, Shaw said he’s looking to stay healthy and is trying to get as many at-bats to feel healthy.

“At the end of the day, you’re trying to get at-bats under you and feel healthy,” Shaw said, “and today I felt really healthy.”

Shaw added that if he doesn’t make the trip to Japan, that’s all a part of the process, and he has the rest of the season to look forward to.

“I think I’ve put a lot of time and effort to be ready for this situation,” Shaw said. “But it’s out of my hands. So I’m going to keep trying to do what I do every day and be consistent, and if I get the opportunity to go [to Tokyo], I’ll be overjoyed. And if not, that’s just part of the process.”

We shall see what that decision is

We shall see soon what the Cubs decide to do with Shaw and whether or not he’ll make the trip to Japan.

Thankfully, Shaw looked healthy and didn’t show any discomfort while playing.

Hopefully, Shaw will appear in more games this spring where he will hopefully have success and will see him make the trip to Japan.

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The Chicago Cubs recently dwindled their roster to 54 players after sending four others down to minor league camp in the latest round of cuts.

The Cubs take on their divisional rivals today, the Cincinnati Reds, in a nice little preview of the battles these two teams will have during the regular season.

The Cubs are undefeated this spring and look to keep that trend going with another win today against the Reds.

One interesting factor about today’s games is that the Cubs will feature one of their top prospects making his much-anticipated spring debut.

Chicago Cubs top prospect to make spring debut

Matt Shaw has been on the shelf most of this spring with an oblique strain and has slowly been building himself up to appear in a Cactus League game. According to manager Craig Counsell, Shaw will make his first appearance in a game this spring against the Reds, where he expects Shaw to go out and have fun.

“I just want him to enjoy the day … come back feeling good and have a great day tomorrow.”

Craig Counsell on Matt Shaw’s expectations for his first start of spring training.”

"I just want him to enjoy the day … come back feeling good and have a great day tomorrow."

Craig Counsell on Matt Shaw's expectations for his first start of spring training. pic.twitter.com/LaoPRbUzTe

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) March 2, 2025

Shaw will be batting second and  playing third base, according to Bruce Levine, where he could be the full-time starter for the regular season.

Cubs Matt Shaw batting second and playing 3B.

— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) March 2, 2025

What to look for in Shaws’ first outing

The most important thing to look for in Shaws debut this spring is how comfortable he’ll look in the box and at third. Given he is working his way back from an oblique strain, it will be key to see if Shaw is playing pain-free.

Another thing to look for during Shaws’ outing is how he will look defensively at third. Some things to watch for: how strong his arm is? Can he make the plays moving to his left and right? How quickly can he transfer the ball from his glove to his hand? Those, amongst other questions, will be critical for Shaw to answer to see if he can make the trip to Japan with the Cubs.

A welcome sign

It’s refreshing to see Shaw making his debut when he could have been another player to start the year on the injured list.

Hopefully, Shaw looks good today, and he doesn’t reaggravate his oblique and can make the trip to Japan.

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The Chicago Cubs are weighing a few important decisions before the start of the regular season on March 18 against the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Tokyo Dome in Japan.

The Cubs ruled out Nico Hoerner for opening day as he recovers from flexor tendon surgery. The team hopes he’ll be ready to start at second base by their “domestic opening day” matchup against the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 27.

Chicago will also need to decide if they want to put third baseman Matt Shaw (oblique) on the plane for the Tokyo trip.

Shaw’s status for Japan could affect what the Cubs decide to do with a prospect who has been having a great run in the Cactus League.

Gage Workman is a Rule 5 pick, and Chicago must keep him on their big-league roster for the entire season. If he’s not, Workman would be offered back to the Detroit Tigers.

The Chicago Cubs could lose a player to the Detroit Tigers

Per Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune, Workman, who has never played a game in Triple-A, claimed he’s worried about taking one step at a time with the Cubs this spring.

“You’ve just got to go out and do your thing,” Workman said. “I think adding pressure is not going to help in any way. Obviously, I know the situation I’m in … you have to take it one at-bat at a time, and do all I can do at this point and let the chips fall where they may.”

With Shaw’s status for Japan unclear, Workman is fighting to at least keep a spot on the bench for opening day, forcing Chicago to make a tough choice on roster depth by the time the team plays Arizona later in March.

Gage Workman has been a force in the Cactus League

As of Sunday morning, Workman has the second most at-bats for the Cubs in the Cactus League with 19. He’s made the most of it, going .316/.391/.632 and leading the team with two home runs.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell didn’t downplay the uphill battle Workman faces to stay with Chicago, but he said he was happy for the young infielder after he hit home run No. 1 in his Cactus League debut.

“It’s easier for this player to put a lot of pressure on himself in spring training, I’ve got to make a good impression is kind of what’s going through your head, right?” Counsell said. “You can’t run from that, that’s the deal, man, like, we’ve got to make a decision on you. … There’s a lot of nerves and anxiety, and it’s so important to him to do good. And so you’re happy for somebody like that.”

At 25, Workman has played impressive enough this spring to make Counsell and his staff consider taking him to Japan. However, it’ll be a tough task for a player to make the jump from Double-A to the majors once Hoerner and Shaw are available.

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Follow me on Twitter at @JordanSig, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Jordan Sigler via email at jordanmsigler@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks.

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The Chicago Cubs have a ton of prospects in camp who are all trying to make a great impression on Craig Counsell and Jed Hoyer.

So far, Kevin Alcántara is outperforming the others by tearing the cover off the ball and making the most of his at-bats. The Jaguar, a nickname given to Alcántara by his teammates, is vying for a spot on the Cubs bench and possibly be a potential platoon option for Pete Crow-Armstrong.

One of the Cubs’ prospect has the potential to be a big-time power threat for the Cubs this season and for the future.

Chicago Cubs prospect labeled a potential power hitter

In a report published by MLB.com, they named the Cub’s top outfield prospect, Owen Caissie, as the top power-hitting prospect in their system. The 22-year-old Caissie has not appeared in a game this spring after suffering a left groin strain. Given the injury, the Cubs decided to option Caissie to Triple-A, where he can focus on rehabbing.

Caissie was brought to the Cubs organization when they traded Yu Darvish to the San Diego Padres in 2020. Caissie brings a ton of raw power to the Cub’s farm system by having a plug grade of 65/80 for his power tool. In his four seasons down on the farm, the Canadian has 59hrs to his name and has a career slugging percentage of .470.

Last season, with the Iowa Cubs, Caissie had a great season from a power perspective, mashing 19hrs, 29 doubles, three triples, and had a slugging percentage of .473. Once called up, the product of Notre Dame High School can hit 30+ home runs and 100+ RBI.

A potential to be a star

Caissie has all the talent to be a force in the middle of the Cubs lineup for years to come once he figures it all out.

The 6-4 left-hander also displays an impressive arm out in the outfield, with that being a plush tool.

Once Caissie gets healthy, he’ll start his season with the Iowa Cubs, where he’ll get consistent at-bats and show he deserves a spot on the Major League roster.

With injuries being a part of baseball, Caissie could be the first option to get the call-up if an injury occurs.

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The Chicago Cubs made their first cuts of spring training today reducing their roster from 63 to 59.

The Cubs have three weeks to get their roster down to 26, with their first regular season game starting on March 18.

In the Cub’s first rounds of cuts, the Cubs outrighted one of their top prospects.

Chicago Cubs sent top outfield prospect to Triple-A

Among the first to be cut this spring was the Cubs’ number two overall prospect Owen Caissie. The 22-year-old Caissie has been sidelined this spring with a groin strain and has not appeared in any games so far this spring. Bruce Levine of 670 The Score, reports that Caissie was among the ones to be sent down to Triple-A during this first round of cuts.

“Cubs reduce spring training roster. (63 to 59) Notable is Owen Cassie dealing with core issues. Cassie sent to Triple-A.”

Cubs reduce spring training roster. (63 to 59) Notable is Owen Cassie dealing with core issues .Cassie sent to Triple A.

— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) February 26, 2025

It’s upsetting that Caissie won’t showcase his skills this spring, but his health is more important. The Burlington, Canada native was likely not going to make the Cubs 26-man roster, with the Cubs outfield being set in place.

A piece will be missing

Caissie was supposed to be a big part of the Cub’s success this season with him trying to compete for the final bench spot. Caissie, the number 54 overall prospect in Major League Baseball, had an outstanding year at Triple-A.

In 127 games last season, the Notre Dame High School alumni had 29 doubles, 3 triples, 19 HRs, 75 RBI, and stole 11 bases while being caught twice. Caissie also had an impressive slash line of .278/.375/.473 for an OPS of .848. Caissie’s absence will now give fellow outfield prospect Kevin Alcántara, who is also competing for a spot on the major league roster, more opportunities to beat out Caissie.

Get healthy and work towards the season

This was the right move for the Cubs to send Caissie down to Triple-A. Caissie can now focus on getting healthy and better prepare himself for the season.

Starting down at Iowa, Caissie can get consistent at-bats and not have the pressure of trying to make the big league roster.

Sending Caissie down doesn’t mean we’ve seen the last of the young outfielder. If he gets healthy and performs down at Triple-A, Caisse could make his way onto the Cubs roster.

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The Chicago Cubs will play their first games of the regular season when they travel across the Pacific Ocean to take on the reigning World Series Champions the Los Angeles Dodgers for the Tokyo Series.

The Cubs have done a great job so far this spring preparing for those games, which start on March 18, with the Cubs sitting with a 6-0 record and firing on all cylinders.

A good majority of the Cubs’ prospects are making the most of their opportunities in big-league camp, with Kevin Alcántara hitting the cover off the ball so far this spring and showing why he’s deserving of a roster spot come Opening Day.

Sadly, the Cubs have been without one of their top prospects so far this spring, and it is looking like he won’t be able to make the trip over to Japan.

Chicago Cubs top prospect to miss the trip to Japan

Matt Shaw, the Cubs top prospect and could be their future third baseman, has been sidelined this spring with an oblique strain and hasn’t appeared in a game yet. The Cubs are taking things slow with Shaw, as oblique injuries are easily reaggravated.

Per Bruce Levine of 670 The Score reports that Shaw won’t be making the trip to Japan with the Cubs.

The Cubs haven’t announced it yet, but Matt Shaw (oblique) almost certainly won’t make the trip to Japan, @MLBBruceLevine says.

“There’s no way he’s going to be ready to go there and compete,” Levine says.

“You want him for the other 160 games.”

The Cubs haven’t announced it yet, but Matt Shaw (oblique) almost certainly won’t make the trip to Japan, @MLBBruceLevine says.

"There’s no way he’s going to be ready to go there and compete," Levine says.

"You want him for the other 160 games."

Listen: https://t.co/ykdrWqMmd0 pic.twitter.com/qophh0AtbC

— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) February 26, 2025

Levine adds that Shaw is taking batting practice, but that comes with the coach’s involvement, which is a step in the right direction. This is a smart move for the Cubs, with Shaw slated to be a big part of the Cub’s success this season.

A big part of the Cubs success this season

Shaw entered camp looking to compete for the starting third base job the Cubs had open and was the frontrunner for the job once Alex Bregman signed with the Boston Red Sox. The 23-year-old is a highly skilled hitter, who brings with him some pop and the ability to be a 20/20 guy once he figures things out.

The Massachusetts native should have a good season, with Marquee Sports Network projecting that Shaw will play in 123 games this season, where he’ll hit .253 have 17 HRs, 63 RBI, have an OPS of .729, and have 16 stolen bases. If Shaw can put up those numbers, he will certainly finish the year in the Rookie of the Year voting.

Matt Shaw’s projected numbers for 2025 pic.twitter.com/V2TTxBzbFm

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) February 13, 2025

Taking things slow will help

Taking things slow with Shaw is the right move here, as he hasn’t even played one game in the major leagues yet, let alone a spring training game.

Even though the 5-9 infielder won’t be making the trip to Japan, which is disappointing, this is the right decision to keep Shaw healthy for the rest of the season.

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The Chicago Cubs have some battles brewing for someone to fill the fifth spot in their rotation. The Cubs could potentially utilize a six-man rotation with a couple of their starters either dealing with an injury or working their way back from one.

So far, the Cubs have a solid 1-4, with Shota Imanaga taking the lead, followed by Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon, and Matt Boyd filling out the fourth spot.

In the mix for the fifth spot and potentially for the sixth spot are Colin Rea, Javier Assad, Ben Brown, and possibly the Cubs’ top pitching prospect, Cade Horton.

Chicago Cubs’ young pitcher could make the rotation

Ben Brown has a high chance of making the Cubs’ rotation with having all the talent and skill to be a future middle-of-the-rotation arm, with the potential of being a number two starter. The 25-year-old was a part of the Cubs rotation for his rookie season before having his season cut short due to a neck injury.

Before going down with the injury, Brown appeared in 15 games for the Cubbies, eight of them being starts, in which he had a record of 1-3 with a 3.58 ERA in 55.1 innings pitched. In that short span, Brown displayed his ability to have elite strikeout stuff by striking out 64 batters, which is good enough for a 10.4 strikeout per nine.

Brown comes into the season looking to use another pitch

Coming into this season, the product of Ward Melville High School in East Setauket, NY, is looking to utilize his changeup more, with being strictly a two-pitch pitcher so far in his career. Brown mainly attacks hitters with a high-velocity fastball that sits at 96.4mph and has a wicked knuckle curve to put hitters away.

However, the 6-6 right-hander does get fastball happy with throwing it 62.7% of the time compared to his curveball, which he throws 35.7% of the time. Brown did flash his changeup a few times last season but only threw it 14 times.

Upping his changeup usage should do wonders for Brown, who doesn’t have a pitch that runs into righties. Adding in a changeup would do that and give the hitters something else to think about. Speaking to The Athletic, Brown stressed that upping his usage would be instrumental in helping him fine-tune his arsenal and become more of an elite pitcher.

“I feel like if I don’t have my changeup that day I can get through a lineup with two pitches,” Brown said. “But I want to get to the point where if I don’t have my curveball one day I can get through it with my fastball and changeup, then eventually add even more pitches. But I feel like having the conviction behind what you have is important.”

A healthy Brown is what the Cubs need

Brown comes into this season fully healthy and ready to win a roster spot.

Given his talent and high velocity, if Brown doesn’t make the rotation, he could be an effective weapon for the Cubs out of the bullpen.

Brown will have all of spring to fine-tune and hone in on fully commanding a changeup to help take his game to the next level. If he’s successful, the Cubs could have a top-tier pitcher.

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The Chicago Cubs enter spring training looking like a well-oiled machine after getting off to an impressive 3-0 record.

The Cubs enter camp primed to make a postseason run after having a spectacular offseason that saw them trade for a few players to give them legitimate star power. The two most notable names the Cubs added were Kyle Tucker and Ryan Pressly, who came over via trade from the Houston Astros.

Adding Tucker and Pressly, along with other depth pieces will certainly help give the Cubs a good chance to make a playoff run, while also adding to their win total from last year.

One player looking to make his first Opening Day roster and help the Cubs in that effort is one of their top prospects, who currently has an open lane to make the roster.

Chicago Cubs’ top outfield prospect could make the Opening Day roster

One of the Cubs’ top outfield prospects, Kevin Alcántara, is looking to make his first Opening Day roster this season after spending his year in the minor leagues. Alcántara did get a brief cup of coffee in the big leagues, appearing in just three games last season, where he collected his first major league hit. Alcántara is the sixth overall prospect in the Cubs organization and is ranked as the 90th overall prospect in all Major League Baseball.

Alcántara has a great shot at cracking the Opening Day roster by making the most of his opportunities by going 5-8, driving in 3 RBI, and scoring 3 runs. The 6-6 outfielder had his chances of making the roster increase with his fellow prospect Owen Caissie getting sidelined with a groin strain, and the Cubs recently designating outfielder Alexander Canairo for assignment.

Alcántara has a ton of potential

The 22-year-old Alcántara has all the potential to be a future star in the big leagues once he gets a legitimate shot to show off his abilities. The native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic has some decent grades according to MLB.com, with his best grades being power, run, arm, and fielding which all sit at 55/80.

Last season during his time at both Double and Triple-A, Alcántara played in 111 games where he slashed .278/.353/.428 for an OPS of .781. The 188-lb centerfielder also had 14 HRs, 14 stolen bases, and 21 doubles in 421 at-bats.

Alcántara can be a future 20/20 player in the big leagues and has the potential to be a future Gold Glover at all three outfielder positions. According to MLB.com, they write that Alcántara could be in play for a platoon or be a possible backup option in centerfield behind Pete Crow-Armstrong.

“Alcántara, who is ranked No. 90 on Pipeline’s Top 100 list, has an outside shot to crack the Cubs’ Opening Day roster as a bench player who can serve as a righty complement to Pete Crow-Armstrong in center field.”

It is Alcántara’s spot to lose

Nicknamed “the jaguar” by his teammates, Alcántara is starting to get acclimated to being around the mainstays in the Cubs lineup and is showing the ability to be the next core for the Cubs.

Alcántara still has minor league options available and could benefit from another few months down at Triple-A to see if he can put up the same numbers as he did last season.

However, he is more than ready to be brought up and given the chance to be in the big leagues consistently. The only issue that will occur is manager Craig Counsell balancing getting Alcántara into ballgames and getting consistent at-bats, but that’s what Counsell gets paid to do, and he shouldn’t have trouble finding the right spots.

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The Chicago Cubs have a farm system that is booming with Major League ready talent.  Matt Shaw leads the group and is expected to play a big role at third base in 2025.  Pitching wise, Cade Horton is their prized prospect, but is coming off a shortened 2024 campaign due to injury.

With Spring Training underway, Horton is seeing game action for the first time in nine months.  Missing that amount of time can be tough on any player, but as a former seventh overall pick with high expectations, the pressure he is experiencing is different.  Throughout the process, Horton recently talked about how one veteran has taken him under his wing.

One veteran Chicago Cubs player has taken Cade Horton under his wing

33 year old veteran pitcher, and former second overall draft pick, Jameson Taillon told MLB.com that he has been in Horton’s shoes before and essentially has taken him under his wing.  Taillon credited former players from his days with the Pittsburgh Pirates such as Gerrit Cole, David Freese, Francisco Liriano, and others who did the same for him when he was facing the pressure of being a highly regarded prospect.

“I’ve literally been in his shoes before.  I’ve been considered a top prospect. I’ve also been hurt. I know that feeling of feeling a little alone. And then just coming into a big league locker room, I had guys that, when I was younger, made me feel really welcome. That really goes a long way.”

Jameson Taillon per Jordan Bastian of MLB.com

“It means so much;” Cade Horton expressed gratitude for having a veteran player take him under his wing

Taillon and Horton’s relationship goes back to last season when Taillon was on a rehab assignment.  He took Horton out for dinner and continued to check on him throughout the year, even though Horton injured his shoulder in May and didn’t return.

“It means so much.  It helps bridge that gap, and he’s been a huge part of that. He’s been that guy for me and continues to be, and now I’m getting to know a lot of these other guys. It’s been helpful.”

Cade Horton per Jordan Bastian of MLB.com

Expectations for Cade Horton in 2025

Last year Horton strained his subscapularis shortly into a promotion to Triple-A.  Picking up where he left off is a realistic starting spot for him this season, but he also has the potential to make his MLB debut at any time.

Horton has a four pitch mix, with a 70 grade slider being the most devastating of them all.  Additionally his fastball operates in the mid 90s, but can top out around 98 MPH.

If Horton stays healthy in 2025, he has a chance to make a significant impact on the Chicago Cubs this year.

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Spring training is underway for the Chicago Cubs, and so far the Cubbies sit at 2-0 in the Cactus League after beating the Los Angeles Dodgers twice. In those two games, the Cubs had an offense explosion, scoring a combined 19 runs to the Dodgers 7.

Even though the Dodgers didn’t throw out their best lineup, winning those two games against the reigning World Series Champs should give the Cubs confidence when they play them again in Tokyo for the Tokyo Series on March 18.

As games roll on, a few notable players for the Cubs have been sidelined with injuries, but have received updates on when they could be back in action.

The Chicago Cubs get updates on three key players

The Cubs came into camp with a few notable injuries to two of their prospects and one of their pitchers. Matt Shaw is working his way back from an oblique strain and has had limited baseball activities. The 23-year-old, per MLB.com, has resumed hitting in the cage, as well as resuming throwing and fielding work. According to Counsell, Shaw can resume on-field workouts next week and is currently listed as day-to-day

Owen Caissie, another top prospect of the Cubs, is more of a concerning case after suffering a left groin strain. It was also reported that Caissie had offseason core muscle surgery, which could’ve contributed to this injury. The Cubs have Caissie shut down from all baseball activities and will be very cautious with him, given the surgery.

Owen Caissie is dealing with a groin strain and is not participating in baseball activities, Craig Counsell announced. pic.twitter.com/VWKDlYhwNQ

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) February 22, 2025

Caissie is expected to return sometime in late March or early April, but expect the latter. The 22-year-old Canadian will likely start his year in Triple-A again, given the slow track the Cubs are taking with him.

Another Cubs player dealing with an injury is right-handed pitcher Javier Assad, who like Shaw, is dealing with an oblique strain. Counsell said in an interview with the media that he doesn’t expect the injury to sideline Assad “long-term” but MLB.com has his time of return as “early 2025”, which could mean anything.

The 27-year-old is competing for a spot in the Cubs rotation, and if he’s to miss most of spring training, he will have a hard time winning the job. The native of Mexico is competing with the likes of Colin Rea, Ben Brown, and a few non-roster invitees like Brad Keller, for the fifth and sixth spots in the rotation.

A couple of other injury notes

Nico Hoerner is slowly working his way back after having surgery this offseason to repair a right flexor tendon. Hoerner is listed to return sometime in early 2025, and could potentially miss Opening Day. He is currently undergoing a throwing program and has hit in the cage but has not appeared in either of the Cubs games so far.

The Cubs also received news that top prospect and non-roster invite Brett Bateman will have right hamate surgery, per Counsell, and does not have an ETA for a return. Bateman is a speedy centerfielder out of the University of Minnesota and would have been exciting to see this spring with having the potential to be a future Gold Glover in the outfield.

A mixed bag for the Cubs

This injury news is a mixed bag for the Cubs, sounding more negative instead of a positive update.

The most important piece of news here, is Shaw being able to get back on the field and seeing live pitching. The Cubs expect Shaw to perform this spring and hopefully be their starting third baseman when they travel the 5,795 miles from Mesa, Arizona to Tokyo, Japan, to open their season.

Thankfully, none of these injuries are that serious and will require a long-term stint on the injured list, so the Cubs should get most of their core players back sooner rather than later.

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The Chicago Cubs crushed the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first game of spring training, beating the reigning World Series Champions 12-4. The Cubs sent out a lineup that featured most of their top prospects, and Michael Busch who will be the Cub’s Opening Day first baseman.

Cody Poteet started the games for the Cubs, where he pitched 1.1 innings, allowed 3 hits, walked 2, struck out 1, and allowed 3 earned runs. Poteet is competing for a spot to be in the Cub’s starting rotation or be their long-man out of the bullpen.

Another standout from today’s game was infielder Gage Workman, who contributed to the Cub’s offensive outburst.

A productive game for the Chicago Cubs infielder

Workman was plucked out of the Detriot Tigers farm system when the Cubs took him in this offseason Rule 5 Draft. Being Workman was a Rule 5 Pick, he will have to remain on the Cubs 26-man roster, or he will have to be sent back to the Tigers.

Workman had a spectacular game against the Dodgers, where he went 2-3 and had 2 RBI. Workman’s two RBIs came when he drove a home run to the opposite field. Even more impressive, Workman hit it against Dodgers left-handed Justin Wrobleski.

Gage Workman launches our first home run of #SpringTraining! pic.twitter.com/sCsGC86QEG

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) February 20, 2025

Last season, was a standout year for Workman while playing for the Tigers Double-A affiliate, the Erie SeaWolves. The 6-4 left-handed hitter played in 125 games, hitting 29 doubles, 6 triples, 18 HRs, 89 RBI, and 30 stolen bases. He also had a slash line of .280/.366/.476 and had an OPS of .843.

Competing for a job

Workman is competing for a spot on the Cubs bench, which could turn into him being a platoon partner for Matt Shaw if he struggles at the plate. The former fourth-round pick offers a ton of power, which the Cubs need.

Workman also brings with him versatility by being able to play third base, shortstop, and rightfield. Workman’s versatility will benefit the Cubs who need a backup third baseman, and another option at shortstop to give Dansby Swanson some days off.

An impressive first impression

Workman’s performance at the plate today will hopefully give him the confidence to carry it over for the rest of the spring.

The Arizona State University product has all the talent and skill to make the Cub’s Opening Day roster and will be a key contributor to their success this season.

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The Chicago Cubs will play their first game of spring training today when they take on the reigning World Series Champions the Los Angeles Dodgers with Cody Poteet taking the bump for the Cubs.

Baseball is officially back, and the Cubs will use this spring to prepare for the Tokyo series where they take on the Dodgers again in Japan.

Entering camp, the Cubs are already dealing with a few injuries, with the latest injury coming to one of their top prospects.

Chicago Cubs top prospect has a groin injury

The Cubs have yet another injury to one of their players, and this time it is top prospect Owen Caissie, who is dealing with a groin strain, per Bruce Levine of 670 The Score. Levine added that Caissie also had offseason core surgery, which is also news.

“Cub injury of note. Owen Cassie is dealing with a groin strain. He is totally shut down, as the medical staff determines rehab. Cassie had core surgery in the off season.”

Cub injury of note. Owen Cassie is dealing with a groin strain. He is totally shut down, as the medical staff determines rehab .Cassie had core surgery in the off season.

— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) February 20, 2025

Caissie is not the only Cub dealing with an injury, with fellow prospect Matt Shaw slowly working his way back from an oblique strain and right-handed pitcher Javier Assad also dealing with an oblique issue.

An important piece will be missing

Caissie is supposed to be a big part of the Cubs success this season with him trying to compete for the final bench spot. The number 54 overall prospect in Major League Basbeall, Caissie had an outstanding year at Triple-A. In 127 games last season, the Notre Dame High School alumni had 29 doubles, 3 triples, 19 HRs, 75 RBI, and stole 11 bases while being caught twice. Caissie also had an impressive slash line of .278/.375/.473 for an OPS of .848.

Caissie was coming into camp competing for the last spot on the Cubs bench and will now have to play catchup once he returns from rehabbing. Caissie’s injury will now give fellow outfield prospect Kevin Alcántara, who is also competing for a spot on the major league roster, more opportunities to beat out Caissie.

A tough blow for the Cubs

The news of Caissie’s injury is a tough pill to swallow since he was one of the more exciting players to watch this spring.

The 6-3 left-handed hitter is a phyiscial specimen and has the potential to be an elite power-hitter in the game with a grade of 60/80 for his power.

Hopefully this isn’t to long of an absence for Caissie and he can rehab and get back soon to try and win a spot on the Cubs Opening Day roster.

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With the Chicago Cubs heading to Japan for Opening Day in less than three weeks, the roster decisions are coming at a much quicker pace in 2025. The front office made sure that grabbing as much depth as possible entering this season was a priority this winter. Last years’ bullpen especially struggled with having to bring in various pieces throughout the year just to finish out the 162 games as strong as possible.

The 2025 Cubs have their eyes set on winning the NL Central division crown for the first time in five years. In order to make that a reality, manager Craig Counsell had to know this was going to be a hard team for anyone to make. The skipper announced which backup battles would be of importance to keep an eye on over the next couple of weeks, and they just got easier to determine with a roster move made on Thursday morning.

Chicago Cubs DFA Alexander Canario

In order to make room for the recently signed Justin Turner, Canario is the odd man out of the 40-man roster, per reports. The 24-year-old was acquired by the organization at the 2021 deadline in the Kris Bryant deal with the San Francisco Giants.

The name of Canario’s game is power, as he clubbed out 37 home runs in his first full season in the Cubs farm system back in 2022. He hit 18 home runs in the 64 games that he was in Triple-A for last year. Canario has spent some time in the big leagues over the last two years, playing six games in 2023 and 15 in 2024. The former Giants prospect was out of minor league options, which did not work in his favor here.

Canario wasn’t able to consistently earn playing time at the big league level over the past two seasons. With his health not always being the best, it made this move that much easier for Jed Hoyer. The slugger should be an interesting trade piece for a franchise looking to take a flier on a player for their Opening Day roster in 2025.

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Even though the Chicago Cubs have their sights set on winning the NL Central this season, their future remains as bright as ever. Ever since the teardown of the roster during the 2021 trade deadline, the front office has taken an immense amount of pride in the farm system and how well it ranks among the rest if the league.

The 2016 World Series winning team’s foundation was largely built on the prospects that came through the farm system and executed in a big way. Moving forward, the assumed hope is that the next championship team that comes through Wrigleyville has a similar foundation.

The Cubs have four prospects in the latest top 100 list that was released by Fangraphs. Other lists from different outlets have more from Chicago on their lists, so some could see this as disappointing. Nonetheless, the names that Fangraphs chose to highlight are important ones for the Cubs future, which is most important at the end of the day.

Matt Shaw and Kevin Alcantara could be on the Chicago Cubs this year

Shaw is the highest ranked prospect by Fangraphs, coming in at 13th overall in all of baseball. The 2023 first round draft choice is expected to get the first crack at playing third base and Spring Training and will likely be the Opening Day starter at that position in Japan next month. Shaw spent time in Double-A and Triple-A a year ago where he dominated at the plate like he had in 2023.

The former Maryland Terrapin hit 21 home runs and drove in 71 while slashing .284/.379/.488 with Tennessee and Iowa. Despite winning the Brooks Wallace Award in his final season of collegiate baseball as the nations’ best shortstop, Shaw will be taking care of the hot corner to begin his big league career with Dansby Swanson anchoring short for the Cubs.

Alcantara ranked 46th as the second highest Cub on this list. Similar to Shaw, Alcantara split time with Tennessee and Iowa last year. The 22-year-old earned a call to the show in the final week of the regular season when the team was in Philadelphia based on his play in 2024. He slashed .278/.353/.428 last year and mashed 14 home runs while driving in 61 runs.

Known as “The Jaguar”, he is expected to compete for the backup centerfielder role in Spring Training, and should have the inside edge to win the job based on his competition. Alcantara was acquired from the New York Yankees for Anthony Rizzo during the 2021 trade deadline.

A pitcher and shortstop round out the list for the Chicago Cubs

Cade Horton is the lone pitcher on this list for the Chicago Cubs, where he slots in at 79th overall. The right-hander was a first-round pick in the 2022 draft and while he will not be on the Opening Day roster, he is expected to make his debut a some point this season.

Horton made nine starts between Tennessee and Iowa last year while battling injury. The former Oklahoma Sooner went 2-1 with a 4.46 ERA over 34.1 innings tossed. There is no doubt that Horton has the stuff to be an elite big league pitcher, but health will be the only thing that holds him back. He underwent Tommy John surgery in college and wasn’t able to stay fully healthy last year, so that’s something to keep an eye on moving forward.

Rojas is a fun and exciting name to see featured on this list. The 19-year-old shortstop ranks 81st according to Fangraphs after being signed by the Chicago Cubs organization on January 15, 2022. The youngster has tremendous upside and played in 96 games for the South Bend Cubs in 2024.

He slashed .245/.310/.336 while hitting six homers and driving in 47 runs as one of the most see players for South Bend. Rojas’s defense is must-see TV every time he takes the field and Chicago could very well have their shortstop of the future in him. He still has a little ways to go before being ready for the show which is more than fine with Swanson having five years left on his contract.

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The Chicago Cubs enter spring training expecting to be one of the better teams in the National League.

PECOTA Projections predicts the Cubs will win 90 games and will win the National League Central. Given all the moves the Cubs made this offseason, that seems like a possibility.

The Cubs have high expectations for their top prospect, Matt Shaw. Shaw could be the Cubs’ Opening Day third baseman if he can perform in camp.

Shaw who was drafted as a shortstop, has been working extremely hard this offseason to become a decent third baseman. During the winter, Shaw has studied films of, Alex Bregman and Nolan Arenado to get a few pointers to better his game.

Another influential voice helping Shaw is one of the Cubs Hall of Fame middle infielders, who had a similar path to the big leagues.

Shaw has similarities to Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer

One person who has drawn a liking to the 23-year-old Shaw is Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg. The Cub’s best second baseman in franchise history and Shaw, have similar paths to the major leagues. Both were drafted as shortstops but had to be moved to third base once they were called up.

Sandberg primarily worked as a shortstop in the Philadelphia Phillies organization but was blocked at the position, due to the Phillies having Larry Bowa as their shortstop. Shaw is in a similar spot, with the Cubs having Dansby Swanson as their shortstop.

Sandberg has been a staple in camp, with The Athletic Patrick Mooney writing that Ryno has provided an “upbeat attitude”. Mooney also wrote that Shaw embraced that he and Sanberg have a similar path to the big leagues by saying “It was really cool”.

“It was really cool to have him talk about those experiences and tell me that he has a lot of belief in me, and he’s supporting me behind the scenes.”

Shaw is ready for the challenge

Shaw is ready to go and take on the duties of being the Cub’s third baseman. Speaking on the pressures of having those high expectations, Shaw told Mooney that he “looks forward” to the pressure.

“There’s pressure no matter where you are,” Shaw said. “I look forward to it. Everyone’s going to fail sometimes. You look up around the entire big leagues — whether it’s the best of the best or new guys like myself — you find that everybody struggles from time to time. It’s just being able to minimize that, move past it and just accept it for what it is. That’s part of the game.”

The Cub’s top prospect has proven at every level the ability to hit and hit for power. Shaw has the potential to be a 20/20 guy once he gets his footing underneath him.

We shall soon see what Shaw is made of

The first games will start soon and fans will see what Shaw will bring to the team.

As of now, Shaw is sidelined with an oblique issue which has caused him to have a slower ramp-up than others but will resume some light-hitting on Monday and then go from there.

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The Chicago Cubs have already begun the necessary preparations to have what should be a spectacular season.

The Cubs enter camp with excitement unlike no other. Having a solid offseason and having a few exciting young players who could potentially make the roster, the Cubs have an exciting time in front of them.

One of those players is the Cubs top prospect Matt Shaw, who comes into camp dealing with an oblique issue, but received some positive news on the injury.

Positive news for the Chicago Cubs

Shaw gave Cubs fans a scare when it was reported that he was dealing with an oblique issue. However, it appears to be nothing serious, with 670 The Score Bruce Levine saying that Shaw can begin light hitting on Monday.

“First take @670TheScore-Cubs Matt Shaw said he can begin light hitting today after straining his oblique Monday. He has sat out four days.”

First take @670TheScore -Cubs Matt Shaw said he can begin light hitting today after straining his oblique Monday. He has sat out four days.

— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) February 15, 2025

A clear path for the rookie to be a starter

Thankfully this is nothing serious, and Shaw should be scheduled to play in the Cub’s first exhibition game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Feb 20. Now that the Alex Bregman sweepstakes are over, the 23-year-old can breathe a little easier knowing he has a clear path to being the Cubs starting third baseman.

Shaw has all the ability to be a good offensive player in the big leagues. Shaw has shown the ability to hit by having a 60/80 grade for his hit tool, and decent grades for his power (55/80) and speed (55/80). Currently ranked as the No. 19 overall prospect in baseball, Shaw has a clear path to be the Cub’s starting third baseman, given his offensive upside. The only thing Shaw has to prove is, whether he can be a capable defensive third baseman.

Shaw has played 67 games at third base in his time down in the minor leagues. Originally drafted as a shortstop, Shaw will follow the same path as the aforementioned Alex Bregman did, with he too being a natural shortstop, but having to be moved to third with the Astros having Carlos Correa there.

The Massachusetts native should have a good season, with Marquee Sports Network projecting that Shaw will play in 123 games this season, where he’ll hit .253 have 17 HRs, 63 RBI, have an OPS of .729, and have 16 stolen bases. If Shaw can put up those numbers, he will certainly finish the year in the Rookie of the Year voting.

Matt Shaw’s projected numbers for 2025 pic.twitter.com/V2TTxBzbFm

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) February 13, 2025

This could’ve been worse

Thankfully this is nothing serious and with a little rest and more time off, Shaw should be ready to go on Monday as Levine stated.

The Cubs have high expectations for Shaw and will need him to be healthy if they’re to have success.

The Cubs will open their season in Japan on March 18, where the Cubs will take on the reigning World Series Champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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The Chicago Cubs were the first teams to open camp on Feb 9 to their pitchers and catchers, given that they open their season in Japan next month.

With all the key acquisitions they made this offseason, the Cubs are primed to be one of the better teams in the National League this year.

The Cubs so far have had very few injuries with a few of their players dealing with oblique issues.

The Chicago Cubs have a couple of injuries entering camp

The Cubs are already plagued by the injury bug, with a couple of their players down with oblique issues. Earlier in the week the Cubs got news that right-handed pitcher Javier Assad has a mild oblique strain and will be shut down for some time.

Now it appears that the Cubs’ top prospect Matt Shaw is dealing with an oblique issue which USA Today columnist Bob Nightengale says “is not serious” and says the Cubs think Shaw should only be down for a few days.

“Cubs prized third base prospect Matt Shaw is dealing with an oblique issue but the Cubs don’t believe it’s serious and is day to day.”

Cubs prized third base prospect Matt Shaw is dealing with an oblique issue but the Cubs don’t believe it’s serious and is day to day.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 14, 2025

A critical part of the Cubs offense

Shaw has the opportunity to break camp with the Cubs and be their starting third baseman on Opening Day. Shaw is primed to have a spectacular career, showing the ability to perform at every level and passing all the tests the Cubs have laid out for him.

Last season Shaw was nothing short of impressive, playing in 121 games between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa. In those games, Shaw had 19 doubles, 4 triples, 21 HRs, 71 RBI, and 31 stolen bases and only being caught 11 times. Shaw also impressed with the ability to limit his strikeouts only having 95 in 443 at bats.

Marquee Sports Network projects that Shaw will play in 123 games this season where he’ll hit .253 have 17 HRs, 63 RBI, have an OPS of .729, and have 16 stolen bases. If Shaw can put up those numbers, Shaw will certainly finish the year in the Rookie of the Year voting.

“Matt Shaw’s projected numbers for 2025”

Matt Shaw’s projected numbers for 2025 pic.twitter.com/V2TTxBzbFm

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) February 13, 2025

Thankfully this isn’t serious

Thankfully the news of Shaw’s injury isn’t too serious and he shouldn’t miss that much time.

Most of the Cubs position players are starting to trickle into camp and Shaw has some time to heal up before they play their first game of spring.

The Cubs will open up against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Feb 20 and the Cubs play them in the opening series over in Tokyo, Japan on March 18.

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The Chicago Cubs were the first team to open up their spring training facilities to their pitchers and catchers on Feb. 9, and it’s so exciting to see the Cubbies back in action.

The Cubs have high expectations coming into this season. With all the additions and star power the Cubs have added, they should hopefully make the playoffs this season.

One player coming into spring training who will have high expectations from both management and the fans is the Cubs’ top prospect, Matt Shaw. Shaw could potentially be the Cubs starting third baseman this season.

Craig Counsell has confidence in Shaw

It’s only day two of Cubs spring training camp, and the Cubs manager has already hinted that Shaw will be the leading candidate to be the starting third baseman. In a scrum with the media Monday afternoon, Counsell stated that Shaw will “get the first shot” at playing third this spring.

“He is going to get the first shot at it.”

Craig Counsell on Matt Shaw playing 3B.”

"He is going to get the first shot at it.”

Craig Counsell on Matt Shaw playing 3B. pic.twitter.com/gX9S6QvsWQ

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) February 10, 2025

With the Cubs still being rumored to be in on signing free agent third baseman Alex Bregman, this is a bode of confidence coming from the Cubs skipper,

The future Chicago Cubs third baseman

Shaw has a real chance to crack the Cubs roster out of spring training if he can show he’s capable of fielding his position at third and having a solid bat. All indications point to Shaw being a future star in the league, being he’s the Cubs top-rated prospect and MLB No. 19 overall prospect.

Shaw recently had his grades on his tools increased with the new prospect ratings, with his hit tool standing out amongst the others at 60/80. Not far behind are Shaw’s power and speed, which both grade out at 55/80, which should help him be a 20+ home-run hitter and a possible 20+ stolen base guy.

Shaws’ biggest weakness would be his arm, which he comes into spring training grading as having a below-average arm at 45/80. Since Shaw will be competing for the starting third base job, he needs to increase his arm strength to be on par with other third basemen in the league.

Shaw has been working on his craft this winter at third, seeing time there during the Premier12 games and studying videos of Nolan Arenado and the aforementioned Alex Bregman.

Matt Shaw getting his work in at 3B.
What do you think? Comment pic.twitter.com/YDvF2g3Z66

— The Setup Man – Chicago Cubs YT Channel (@SetupManKyle) February 7, 2025

Spring training will be a real test

Shaw’s competition at third coming into spring training will be Jon Berti, Vidal Bruján, Gage Workman, and Nicky Lopez.

Having the confidence in his manager will help Shaw’s chances, but Shaw is more than ready to go and be the Cubs starting third baseman.

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The Chicago Cubs have a ton of prospects that could make big impacts on their major league roster at some point this season. 

The Cubs top prospect Matt Shaw has the best chance to make the Opening Day roster with him expected to compete for the starting third base job. That path could be blocked if the Cubs end up signing Alex Bregman who they appear to be ‘aggressively’ pursuing. 

The Cubs recently were honored with having seven of their prospects make MLB’s top 100 prospects list, but were recently ranked as one of the weaker farm systems in a recent report. 

The Chicago Cubs ranked as the 10th-best farm system

In his latest rankings, ESPN’s Kiely McDaniel put five of the Cubs prospects on his top 100 list and ranked the Cubs farm system at 10th in baseball and having a value of $215 million. This is a dramatic drop-off from last season where the Cubs ranked second and had a value of $328 million. 

As I said Shaw has the chance to be the Cubs Opening Day third baseman if all goes well this spring and if the Cubs don’t sign Bregman. Shaw has the ability to be a future superstar in the league with having the same body type and makeup as Bregman. 

Right-handed pitcher Cade Horton could be up in the Cubs rotation with the Cubs needing another starter. Horton is coming into this spring ready to bounce back after suffering a shoulder injury last season. Horton can be a middle to top-of-the-rotation type of arm with two-plus pitches in his arsenal. 

Horton expressed that one of his main goals coming into this season was to make sure that his mechanics were sound and more importantly that his hands separated on time. Horton expressed that would help him be able to throw more consistent strikes. Another area of focus mechanically for Horton was making sure he stayed on his backside longer in order to get more drive down the mound and to the plate.

Others on the list

As for Owen Caissie and Kevin Alcantara, they are both currently blocked from having a spot on the major league roster. Currently, Alcantara is blocked by Pete Crow-Armstrong who is out in the center, and Caissie is blocked by Kyle Tucker and Ian Happ from playing either of the corner outfield spots. It wouldn’t make sense to keep both on the roster and use either off the bench for this season, given that would stunt their development. Other prospects named on the lister were Moises Ballesteros, James Triantos, and Brandon Birdsell. Ironically, Birdsell made McDaniel’s list but not MLB’s top 100 list, where he fell just short of making it in. 

An exciting time for the Cubs

The Cubs have a bright future ahead of them with so many prospects in their organization to help bring success. 

Naturally not all of these prospects will make the big leagues or pan out being that baseball is a sport that exposes even the best of players. However, having as many prospects to choose from as the Cubs do gives them a better chance of striking gold with a few of them. 

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The Chicago Cubs recently had seven of their prospects make MLB’s top 100 prospects list.

Most of those prospects will figure to make a big impact for the Cubs at some point this season.

One of those prospects who just fell short of the top 100 list Brandon Birdsell could be an impactful pitcher for the Cubs this season

The Chicago Cubs’ talented young starter

The soon-to-be 25-year-old Birdsell was drafted by the Cubs in the fifth round of the 2022 MLB June Amateur Draft from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Birdsell split his time between Double and Triple-A last season where he made a total of 26 starts between the two levels.

In those 26 starts, Birdsell had an 8-9 record with a 3.91 ERA, and striking out 134 batters in 135.2 innings. Birdsell fared better while at Double-A having a 3.63 ERA and a 1.157 WHIP in 74.1 innings. According to the Texas natives Baseball Savant page, he has a plus fastball that grades at 60/80, an above-average curveball at 55/80, an average slider at 50/80, and a decent changeup at 50/80.

“Birdsell’s fastball sits at 94-96 mph and peaks at 99, though its velocity stands out more than its armside run and gets hit when he catches too much of the plate. He misses more bats with his slider, which features good depth in the mid-80s and more cutter action when he throws it in the upper 80s. He doesn’t use his hard upper-80s changeup very often but it’s an effective third offering with significant fade when it’s on.”

Could Birdsell be with the Cubs in 2025?

Birdsell has as good of a shot as anyone to make the Cubs roster this season.

With the Cubs possibly needing another starter in the rotation Birdsell could potentially fill that role if needed.

For now, Birdsell will start the season at Triple-A to get his work in and be ready in case of an injury.

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The Chicago Cubs currently have seven prospects on MLB’s top 100 list.

All of whom have the chance to make an impact on the Cubs roster at some point this season.

One of those prospects Moisés Ballesteros could be up quicker than most with his bat being so advanced and with his defensive trailing just slightly behind.

Receiving advice from his first hitting coach

In a recent interview with Marquee Sports Network Ballesteros recalled what it was like growing up in Venezuela and how his father Harry, helped him with his hitting. Ballesteros recalled that his first introduction to hitting was when his father would throw him corn kernels to see how well he could hit.

“My dad has always helped me since I was little, since I was like 6,” Moisés — now a minor leaguer and the 46th-ranked prospect in baseball, per the Athletic’s Keith Law — said at Cubs Convention. “My dad has always been my hitting coach. He’s always helped me when I was younger.”

Ballesteros came to the Cubs as an international free agent in the class of 2020-2021 after playing for the Venezuelan national youth team. Signing for $1.2 million Ballesteros has been outstanding since joining the Cubs a wide-eyed 18-year-old.

Coming into pro-ball at such a young age the young Ballesteros relied heavily on the wisdom of his father to help him get through the struggles and help work on his hitting adjustments.

“He watches all my games and tells me things like, ‘Son, I’m seeing that you’re cheating forward a bit. You’re not letting the ball come to you,’” Ballesteros said. “Sometimes he asks me if I’m tired because he sees me playing. Honestly, I’m thankful that my dad is that person that I have there for me.”

A talented young catcher

Ballesteros has the potential in my opinion to be the next Kyle Schwarber for the Cubs with Moisés being on the same trajectory. Having a more elite bat that defense the Cubs have been kicking around the thought of moving Ballesteros off of catcher if he can’t show he can improve his receiving ability. The Cubs brought in veteran catchers Carlos Perez and Reese McGuire as depth options who could also act as mentors for Ballesteros. Ballesteros could force his way onto the Cubs roster early this season if he shows out down in Triple-A and can show he is capable of handling a pitching staff. 

According to MLB.com Ballesteros has great grades for his hit tool (60/80) and his power (50/80) while having below-average grades for his run (30/80) and his fielding (40/80). Ballesteros had a great season last year for the Cubs where he split his time between Double and Triple-A.

In 124 games Ballesteros slashed .289/.354/.826 with an OPS of .826. He also was able to hit 9 home runs while at Double-A then added another 10 while at Triple-A to have a total of 19 for the season.

Ballesteros comes into this season noticeably slimmed down making it a point to shed some pounds to be more nimble behind the plate. According to Ballesteros he also incorporated the new one-knee down-catching technique to help with his receiving.

The young 21-year-old also said he received advice from a once prominent Cubs catcher who he says was his favorite player growing up in Wilson Contreras.

“‘Work hard and keep doing what you’re doing today because that will make you grande — big,’” Contreras said.

“It was a big impact for me,” Ballesteros said. “I was super impressed that he gave me some words of advice. It was something that motivated me a lot because he gave me the advice that if I kept going like I’m going — I’m going well — I would get good results.

“And I have been the same person today and I haven’t changed.”  

Coming to Wrigley soon

Ballesteros has the chance to make an impact for the Cubs this season with his bat being as advanced as it is.

If he can at least become an average defender and work up to being able to handle a pitching staff Ballesteros has a chance to be a star.

If he can put up the same numbers as last season and improve defensively he will force the Cubs hand to call him up at some point this season.

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Recently MLB.com and MLB Pipeline released their list of the top 100 prospects in Major League Baseball and the Chicago Cubs had seven of their prospects top the rankings.

One of those prospects is right-hander Cade Horton who is the 52nd overall prospect in baseball and he will figure to debut with the Cubs at some point this season.

Recently sitting down with 670 the Score to discuss his offseason and plans for the year, Horton gave some great insight into his mental state and what he has been working on.

Chicago Cubs No. 52 overall prospect

Drafted by the Cubs in the first round seventh overall in the 2022 MLB June Amateur Draft from the University of Oklahoma, the 23-year-old Horton was on track to make his debut with the Cubs last season before being derailed with a subscapular strain in his shoulder. A pitcher with a four-pitch mix, Horton has a plus fastball (60/80) and plus-plus slider (70/80) that figure to be his strikeout pitches. Horton also carries a solid curveball (50/80) and a below-average changeup in his arsenal with decent overall control (55/80). 

“Horton’s plus-plus mid-80s slider with two-plane depth was as effective as ever last season, producing a 49 percent chase rate and 50 percent swing-and-miss rate. His fastball dipped slightly when his shoulder began bothering him, but when healthy, he operates in the mid-90s and peaks at 98 mph with carry and run. He’ll use a low-80s curveball to give hitters a different look, while his upper-80s changeup has some fade and can miss bats, but he has trouble throwing it for strikes.”

Horton recently said he wanted a “seat on the plane” and has said he would even be open to being a reliever for the Cubs if that were what would get him there. The Cubs currently have an open spot in the rotation and Horton will figure to get a decent amount of looks this spring to see if he is worthy of taking that spot. 

The interview with 670 the Score

During his appearance on 670 the Score, Horton sounded great and seemed energized to go for the season. He stated that one of his main focuses coming into this offseason was emphasizing that he has to be more of an athlete on the mound. This means that not only does he have to pitch well but be a good fielding pitcher and be able to field his position to help himself out.

Horton also expressed that one of his main goals was to make sure that his mechanics were sound and more importantly that his hands separated on time. Horton expressed that would help him be able to throw more consistent strikes. Another area of focus mechanically for Horton was making sure he stayed on his backside longer in order to get more drive down the mound and to the plate.

Another big area of focus for Horton that he expressed was really important to him was getting better with the mental side of the game. He stated that he is only trying to control the things he can control and that he treats every bullpen session as if it were a game situation.

Primed to debut with the Chicago Cubs

After having his season derailed last year Horton said he had the itch to get back going this year after not being able to face hitters in so long.

Horton will figure to start the season in Triple-A to see how well he bounces back from the should injury and give him consistent starts every fifth day to get him ready.

If Horton shows out in the first month of the season there is no reason as to why the Chicago Cubs wouldn’t entertain the thought of giving him a shot.

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Recently Baseball America released their list of who they thought the top 100 prospects were and they had five Chicago Cubs prospects make their list.

The Cubs had two of their prospects’ insiders James Triantos and Jefferson Rojas fall just short of Baseball Americas list but didn’t miss it by much.

Recently, MLB.com and MLB Pipeline released their annual lists of their top 100 prospects, and the Cubs again have seven players on the top MLB list, with Matt Shaw again being the best among them.

Seven Chicago Cubs on MLB’s top 100 prospects list

Having so many valuable prospects not only add depth in case of injury but allows for so much flexibility If one of them doesn’t pan out fully then you have others to step up and take their place. Having seven on the list is impressive and destroys the narrative that the Cubs are bad at finding talent.

Shaw is set to compete and possibly win the starting third base job for the Cubs out of spring training. Shaw who is ranked by MLB as the No. 19 prospect in baseball has shown the capabilities to play third and has been studying films of great third basemen like Alex Bregman and Nolan Arenado to help his game. Shaw will show the ability to put the bat on the ball by having his hit tool graded at 60/80 and having a career average in the minors of .303. 

The one thing that Shaw will have to work on with moving over to third is getting a stronger arm. Given he was drafted as a shortstop, Shaw certainly will have the range to get to hard grounders which should compensate for his weaker arm. However, for the balls to hit in the hole or down the line that is where Shaw will need a cannon like Arenado to get a speedy baserunner out quickly. 

The rest of the players on the list are pitcher Cade Horton at No. 52, outfielder Owen Caissie at No. 54, catcher Moises Ballesteros No. 69, infielder James Triantos No. 73, Kevin Alcantara No. 90, and infielder Jefferson Rojas No. 97. All of whom, except for Rojas, reached Triple-A last season with Alcantara being the only one to make his debut with the Cubs last season. 

Cade Horton 

The 23-year-old Horton was on track to make his debut with the Cubs last season before being derailed with a subscapular strain in his shoulder. A pitcher with a four-pitch mix, Horton has a plus fastball (60/80) and plus-plus slider (70/80) that figure to be his strikeout pitches. Horton also carries a solid curveball (50/80) and a below-average changeup in his arsenal with decent overall control (55/80). 

“Horton’s plus-plus mid-80s slider with two-plane depth was as effective as ever last season, producing a 49 percent chase rate and 50 percent swing-and-miss rate. His fastball dipped slightly when his shoulder began bothering him, but when healthy, he operates in the mid-90s and peaks at 98 mph with carry and run. He’ll use a low-80s curveball to give hitters a different look, while his upper-80s changeup has some fade and can miss bats, but he has trouble throwing it for strikes.”

Horton recently said he wanted a “seat on the plane” and has said he would even be open to being a reliever for the Cubs if that were what would get him there. The Cubs currently have an open spot in the rotation and Horton will figure to get a decent amount of looks this spring to see if he is worthy of taking that spot. 

Owen Caissie and Kevin Alcantara 

Both Caissie and Alcantara will start the year in the minor leagues without having an everyday spot in the outfield with them being blocked. Currently, Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Kyle Tucker, and Seiya Suzuki are all in the mix for the outfield with Alexander Canario being the fourth outfielder given he has more major league experience. 

Caissie has the potential to be a solid big-league outfielder possibly being a star one day with the potential to be a power bat in either of the corner outfield spots. Caissie’s best two tools are his power and his arm which both grade at 60/80 with being a decent fielder at 50/80. Spending all of last season at Triple-A where he hit .278/.375/.473 for an OPS of .848 Caissie said at Cubs Con that what he expects for this season is that he wants to win and do it with the boys. 

“We want to win. That’s the ultimate goal,” Cubs outfield prospect Owen Caissie said at the Cubs Convention earlier this month. “We want to bring a championship back to this city. And I want to do it with my boys. That’s all I want, is to win. And I feel like we have the core to do it.”

For Alcantara, he is in the same boat as Caissie as not having an everyday spot on the major league roster to get consistent at-bats. The 6-6 righty is tall for a centerfielder but provides plus defense due to his speed grading at 60/80 and his fielding grading the same. Alcantara was very productive for the Cubs last season during his climb from Double-A to the MLB having a slash line of .278/.353/.428 and an OPS of .781 and had one hit in his brief cup of coffee with the Cubs. 

James Triantos and Jefferson Rojas

Triantos has the ability to be a really productive major league once he is called up to the show and will be an elite bat-to-ball hitter. Last season Triantos had a .300 average with 133 hits in 115 games with also swiping 47 bags and only being caught 9 times. Given that Triantos is so versatile that could help get him to Wrigley faster given he has the ability to play second, third, and centerfield. 

Jefferson Rojas is the only one on this list who won’t be making his debut this year with MLB estimating that to happen in 2026. The 19-year-old shortstop has decent grades with his best being his arm grading at a 60/80. Spending his time a High-A last season where he hit .245/.310/.336 with an OPS of .646 in 96 games. Rojas will have to take the next step offensively to take the next step in his development. 

Moises Ballesteros 

Ballesteros has the potential to be the next Kyle Schwarber for the Cubs with Moises being on the same trajectory. Having a more elite bat that defense the Cubs have been kicking around the thought of moving Ballesteros off of catcher if he can’t show he can improve. The Cubs brought in veteran catcher Carlos Perez and Reese McGuire as depth options who could act as mentors for Ballesteros. Ballesteros could force his way onto the Cubs roster early this season if he shows out down in Triple-A and can show he is capable of handling a pitching staff. 

An exciting time to be a Cubs fan

Having all these exciting prospects coming down the pike should be a jolt of youthful energy to the Cubs clubhouse. 

With Shaw possibly going to be the Cubs starting third baseman come Opening Day potentially seeing him light up the Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers during the Japan Series has me already waiting to wake up early to see it. 

The Chicago Cubs have something special going on the potential for them to end their playoff drought is high, especially with all these top prospects.  

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Baseball America recently published its top prospect list, and the Chicago Cubs had five prospects of their own make the top 100 with a couple of them just falling shy of making it.

Most of the Cub’s prospects like Matt Shaw, Kevin Alcantara, and Cade Horton are big-league-ready and could keep up with the Cubs by the middle of this season.

A few like Moises Ballesteros and Owen Caissie just need a little bit of tweaking around the edges before they are ready to join the Cubs.

With that being the case for those two, a few of their other teammates could be joining them at the Cubs Triple-A affiliate the Iowa Cubs for the start of next season.

Most of the Chicago Cubs’ top prospects to start the season in Triple-A

According to President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer when speaking to fans at Cubs Con the situation of why it wouldn’t be beneficial to have all their top guys riding the bench and not getting any consistent playing time.

Per Cubs Con from Mike Mcgraw of the Daily Herald

“We could build a really good bench with guys who are top 100 prospects,” Hoyer said. “I don’t think it makes a lot of sense for us to do that. They’re not going to play very much, they’re going to get stale, they’re not going to get the reps they need.”

This would make sense with all of them needing every day at-bats to further their developments and to see if they can replicate their production from last season. Matt Shaw is the only one of all the top prospects, other than Alcantara, to make his debut for the Cubs on Opening Day with him set to compete for the starting third base job in spring training.

As for Ballesteros, Triantos, and Horton, they all split their times last season between Double and Triple-A with Alcantara and Caissie starting the year at Triple-A and Alcantara the only one to make his Major League Debut last season.

How do some of them feel about starting in the minors?

Obviously, the goal is to break camp with the Cubs and be on the Opening Day roster, but with only 26 spots available and most of them already taken, there isn’t a lot of room left available. When asked about how he felt about possibly starting the year in the minors Owen Caissie took it in stride by saying at Cubs Con:

“I just want to play ball,” Caissie said at the convention. “So whether that be up in the big leagues or down in the minors, it doesn’t matter to me. Ultimately, it’s their decision. I can play good, but it’s their decision. I respect it. They’re trying to run a business.”

Cade Horton who was sidelined last season due to a scapular strain he has the best chance to make his debut with the Cubs sooner than the others. Horton who also spoke at the convention and was possibly on track on debuting last season before going down with the shoulder injury said:

“That was tough, because I’m always a guy that’s wanting to go until I break,” Horton said at the convention. “So having those people around me (was helpful) to be like, ‘No, let’s do the smart thing. You have a whole career ahead of you.’ It’s always tough getting hurt, but I think I learned more through this experience than I would have being on the field.”

This season will be exciting for sure

The possibility of having so much talent to build around from within the organization is something that should send excitement up and down fans’ spines.

Shaw will most likely seize the third base job and be the Cub’s Opening Day third baseman when they play the Dodgers in Japan which will be exciting to see.

All should possibly make their way to Wrigley at some point this summer with injuries always being a factor and when they do the youth movement will be all the rage in Chicago.

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The Chicago Cubs will figure to have an exciting spring training with some of their new additions like Kyle Tucker and others entering their first seasons in a Cubs uniform.

Spring training is a time for players to get their work in with the veterans just preparing themselves for another grueling season, while the young wide-eyed prospects come in eager to make a name for themselves.

That will hold this spring training with the organization’s top prospect Matt Shaw set to compete for the starting third base job. Taking his new role in stride the young and possibly future star is taking his new role seriously. 

The potential Chicago Cubs future third baseman 

The opportunity for Matt Shaw to become the Cubs starting third baseman came when the team traded away Isaac Paredes to the Houston Astros to acquire outfielder Kyle Tucker. Shaw, who was drafted as a shortstop is getting the Alex Bregman treatment with having a preestablished major league shortstop (Dansby Swanson) blocking his path and and forcing him to move off his primary position. Shaw is graded by MLB.com as having a below-average arm (45/80) and is graded as being an average fielder (50/80), so he will have to prove that he has the necessary arm strength and range needed to play third base this spring. 

To help him in his efforts to become a better fielder at third base the 23-year-old Shaw has been researching and watching videos of elite third baseman such as the aforementioned Alex Bregman and 9x Gold Glover and five-time Platinum Glove winner Nolan Arenado with ESPN.com Jesse Rodgers tweeting out that Shaw has been studying film of both Nolan Arenado and Alex Bregman. 

“Some notes from the Cubs fan convention: Craig Counsell told Seiya Suzuki earlier this week that he’ll be the team’s main DH…Counsell is not considering the speedy Pete Crow-Armstrong for the lead off spot right now…And prospect Matt Shaw has been watching tape of Arenado and Bregman to help improve his D at 3b. Smart kid.

Some notes from the Cubs fan convention: Craig Counsell told Seiya Suzuki earlier this week that he'll be the team's main DH…Counsell is not considering the speedy Pete Crow-Armstrong for the lead off spot right now…And prospect Matt Shaw has been watching tape of Arenado and…

— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) January 18, 2025

According to the Cubs General Manager Carter Hawkins who spoke to fans about Shaw being the future third baseman by saying per MLB.com:

“Expect him to do everything he possibly can” to claim the vacancy at third base.

Shaw himself spoke on the subject by adding in:

“No matter how much the opportunity might present itself,” Shaw said, “it’s still going to be, ‘You’ve got to earn that spot.’ Hopefully, given the opportunity, I’ll be able to show what I’ve got and be able to earn that position.”

The need to be an offensive force on top of being strong defensively

For Shaw to have success at third base he will not only need to show he is a capable defender but show he can do it with the bat as well. Both first and third base are considered ‘power positions’ just like the corner outfield spots are so Shaw having some thump in his bat will be vital.

Nolan Arenado is the perfect example of what you would design your perfect third baseman to be by being elite on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball with the ability to hit 30+ homers and drive in 110+ RBI. Shaw watching video to try and emulate Arendo is the right route to go given Arenado will certainly be a first-ballot Hall of Famer when his career is over. 

Last season Shaw showed promise in the power department by having a career hit in homeruns with 21 and a solid slugging percentage and OPS of .488 and .867. If Shaw is to be successful this year and be the Cub’s third baseman, he will need to hit at least 20 HRs at the plate to be successful. 

Matt Shaw still has room to grow

Shaw is still young and still grown and will add to his frame. Once he fills the rest of his frame with the muscle and strength needed to be a threat at third base, Shaw could be a top-ten third baseman in the sport once fully developed. Spring training will be a good testing ground to show if Shaw is capable of handling the pressure and if he is ready to make the major league roster.  

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The Chicago Cubs have seven prospects in MLB.com’s top 100 prospects list that all could potentially debut with the Cubs at some point this season. 

A couple of those prospects like Matt Shaw, James Triantos, and Cade Horton could all figure to be big parts of the Cubs lineup and rotation with the team having holes in both that all three could figure to fill in. 

One of those three prospects, James Triantos, was named in the top ten of MLB.com’s top second-base prospects for this season. With another prospect making it into the top five at his position with MLB’s most recent rankings. 

The Chicago Cubs’ Matt Shaw was named the No. 2 third base prospect

Sam Dykstra of MLB.com released his most recent list of the top third base prospects in Major League Baseball and Shaw was named as the second-best third baseman following Coby Mayo of the Baltimore Orioles. This is a high honor for Shaw to get with him being primarily a shortstop. Shaw has split most of his time down in the minors playing both shortstop (44 games) and third base (66 games), so he isn’t unfamiliar with the position. 

Not only was Shaw named as the second overall third baseman, but he received high praise for his grades as well. Dykstra graded Shaw as having the highest hit tool at 60 and his run at 55. Dykstra also listed Shaw as having the highest floor and named him as a possible Rookie of the Year winner. Saying of Shaw having the highest floor: 

“Shaw’s hit tool would be good enough to earn him a spot here considering it’s practically Major League-ready now. His above-average power and speed elevate the floor even higher, and the athleticism — in particular — means he has other ways to contribute on days he pulls an 0-for at the dish.” 

And adding on why he feels that Shaw will win the Rookie of the Year: 

“The Cubs should be in win-now mode after the acquisition of Tucker, yet they continue to hold space for the former Maryland great in its third-base plans. Barring an unforeseen move, Shaw has a great chance of winning the MLB gig outright this spring, and his multiple tools could help build a solid ROY case.”

Third base is Shaw’s job to lose 

Shaw has the opportunity to be the Cubs’ starting third baseman come Opening Day if he can perform during spring training. Shaw has a good shot to do so with last season being a standout for him offensively with a line of .284/.379/.488 in 121 games played between Double and Triple-A last season. 

Shaw will have some competition for the job in Vidal Brujan who the Cubs acquired from the Miami Marlins and Gage Workman who they picked up in this offseason Rule 5 Draft. They figure however to be no real threat to Shaw, with Workman potentially being Shaw’s possible platoon partner. 

The Cubs may look to bring in another veteran to be an insurance policy for Shaw in case he struggles, but all signs show he will and should succeed. Spring Training will figure to be exciting from all the storylines going on, but Shaw being able to take over the starting third base job will be tops amongst them. 

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The Chicago Cubs have a ton of top prospects that fans all should know such as Matt Shaw, Owen Caissie, and Cade Horton, to name a few.

All of whom, figure to make their debut at some point this season and help the Cubs in their chances at making the playoffs this season. 

However, since trading away former top prospect Michael Arias, the Cubs elevated another very intriguing prospect to the top 30 list. 

Chicago Cubs Eli Lovich (No. 29 prospect) 

The 19-year-old Lovich will be making his pro-ball debut this season for the Cubs after being drafted by them in the eleventh round of last year’s draft. Since the Cubs designated their former top prospect Michael Arias for assignment, who was later traded to the New York Yankees for cash considerations, Lovich was elevated to the Cub’s top 30 list.

The Blue Valley West High School grad has decent grades on MLB.com with his best grades being his speed and his arm with grading at 55/80. Lovich’s hit, power, and field all rank at 50/80, but given some time down in the minor leagues those grades could change. 

The 2024 Prep Baseball Kansas Player of the Year winner Lovich had an outstanding season where he had a .414 average, had 39 hits, hit 8 doubles, 6 triples, 5 homers, and drove in 36 RBI. Lovich also was able to score 37 runs and was 15/16 in stolen bases. What was impressive is that the tall and lanky lefty only struck out seven times in just 87 at-bats. 

Perfect Game describes Lovich as:

“A left-handed hitter with a tall and narrow base, slightly open stance, and had a high back elbow. He uses load and stride timing to get through the zone with some bat speed, creating leverage in his swing. He’s on time and athletic in the batters’ box with juice showing and a good feel for the barrel. The ball comes off hot; he produced an 89 mph exit velocity. Solid round of BP from the lefty.”

What does 2025 have in store for Lovich? 

Given that this will be Lovich’s first year in professional baseball, Lovich will start in either Low-A or High-A to start the season. If Lovich can have success at the lower levels for the first part of the season he could potentially make his way up to Double-A to finish the year. 

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The Chicago Cubs have a few key positional battles that will be intriguing to watch for this spring training.

With most of the Cubs positions filled, there aren’t that many holes that the Cubs need to fill. One of the top battles to watch out for will be for the bench and at third base.

Top prospect Matt Shaw has the inside track at winning the position if he performs well in spring training, and President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer indicated that further.

An internal battle

The Cubs top position to watch for this spring will be third base, where top prospect Matt Shaw will be the top choice to win the position. Shaw, who just turned 23 in November, had a great season between Double and Triple-A last season for the Cubs. In 121 games, Shaw had a slash line of .284/.379/.488 for an OPS of .867. Shaw also had 21 HRs, 19 doubles, and 6 triples to his credit as well.

The Chicago Cubs expect to stay internally for third base, Jed Hoyer says.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 17, 2025

In a recent tweet by USA Today columnist Bob Nightengale, he said that:

“The Chicago Cubs expect to stay internally for third base, Jed Hoyer says. “

The Cubs were supposed to be in on World Series Champion Alex Bregman, with him being reported to be interested in ashort-termm deal, but with this statement, that seems to be no longer a reality.

Other internal options for the Chicago Cubs at the position

The Cubs have a few other options to turn to if Shaw doesn’t take to the position right away or doesn’t produce offensively. Vidal Bruján is one option that the Cubs can turn to. The versatile Bruján can play anywhere in the infield and centerfield, but his knock is he’s never put it fully together at the plate.

Gage Workman, who the Cubs acquired in this year’s Rule 5 Draft, could be a potential platoon partner with Shaw, being he’s left-handed. One of the other Cubs top prospects, James Triantos, could be a useful weapon for the Cubs to turn to, given he has a higher offensive upside than Bruján.

The Cubs still could look to add another veteran infielder who can play the corners to add more depth, but so far the Cubs have a decent set of options. Hopefully Shaw can take off during this spring and be the Cubs starting third baseman for years to come.

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The Chicago Cubs have settled on a starter at each position– except one.

Third base remains an open slot. But even though the hot corner is technically up for grabs, there’s a definite favorite to grab that spot.

By the way things are looking, Cubs top prospect Matt Show will get every opportunity to win the starting gig at third base after the Cubs dealt Isaac Parades this past December in the trade that brought outfielder Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros.

Matt Shaw To The Rescue?

Shaw is the 23-year-old offensive prodigy who has batted his way into no. 1 prospect status in the highly-regarded Cubs farm system. Despite only being drafted in 2023, the young prospect has run through every level of the organization and has accumulated a .303 batting average along the way.

MLB.com even dished out the highest of praises when they gave him a “He has no discernible weakness” hitting assessment in their scouting report of Shaw.

Defensively, he’s decent and hard-working enough to be better than decent, with experience at shortstop, second base, third base, and the outfield.

But the Cubs really, really need him to be good at third base because that’s the only place, right now, where they can use him.

Taking Notice Of Matt Shaw

The league has already taken notice of Shaw as a potential starter. The media has also taken notice and is already assessing his status as a starting third baseman. Even with only 88 games, total, played at the position (both in college and the minors), Shaw has earned a mostly favorable ranking among the pros.

Pat Manser of Cubbies Crib, for example, is already ranking Shaw as the third best third baseman in the NL Central, behind the St, Louis Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado and Ke’Bryan Hayes of the Pittsburgh Pirates– not a great placement, but noteworthy since the top prospect has yet to take a single ground ball in the majors. However, he also believes that Shaw may eventually (and quickly) become the best third baseman in the division.

Already One Of The Best?

Per Manser:

“Cubs rookie Matt Shaw is going to get a ton of coverage over the next couple of months, but he’s the real deal. In roughly a full season of games in the minors (159), the University of Maryland product has a .906 OPS and 46 stolen bases. While he’s new to third base, Shaw has looked pretty decent according to reports (quality defensive metrics really aren’t available to fans for minor leaguers)…

Shaw generates a ton of power out of his 5’9 frame and doesn’t really have any distinct holes in his game in the minors. He’s about league average in strikeout rate, takes his walks and hits to all fields. I anticipate him being able to hit immediately. Third base might be a challenge for a bit at the big league level but Cubs fans have watched Christopher Morel the last three years. We will be fine. Shaw has a real shot at being the best third baseman in the division by May, even if he can just be a league average defender.”

Shaw will definitely get his opportunity to win the position this spring. The Cubs are hoping that as well since, as things sit right now, there’s pretty much no viable backup option to play everyday third base.

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This Chicago Cubs prospect is expected to breakout this season and do big things.

The Chicago Cubs have one of the best farm systems in all of baseball with names like Matt Shaw, Cade Horton, and Owen Caissie leading the list. There’s one prospect that’s lying below most teams radar however that could potentially get a chance to be up with the Cubs this season.

Jonathon Long (No. 27 overall prospect)

The 22-year-old Jonathon Long was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the ninth round of the 2023 MLB June Amateur Draft. In 2024 Long split his time between High-A South Bend and Double-A Tennessee playing in 114 games hitting 21 doubles, 17 HRs, 70 RBI for a slash line of .283/.391/.461 for an OPS of .851.

Looking at the University of California Long Beach products scouting grades his best grades are both his hitting and power which grade out at 50/80. MLB.com said of Jonathon Longs hitting abilities by saying:

“Long is a fairly complete offensive player who creates solid raw power with his quick right-handed swing and strength. He does a nice job of working counts and using the entire field, and he can drive the ball out of the park to right field on occasion. He rarely chases pitches, makes consistent contact and does damage against both lefties and righties“

Figuring to be strictly a first baseman or a designated hitter given his weak arm and inability to move around well which he would need to play the outfield and third base. Long offensive prowess is what could propel him to the big leagues.

The future for Jonathon Long

The five-ten lefty could figure to be adequate depth for the Chicago Cubs to have in their system to have behind starting first baseman Michael Busch. With the Chicago Cubs in search of finding a backup for Busch in case anything happens injury-wise or he slacks offensively, Jonathon Long could figure to be a low cost high reward player to have in their back pocket.

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Did the Chicago Cubs chances at landing this superstar pitcher just get better?

The Chicago Cubs have been in the running to land superstar pitcher Roki Sasaki all winter long, but could they actually now have a shot at landing him?

The Roki Sasaki sweepstakes final run

Both the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres are considered the top two teams to land superstar pitcher Roki Sasaki with the Chicago Cubs being on the outside looking in. However, there may be a glimmer of hope for the Chicago Cubs with the Dodgers not having as much international slot money available as we all previously thought. According to Francys Romero he tweeted out that the Los Angeles Dodgers:

Sources: The Dodgers have brought back to the market two of their highest bonuses for the upcoming 2024-25 international signing period: SS Darrell Morel (DR, $1.1M) and OF Orlando Patiño (VEN, $400K). They currently have around $3.6M to bid for Japanese ace Roki Sasaki.

Does this bode well for the Chicago Cubs?

With Saski’s agent Joel Wolfe figuring to demand more and get closer to the max Sasaki is allowed to sign for which is $7.5 million, the Los Angeles Dodgers may have just put themselves out of the running.

In a recent appearance on the YouTube Channel Foul Territory Senior Writer at Baseball America Kyle Glaser said that the key to signing Japanese superstar Roki Sasaki will not just be money, but will be having ‘strong relationships’.  The Cubs have been one of the teams vying for the 23-year-olds services since it became official back when he announced he was coming to Major League Baseball.

With the official date for Roki Sasaki to sign with a team opening on Wednesday, teams like the Dodgers and Cubs are scrambling to get as much slot money together as possibly to be able to offer it to Sasaki. With Roki Sasaki expected not to take long to sign with a team after the official signing period is open, the Chicago Cubs could hear sooner rather than later if they won the sweepstakes.

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