By: Jacob Zanolla
1: Matt Shaw, 3B/INF
Matt Shaw was our first round pick last season in 2023, and absolutely destroyed the minors after getting drafted. Shaw put up extremely impressive numbers in Double-A Tennessee, and earned the promotion to Iowa last month, along with James Triantos and Kevin Alcantara. In Double-A, Shaw posted a 147 wRC+ with 14 home runs and 45 walks. Defensively, Shaw has a lot of versatility. The Cubs don’t really need any specific infield position as of now, which means that versatility is extremely ideal. His bat continues to improve, with the odds (although still low) of a 2024 debut rising every day.
2: Moises Ballesteros, C/DH
My goodness, this guy can hit. He got promoted in June to Triple-A Iowa, and probably deserves a call-up to the majors at this point. Catching continues to be a problem for the Cubs, even after Miguel Amaya’s hot streak in mid-July. Even with the departure of Yan Gomes, and injury to Tomas Nido, Ballesteros remains in Iowa. It seems like he will remain there for the rest of the season as long as there aren’t any injuries on the major league squad, with the Cubs wanting him to continue working on his catching defense over the offseason. He has seven home runs already, with a .460 slugging and .344 wOBA. If he can keep the bat strong, even if the defense isn’t there, a DH spot could be waiting for him come September call-ups soon.
3: Cade Horton, RHP
Coming in at number three is right hander Cade Horton. Horton was drafted in 2022 as our first-round pick, a starting pitcher out of Oklahoma. Horton did really well in the College Baseball World Series, which helped skyrocket his draft stock, leading the Cubs to select him so high. Horton was immediately one of the best pitchers in Chicago’s farm system and has continued to move up the consensus farm system rankings. He got hurt a few months ago, and a recent setback will keep him out for the remainder of the season. While 2025 Opening Day was a benchmark several were hoping he could make, May or June of next season now seems like the most realistic option. Even with this injury, Horton still has elite potential, and was a rather easy choice to be at the top of this list.
4: Owen Caissie, RF/DH
Caissie was the subject of my article last Wednesday where I discussed his (somewhat) new agency, and the report that he will receive a promotion for September Call-Ups. Caissie has immense power, and it’s his best feature without a question. The strikeouts are concerning, but he is still hitting for a good average so I assume that will improve as he gets acclimated to the major leagues. The defense is his main problem when a promotion comes, but I assume he will DH and platoon until next season.
5: Kevin Alcantara, CF
Alcantara was promoted with Shaw and Triantos, and has gotten even better since arriving in Iowa. His average is up by 11 points to .282, with an OPS increase of .079 to .839. Sure he has only been in Triple-A for eleven games, but his stats improving as he moves to a harder level is quite impressive. Mainly a center fielder, Alcantara provides versatility so he can move around the outfield if needed. He’s fast as well, with nine total stolen bases this season. Even though he’s a candidate to get moved this offseason via trade, we can at least enjoy watching him play for our organization for now!
6: James Triantos, 2B
With a .295 average and .331 wOBA, James Triantos comes in as the sixth best prospect in the Cubs’ system. Triantos is now focusing on second base, although he has played one game in center field for the Iowa Cubs. His strikeout rate is only 10.4%, making contact 86.3% of the time. For comparison, Nico Hoerner has a contact rate of 87.9%. It’s likely his best asset, with some power mixed in between. So far in Triple-A, Triantos only has two extra-base hits, but with the numbers from previous levels, his numbers will surely improve.
7: Cam Smith, 3B
The 14th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, Cam Smith was a third baseman out of Florida State. Smith had a .387 average in college this year, with 16 home runs and 57 runs batted in. His OPS really increased in 2024 by 299 points to 1.142, while also lowering his strikeouts and doubling his walks. There isn’t too much data out for Smith yet, but he hit his first home run on Tuesday, and it surely won’t be his last. He has a 99 wRC+ so far for Myrtle Beach, but the contact he has made results in hard-line drives, which should help him grow into a very strong professional bat.
8: Jefferson Rojas, SS
Rojas is the youngest played on my list, but at 19 years old, he has a bunch of promise. So far in 2024, Rojas has a .660 OPS and 6 home runs, with 33 walks as well. The power hasn’t been as relevant this year, but that should come with time. He plays excellent defense, and being a shortstop should be able to transition positions if needed. His stop in Myrtle Beach last season saw him post a 115 wRC+, but a positive of his jump to South Bend is a drop in strikeouts, and small bump in walks. The nice thing about Rojas is that he is still so young, so there is no need to rush or panic, with the potential clearly there.
9: Jaxon Wiggins, SP
Using their compensatory pick for Willson Contreras, the Cubs grabbed Wiggins in the 2nd round of the 2023 draft, and Wiggins has done nothing but impress scouts since joining the Cubs system. He underwent Tommy John in 2023, so it was a risky pick, not knowing if he could return to his college self. He only spent six games in Myrtle Beach before a promotion to South Bend, showing how quickly he can jump up the ladder. He’s had a few starts this season that stand out, including allowing no hits through five innings in South Bend, as well as a three-inning one-hitter with five strikeouts in his full-season debut. His strikeout rate is currently at 10.10 K/9, although the 5.44 BB/9 is somewhat worrisome. Alas, his opponents have a .194 average against Wiggins this year, adding to the argument that he can be a strong starter as he moves up towards the major leagues.
10: Brandon Birdsell, SP
Birdsell is someone who wouldn’t have been on this list at the beginning of the season, but he’s really impressed scouts and fans alike in his 2024 campaign. Overall this season, Birdsell has a 4.02 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. He’s striking out almost 10 people per nine innings in Iowa, with a 3.61 FIP. He tops out around 98 miles per hour on his fastball, with his slider being the secondary pitch. He may not have the numbers to be an ace, but with the high strikeout numbers, a spot lower in the rotation would likely go to Birdsell when he gets promoted.
Photo Credit: @baseballinfocus
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