Chicago Cubs Top Prospects for 2025, Ranking the Best Talent in the Farm System

Quick Answer

The Chicago Cubs' top prospect rankings have shifted dramatically between 2025 and mid-2026, with outfielders Josiah Hartshorn and Ethan Conrad rising to the top of most lists. While 2025 was headlined by Owen Caissie and Moisés Ballesteros, the 2026 preseason rankings from MLB Pipeline placed catcher Ballesteros at No.

1, with right-hander Jaxon Wiggins and outfielder Ethan Conrad rounding out the top three. By mid-2026, however, Josiah Hartshorn had claimed the organization's No.

1 prospect status after a breakout first professional season that included 16 home runs across Single-A and High-A.

Key Facts

• Josiah Hartshorn emerged as the Cubs' No. 1 prospect in 2026 after being drafted in the sixth round of the 2025 MLB Draft from an unnamed college program.
• Owen Caissie led the Cubs' 2025 midseason rankings at MLB No. 45 overall, followed by Moisés Ballesteros (No. 52) and Jefferson Rojas (No. 62).
• The 2026 preseason MLB Pipeline list ranked Ballesteros No. 1, Jaxon Wiggins No. 2, and Ethan Conrad No. 3.
• Cade Townsend, the Cubs' 2026 first-round pick from Ole Miss, signed in July 2026 and immediately entered top-10 organizational rankings.
• Jefferson Rojas hit a game-winning extra-innings home run for Double-A Knoxville on July 27, 2026.
• James Triantos was called up to the majors on July 24, 2026, while Kevin Alcántara was optioned back to the minors.
• Moisés Ballesteros was traded to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for reliever Ryan Zeferjahn, according to Bleed Cubbie Blue.
• Fernando Cruz, signed for $4 million out of the Dominican Republic in 2024, fell from No. 9 to No. 30 in organizational rankings after a difficult U.S. debut.

The Changing Face of the Cubs' Farm System

The Chicago Cubs' minor league system has undergone a significant transformation over the past 18 months, and the movement tells a story about how the organization evaluates talent. What began in 2025 as a system headlined by outfield power and a promising young catcher became, by mid-2026, a group defined by dynamic up-the-middle athletes and a wave of newly drafted pitching.

The most notable shift involves Josiah Hartshorn. Drafted in the sixth round of the 2025 MLB Draft, Hartshorn was not even listed among the Cubs' top 20 prospects in the midseason 2025 update from Bleed Cubbie Blue.

By July 2026, he had risen to the organization's No. 1 prospect, a rise fueled by a .275/.397/.503 slash line with 16 home runs, 16 doubles, 71 RBI, and nine stolen bases across 85 games at Single-A and High-A.

The plate discipline numbers stand out as much as the power production. A .397 on-base percentage from a player who was a sixth-round pick just one year earlier suggests either an advanced approach or a hitter who adjusts quickly to professional pitching.

Given that he is a switch-hitter listed at 6'0" and 220 pounds, the Cubs appear to have found a legitimate offensive cornerstone with defensive flexibility across first base and the outfield. Meanwhile, the players who topped 2025 lists have moved on or moved down.

Owen Caissie, who was the Cubs' top prospect at MLB No. 45 in August 2025, no longer appears in the top tiers of 2026 organizational rankings.

Ballesteros, the catcher who rose to No. 1 in the 2026 preseason, was traded to the Angels for reliever Ryan Zeferjahn.

This is not a criticism of the front office's approach. The Cubs have graduated several prospects to the majors, including Pedro Ramírez in May 2026 and James Triantos in July 2026, and traded others to address major league needs.

The farm system is a pipeline, not a museum, and the 2026 rankings reflect both graduation and transaction-driven turnover. What remains consistent is the organization's emphasis on athleticism and defensive versatility.

Jefferson Rojas, ranked No. 2 on the MLB.com mid-2026 list, has moved from shortstop to third base while playing at Double-A.

Kane Kepley, a second-round pick in 2025 from North Carolina, profiles as a plus defender in center field with elite speed graded at 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale. These are not the slugging corner outfielders that populated Cubs lists a decade ago.

The organization appears to be building around players who can impact the game defensively while developing offensively.

How the 2025 Draft Class Reshaped the Rankings

The 2025 MLB Draft had an immediate and profound effect on the Cubs' prospect landscape. When MLB.com published its updated Top 30 list in August 2025, six of the top 20 spots were occupied by players drafted just weeks earlier.

This was not a sign of a weak system. Rather, it reflected the front office's confidence in its selections and the analytical models that drove those picks.

Kane Kepley, taken in the second round from North Carolina, ranked No. 12 immediately after signing.

FanGraphs graded his present hit tool at 35 but projects it to 55, with his run tool already at a perfect 70. For a player who stands just 5'8" and weighs 180 pounds, the offensive ceiling depends entirely on whether that hit tool develops.

The speed is not a projection; it is a present reality. Kepley stole bases at an impressive rate in college and has the range to play center field at a high level.

The fielding grade projects from 40 to 55, which suggests the Cubs believe he will stick in center rather than slide to a corner. Kaleb Wing, a fourth-round pick from Scotts Valley High School in California, ranked No.

13. FanGraphs' scouting report shows a 19-year-old right-hander with a changeup already graded at 60 present and projecting to 70.

That is an elite secondary pitch for a prep arm. His fastball sits 92-95 mph and tops out at 96, and while his command is currently graded at 20 on the 20-80 scale, it projects to 50.

The curveball and slider are both average-or-better projections. This is a high-variance arm with legitimate swing-and-miss potential, and the Cubs have shown a willingness to be patient with high school pitchers who need development time.

Dominick Reid, a third-round pick from Abilene Christian, ranked No. 15 in August 2025 and No.

11 on FanGraphs' list. At 6'3" and 201 pounds, Reid has a starter's frame and a changeup that projects to plus.

His fastball velocity is modest at 91-94, but the slider and curveball give him multiple weapons. The command projection from 35 to 50 is the key variable.

If he throws enough strikes, he profiles as a mid-rotation starter. If not, the changeup and slider could play in relief.

Josiah Hartshorn, the sixth-round pick who now sits atop the organization, was ranked No. 15 by MLB.com in August 2025.

That ranking aged remarkably well. By July 2026, he had been promoted to High-A, hit for both average and power, and earned the organization's top prospect designation.

The Cubs' scouting department identified something in Hartshorn that public evaluators initially underrated, and the player has validated that belief with production. The 2025 draft class also included Pierce Coppola, a 7th-round pick from Florida who stands 6'8" and weighs 245 pounds.

FanGraphs projects his fastball to a 70 grade, and he sits 91-93 with a top velocity of 96. The command is raw, graded at 20 present and 30 future, which explains the 35+ future value grade.

Coppola is a lottery ticket, but the raw stuff is undeniable.

Evaluating the Cubs' Pitching Pipeline

The Cubs' pitching development has been a subject of intense fan scrutiny for years, and the prospect rankings suggest the organization is finally stockpiling arms with genuine upside. Jaxon Wiggins ranked as the No.

2 prospect in the system in the 2026 preseason and No. 84 overall in MLB's top 100.

His combination of size, velocity, and athleticism gives him a starter's profile, though his command has historically lagged behind his stuff. Cade Townsend, the Cubs' 2026 first-round pick from Ole Miss, signed in July 2026 and immediately became one of the organization's most important pitching prospects.

The 23rd overall pick was described as having elite spin, which suggests the Cubs will look to maximize his breaking ball effectiveness. Townsend had a mentor in fellow Ole Miss pitcher Rolison, which speaks to the program's reputation for developing arms.

The Cubs' willingness to draft a college pitcher with their top pick indicates a desire for relatively quick returns, though pitching development timelines are notoriously unpredictable. Kaleb Wing represents the high school upside play.

His changeup is the best secondary offering in the system among pitching prospects, and the projection of his command from 20 to 50 is what separates a potential frontline starter from a bullpen arm. The Cubs have shown patience with prep arms in recent years, and Wing's age (19.3 when drafted) gives him time to develop.

Dominick Reid and Kaleb Wing were both ranked in the Cubs' top 15 by FanGraphs, and the organization's 2025 draft class added several other arms, including Eli Jerzembeck from South Carolina. Jerzembeck's slider grades at 55 present and 60 future, and he sits 92-95 with a changeup that projects to 50.

He is currently projected as a multi-inning reliever, but the slider could play in high-leverage situations. Mason McGwire, the son of former major leaguer Mark McGwire, missed all of 2025 with an injury but returned in 2026 with improved stuff and much-improved command.

Bleed Cubbie Blue noted that he looks like a completely different pitcher this year, though the site's writer still projects him as a major league reliever. The velocity and command improvements are encouraging, but the track record remains limited.

The Cubs also added Nazier Mulé, ranked No. 21 in the Bleed Cubbie Blue mid-2025 update, and Will Sanders at No.

20. These are depth pieces with varying ceilings, but the sheer volume of arms added over the past two drafts gives the organization options.

Not every pitcher will develop, but the Cubs are no longer relying on one or two arms to carry the pitching pipeline.

The Rise of Jefferson Rojas and the Middle Infield Picture

Jefferson Rojas has been a fixture in Cubs prospect rankings for years, and his development path illustrates both the promise and the patience required for young infielders. Ranked No.

62 overall by MLB in August 2025, Rojas moved to No. 5 in the 2026 preseason list before climbing to No.

2 by mid-2026. At 5'11" and 150 pounds, Rojas lacks the physical projection of some of his peers, but his defensive actions and baseball instincts have always graded highly.

The positional shift from shortstop to third base is significant. Rojas has the arm for the left side of the infield, and his range at shortstop was never the question.

The concern was whether his offensive profile would play at a premium defensive position. By moving to third base, the Cubs have raised the offensive bar he must clear, but they have also reduced the defensive pressure.

A plus defender at third who hits for average and gets on base is a valuable player, even without significant power. North Side Baseball noted that Rojas "feels like he has always been on the precipice of a breakout without ever truly busting through the glass ceiling." That assessment captures his 2025 season, where he spent time at both High-A South Bend and Double-A Knoxville before returning to Knoxville in 2026.

His defense and baserunning have always been major league ready. The bat has lagged, but the game-winning home run he hit for Knoxville in extra innings on July 27, 2026, was a reminder of the offensive ceiling that evaluators have long projected.

Ty Southisene, a fourth-round pick in 2024, hit .245 with eight extra-base hits and 41 stolen bases at rookie ball and Single-A in 2025. At 21 years old, Southisene's speed is his carrying tool, and the Cubs have him ranked in their top 15.

The offensive profile is light on power but heavy on contact and baserunning, which gives him a path to a utility role even if he never develops into a regular. The Cubs also have Juan Cabada and Jose Escobar in the middle infield picture, along with Fernando Cruz, who fell from No.

9 to No. 30 in the 2026 preseason rankings.

Cruz's fall was steep and instructive. Signed for $4 million out of the Dominican Republic in 2024, he batted .165/.247/.316 with a 47.2 percent strikeout rate in his U.S.

debut. The strikeout rate is alarming at any level, and it suggests Cruz was overmatched.

The Cubs have not given up on him, but the rankings reflect the reality that a player who cannot make contact cannot help the major league team.

Outfield Depth and the Kevin Alcántara Question

The Cubs' outfield picture is crowded with both major league and minor league options, and Kevin Alcántara's situation illustrates the organizational logjam. Alcántara was ranked as the Cubs' No.

5 prospect in the 2026 preseason, and he was called up to the majors at various points before being optioned back to the minors on July 24, 2026, when James Triantos was promoted. The back-and-forth suggests the Cubs see Alcántara as a major league player but not yet an everyday starter.

Ethan Conrad, the Cubs' 2025 first-round pick from Wake Forest, jumped to No. 3 in the 2026 preseason rankings after an impressive professional debut.

FanGraphs projects his hit tool from 35 to 50 and his raw power from 45 to 55, with a 55-grade run tool. At 6'3" and 200 pounds, Conrad has the physical profile of a starting corner outfielder, and the Cubs are likely to give him significant development time in the upper minors.

The outfield depth extends to Jonathon Long, who collected a career-high five hits in a game in July 2026, and Caden Sorrell, ranked in the Cubs' top 10 by Bleed Cubbie Blue. Owen Ayers, a catcher who homered in his first game at Principal Park, adds another offensive threat though his defensive position remains catching.

The logjam means that some prospects will not get clear paths to the majors with the Cubs. The organization has shown a willingness to trade prospects for major league help, as evidenced by the Ballesteros trade for Ryan Zeferjahn.

Fans should expect more of these moves as the Cubs continue to evaluate which prospects fit their long-term plans.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the Cubs' current No. 1 prospect?

Josiah Hartshorn, an outfielder/first baseman drafted in the sixth round of the 2025 MLB Draft, was elevated to the Cubs' No. 1 prospect status in July 2026.

He has slashed .275/.397/.503 with 16 home runs and 71 RBI in his first professional season.

What happened to Owen Caissie and Moisés Ballesteros?

Owen Caissie was the Cubs' top prospect in August 2025 at MLB No. 45 overall.

Moisés Ballesteros was ranked No. 1 in the 2026 preseason before being traded to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for reliever Ryan Zeferjahn.

Caissie no longer appears in the top tiers of 2026 organizational rankings.

Which 2025 draft picks are already impacting the Cubs' rankings?

Josiah Hartshorn (6th round) is the organization's No. 1 prospect.

Kane Kepley (2nd round) ranks in the top 12, Kaleb Wing (4th round) ranks in the top 13, and Dominick Reid (3rd round) ranks in the top 15. Cade Townsend, the 2026 first-round pick, also entered the top 10 after signing.

Is the Cubs' pitching pipeline improving?

The Cubs have added significant pitching depth over the past two drafts, including Jaxon Wiggins (MLB No. 58 in 2026), Kaleb Wing, Dominick Reid, Eli Jerzembeck, and Cade Townsend.

Mason McGwire has also shown improved stuff and command after missing all of 2025. The volume of arms added gives the organization multiple options.

Which Cubs prospects have been promoted to the majors recently?

Pedro Ramírez was promoted to MLB on May 22, 2026, and James Triantos was called up on July 24, 2026. Kevin Alcántara was optioned back to the minors on that same date, and Riley Martin made his MLB debut in April 2026.

Reference Notes

Information in this article is based on publicly available sources. Some details may change over time.

Verify with official sources before acting.