BN Cubs Top Prospect List Wrap-Up: Superlatives, Mock 2025 Team, Full List, More

I thought if we were going to tie a bow on this year’s prospect list, it might be best to do it with some other common prospecting accoutrements. I also wanted to encourage BN’ers to use a chat thread as an AMA about the farm system.

Cubs Prospect Superlatives

Best Contact Hitter: Nico Hoerner (Second place: Jhonny Pereda, who inherited that title after Vimael Machin and Clayton Daniel left the organization).

Best Approach: Alfonso Rivas (Second place: Brennen Davis).

Best Raw Power: Ethan Hearn (Second place: Brennen Davis).

Most Current In-Game Power: Robel Garcia (If he’s ineligible, Alex Guerra and Trent Giambrone).

Prettiest Swing: Cole Roederer (Second place: Ronnier Quintero).

Fastest Baserunner: Fernando Kelli (Second place: Juan Mora).

Best Defensive Catcher: Jhonny Pereda (Second place: Miguel Amaya).

Best Defensive Infielder: Left side: Luis Vazquez, Andy Weber, Chris Morel. Right side: Alfonso Rivas, Tyler Durna.

Best Defensive Outfielder: Connor Myers, Zach Davis, D.J. Wilson.

Best Arm: Christopher Morel (Second place: Luis Verdugo or Miguel Amaya).

Best 2-seam Fastball: Erich Uelmen (Second place: Ryan Jensen).

Best 4-seam fastball: Brailyn Marquez (Second place: Michael McAvene).

Best Curveball: Left-handers: Justin Steele, Ryan Lawlor. Right-handers: Manny Rodriguez, Keegan Thompson.

Best Slider: Cory Abbott (Second place: Jensen or McAvene).

Best Change Up: Adbert Alzolay (Second place: Kohl Franklin).

Best Command: Ethan Roberts (Second place: Matt Swarmer).

The Full List

1. Brennen Davis
2. Miguel Amaya
3. Nico Hoerner
4. Brailyn Marquez
5. Ryan Jensen
6. Cory Abbott
7. Adbert Alzolay
8. Chase Strumpf
9. Cole Roederer
10. Kohl Franklin
11. Christopher Morel
12. Riley Thompson
13. Ronnier Quintero
14. Richard Gallardo
15. Justin Steele
16. Ethan Hearn
17. Michael McAvene
18. Tyson Miller
19. Luis Verdugo
20. Zack Short
21. Keegan Thompson
22. Jack Patterson
23. Yovanny Cruz
24. Pedro Martinez
25. Andy Weber
26. Yohendrick Pinango
27. Erich Uelmen
28. Aramis Ademan
29. Chris Clarke
30. Brendon Little

Honorable Mentions

Jose Albertos, Brayan Altuve, Edmond Americaan, Cam Balego, Hunter Bigge, Josh Burgmann, Bailey Clark, Oscar De La Cruz, Jeremiah Estrada, Reivaj Garcia, Trent Giambrone, Alex Guerra, Ben Hecht, D.J. Herz, P.J. Higgins, Bryan Hudson, Josue Huma, Adam Laskey, Ryan Lawlor, Jose Lopez, Kevin Made, Trevor Megill, Dakota Mekkes, Rafael Morel, James Norwood, Jhonny Pereda, Fabian Pertuz, Peyton Remy, Luke Reynolds (#69), Alfonso Rivas, Ethan Roberts, Ben Rodriguez, Manny Rodriguez, Cam Sanders, Wyatt Short, Felix Stevens, Matt Swarmer, Jared Young.

Things About the List I’d Already Change: Probably would move Brailyn to 3 … Jack Patterson is too low … Feels a little high for Yohendrick Pinango … Guerra in the Honorable Mention is too generous … Would have liked to get Rivas in the top 30.

Links: 1-10, 11-18, 19-24, 25-30, Honorable Mention Intro and parts one, two, three, four.

Mock 2025 Lineup

An exercise like this is fraught from the beginning, as a big-market team like the Cubs will have unknown free agents filling spots all over the roster (insert snark here). But let’s exist in the universe where that doesn’t happen, and then imagine the signings as filling the holes of the prospects that ultimately failed to meet expectations.

C: Miguel Amaya
1B: Ronnier Quintero / Ethan Hearn
2B: Nico Hoerner
SS: Javier Baez
3B: Christopher Morel
LF: Chase Strumpf / Willson Contreras
CF: Ian Happ / Cole Roederer
RF: Brennen Davis
DH: Anthony Rizzo / Kyle Schwarber

SPs: Brailyn Marquez, Ryan Jensen, Richard Gallardo, Cory Abbott, Kohl Franklin.

RPs: Michael McAvene, Justin Steele, Rowan Wick, Adbert Alzolay, Jack Patterson, Erich Uelmen.

Any Questions?

Leave them below, and I’ll get them answered at some point this week! Thanks for reading this year’s extended edition, it’s much appreciated.