The Cubs Have Three Prospects in the New MLB Pipeline Top 100

In the post-draft, post-Trade Deadline phase of the minor league season, it’s a good time to do in-season re-ranks, and we’ve already seen a few. MLB Pipeline just released their big one, and there are some big moves in the top 100 (keeping in mind that these are even more robust after all the reports come in following the end of the season and instructs).

For the Cubs, there are three prospects on the top 100, all in the outfield:

Pete Crow-Armstrong comes in at 31, Brennen Davis slides to 51, and Kevin Alcántara makes his top 100 debut at 91. No Caleb Kilian and no Cristian Hernández, who had previously been fringy top-100 types for Pipeline.

It’s great to see PCA rising so rapidly, and to see Alcántara finally getting some top 100 love, but by this point in re-rank season, I don’t think anyone should sugarcoat it: you would have wanted to see more by now. The Cubs still have great, quality depth – even more than a few months ago – but the tip-top impact types? Still lacking. And it threatens to be a problem in the years ahead if there aren’t some breakouts.

Note some of those types among the other NL Central organizations: the Cardinals have infielder Jordan Walker at number 6, the Brewers have outfielder Jackson Chourio at number 11, the Reds have infielder Elly De La Cruz at number 15 and infielder Noelvi Marte at 18, and the Pirates have catcher Henry Davis at number 20.

Overall, the Cardinals have six prospects in the top 100, the Brewers have three, the Reds have five, and the Pirates have five. For a club that has set about a rebuild, the Cubs are lagging on this front.

I do believe in the quality depth. It matters, and the Cubs have an absurd volume of it – compare the prospects in the 11 to 20 range in the Cubs’ system, and I’ll bet you a shiny nickel that it’s better than almost any org in baseball.

But as we get closer to the end of the season, and have more information on the developments and additions this year, it’s looking like the Cubs will not have the kinds of impact top 100s – remember when we were dreaming on six or seven by this point? – we were hoping for. That matters, too, and it means more development work is needed.

written by

Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

more cubs news

The Season Begins, Love for Morel, Counsell’s Value, and Other Cubs Bullets

You know where you want to spend your Opening Day morning? The hospital! Suffice to say, this is not how I imagined getting HYPED for the Cubs' opener. I guess I'll just have to think about all the possible lineup...

Cubs vs Rangers: The First Series of the Year!

Cubs vs Rangers — THE REGULAR SEASON IS HERE! Wake up and rejoice. Later tonight, the Cubs will begin their march toward October Baseball against the (reigning World Series champion) Texas Rangers in Arlington. Justin Steele is getting the nod...

The 2024 Chicago Cubs for Dummies

Boom. We made it. The offseason is over, and the Cubs regular season - and those elevated expectations - begins tomorrow. But in case you slept through the winter, I'm here to catch you up on everything you need to...

I’m Expecting More This Year, Cubs — It’s Time to Start Winning

There's no way around it: The Chicago Cubs did *not* have the offseason we hoped they might after making Craig Counsell the highest paid manager in MLB history. Not that they did poorly, mind you. Cody Bellinger, Shota Imanaga, and...

I Dug Deep on the Cubs 2024 Schedule (And I Like What I See)

Finally, with Cody Bellinger in the fold, we can start focusing more seriously on the season ahead. So today, I thought we'd take a look at the Cubs 2024 schedule. You can flip through the Cubs 2024 schedule right here...

Here’s What I’m Betting on the Cubs for Opening Day

I get it. Sports betting isn't for everyone — like, say, the interpreter for an international baseball superstar — but some of us quite enjoy it! If you are one of those people, this article is for you. Below, I'm...

WAKE UP, BASEBALL IS BACK

The day has arrived. Opening Day. The most glorious day on the baseball calendar, save for the day of each Chicago Cubs World Series win, of course. See, I get to say things like that on Opening Day. Maybe the...

Wrigley Field is Gonna Be Lit This Year (As in New Colored Lights!)

Last year, the Cubs started using their new LED outfield lights to do a little dancing display during 'Go Cubs Go,' lighting along with the song and throwing in a W. It was very fun and I liked it. This...

Why Craig Counsell Wanted Miles Mastrobuoni on the Cubs’ Bench

I don't know why Miles Mastrobuoni bugs some folks, but it's probably heavily-weighted toward his small-sample, bad-batted-ball-luck start last year, and that time he didn't dive while playing in right field. It can be hard to shake initial impressions, I...

Kinda Sounds Like Craig Counsell May Have a Set Top Three in the Batting Order

New Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell has said, generally, his batting order philosophy is the very simplistic (and very correct): just get your best hitters the most at bats. Sure, there's some play in that to set up good match-ups,...

Latest News

Los Angeles Chargers Offseason Preview: 2024 Free Agents and Team Needs

The Los Angeles Chargers enter the offseason with a new era dawning. After a disappointing season, they landed a marquee hire in Jim Harbaugh, fresh off his national championship win with Michigan. Hailed as the top coaching prospect, Harbaugh brings a...

Cubs vs Rangers: The First Series of the Year!

Cubs vs Rangers — THE REGULAR SEASON IS HERE! Wake up and rejoice. Later tonight, the Cubs will begin their march toward October Baseball against the (reigning World Series champion) Texas Rangers in Arlington. Justin Steele is getting the nod...

Rangers vs. Cubs Probable Starting Pitchers – March 28

The Texas Rangers (0-0) begin their 2024 season with a home game against the Chicago Cubs (0-0) on Thursday, with first pitch at 7:35 PM ET.The Rangers will give the nod to Nathan Eovaldi versus the Cubs and Justin Steele.Rangers...

Best NBA Prop Bets for Thursday, March 28, 2024

The Boston Celtics versus the Atlanta Hawks is a game to catch on a Thursday NBA slate that includes two thrilling contests.Interested in NBA player prop bets for today's games? This article includes NBA player props for every matchup, so...

UNC vs Alabama Predictions and Odds: March Madness Best Bets

We have a great matchup in the Sweet 16 between (1) North Carolina and (4) Alabama. Let's break down the odds, ATS records, and more for UNC vs Alabama as March Madness continues. Read More: Today's schedule and upset picks...

Seattle Seahawks Offseason Preview: 2024 Free Agents and Team Needs

The Seattle Seahawks turn the page on a historic era as they enter the 2024 season without Pete Carroll at the helm for the first time since 2010. Carroll's impact on the franchise is undeniable, crafting a period of sustained...

Who Is In The Sweet 16? Updated Bracket, Odds to Win, and More

It has been a great March Madness so far and we have more great matchups in the Sweet 16. Check out what teams are in the Sweet 16, odds, and more as the college basketball season rolls on. Latest March...

The Season Begins, Love for Morel, Counsell’s Value, and Other Cubs Bullets

You know where you want to spend your Opening Day morning? The hospital! Suffice to say, this is not how I imagined getting HYPED for the Cubs' opener. I guess I'll just have to think about all the possible lineup...

Today’s March Madness Schedule: Updated Bracket, TV Channels for Every Game

The Sweet 16 is here as March Madness brings us some great matchups tonight! Check out today's March Madness schedule along with game times, TV channels, and more as the college basketball season's biggest games continue. The Sweet 16 Begins...

2024 MLB Mock Draft: Opening Day Mock Draft Projections

Happy Opening Day! As the new baseball season begins, and hope is present among most fanbases, why not take a look at a new 2024 MLB Mock Draft? Various mock drafts meticulously analyze potential picks, emphasizing the abundance of talent...

more cubs news