NEWSLETTER
Over the weekend, MLB Pipeline updated their top-100 MLB Prospect Rankings, with eight new players making the list after graduations and other considerations. And TWO of those players, Moises Ballesteros and Jefferson Rojas, are Chicago Cubs prospects. All together, that gives the Cubs a total of eight top-100 prospects according to MLB Pipeline, which is the most of any team in MLB!
In fact, no one is even close. No team has seven top-100 prospects. Just one team, the Rockies, has six. And one other team, the Mets, has five. Everyone else is four or fewer.
And note, that group of eight excludes Michael Busch, who graduated earlier this season. Here’s a look at the Cubs prospects on MLB Pipeline’s revamped top-100.
15. Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF (MLB)
19. Cade Horton, RHP (Triple-A)
37. Owen Caissie, OF (Triple-A)
44. Matt Shaw, 3B (Double-A)
54. Kevin Alcantara (Double-A)
61. James Triantos, 2B (Double-A)
94. Moises Ballesteros, C/1B (Double-A)
98. Jefferson Rojas, SS (High-A)
That’s nuts. The Cubs have so many top-100 prospects, and almost all of them are in the upper-levels of the minors (or have already debuted). And it’s not like there’s not a lot to like outside of this top-8, either.
For example, Ben Brown still qualifies as a prospect (No. 9 in the system according to MLB Pipeline), but somehow doesn’t crack the top-100. I’m not really sure how you can see what he’s done in the big leagues this year and not include him in your top-100, but whatever. And new IFA signing Fernando Cruz rounds out the Cubs top-10.
As for the Cubs two “new” guys on the list, there’s really no surprises there. We discussed why you should be so excited about Ballesteros last week …
As of today, Moises Ballesteros is … the third youngest position player (and fourth youngest overall player) at the entire Double-A level …. And despite that significant age gap, Ballesteros is currently slashing .321/.411/.500 (176 wRC+) over 90 plate appearances, which is the eighth best overall slash line at all of Double-A …. Ballesteros is also walking 12.2% of the time (excellent) while striking out just 14.4% (t-16th lowest).
…It’s basically been a DREAM season for him offensively at Double-A. He’s simply checking every single box you could hope for.
… And Jefferson Rojas is giving Kevin Alcantara a run for his money in terms of highest overall upside in the entire organization.
If you wanted to find something “wrong” with the Cubs organization, it’s perhaps the potential for a “prospect cliff.” Clearly, the Cubs are loaded with talent right now, but most of it is at the upper levels of the minors, without as much prospect depth behind them. And that may sound like a silly thing to even point out (indeed, you WANT your prospects to move up the ladder), but we’re especially sensitive to it, because, well, that’s exactly what happened to the Cubs during their last rebuild.
That said, it doesn’t really bug me. For one, the raw volume of top prospects (and youth at the big league level) is sufficiently high not to be concerned. For another, this is what happens when you take college players in the first round of three consecutive drafts. And lastly, this is, at best, an issue for many years from now. The Cubs just need to stay focused on identifying and acquiring talent, even as they (1) lose key members of the front office – Craig Breslow already left town and Dan Kantrovitz is an annual external promotion risk — and (2) start drafting later in the first round.
Other Cubs rankings of note, via MLB Pipeline:
Other General Rankings of Note, via MLB Pipeline
