NEWSLETTER
Put your reading glasses and prospect hat on, as FanGraphs just released its 2024 Chicago Cubs top prospects list, which comes in at 47 names. Unlike other lists with a set number of names per org, FanGraphs ranks all prospects it deems to have a 35+ future value or better. That can mean as many as 47 names for the Cubs, or as few as 26 for the Phillies.
Impressively, the Cubs come in with a whopping nine prospects at a 50 FV or better, which is kind of the line where you see top-100 overall type guys. The names are the guys you’d expect, but with two in there that are more or less graduated at this point (Michael Busch and Jordan Wicks). Jefferson Rojas and Moises Ballesteros are in that group, though James Triantos is not. In fact, recent IFA signing Fernando Cruz, yet to make his pro debut, is ahead of Triantos.
The other thing you’ll notice right away is that, although the Cubs have an exceptionally strong top of the farm system right now – arguably the best in baseball – there is a pretty steep fall-off once you get past the first 10-12 names. That isn’t to say there aren’t a number of prospects from there who could keep developing and become top names, but most are guys with ceilings that are more that of big league contributors, rather than big league regulars.
Among the outlier rankings that stood out: Brandon Birdsell all the way up at 13, Jaxon Wiggins at 19, little-discussed 2023 IFA signing Eriandys Ramon at 31, Alexander Canario down at 25, Derniche Valdez and Yohendrick Pinango just barely making the cut, Pedro Ramirez and Cristian Hernández and Angel Cepeda not making the cut at all. It’s a very interesting list and a very interesting read.
The full list of names is below, but you’re going to want to head over to FanGraphs, itself, where they write up the prospects with a full scouting report.
As for the state of the system on the whole, FanGraphs regards it as among the league’s best, with a league-leading nine top-100 types. Decline is on the horizon, though, warns FanGraphs, with trades and graduations. It’s the natural state of things. But it makes it all the more important for the Cubs to continue developing well, improving in IFA, and drafting well above their slots.
