Top 50 graphic design by Michael Packard, @CollectingPack on Twitter
Chicago Cubs
NL Central
2025 record: 92-70 (2nd)
MiLB affiliates
Triple-A: Iowa Cubs
Double-A: Knoxville Smokies
High-A: South Bend Cubs
Single-A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
2025 End-Of-Season farm system rank: #21
Stoffer Cochran’s organization take from our 2025 End-Of-Season Farm System Rankings:
The Cubs have a lot of high end talent that is already starting to emerge with…Moises Ballesteros and Kevin Alcántara all having time in the majors already. Then they have another level of players ready to break the barrier with talent at key positions throughout all the levels.
Prospects1500 writers who contributed to this column and rankings: Greg Bracken (@gregbracken07), Scott Greene (@Scotty_Ballgame), J.W. Mulpas (@CLEBoxscoreBeat), and Jeremy Mahy (@JMahyfam). The writer’s Twitter handle follows each player write-up or paragraph.
Prospects1500 Tiers:
Tier 1: Players with high expectations of both making the majors and playing at an All-Star level for a number of years
Tier 2: Players with an above-average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor
Tier 3: Players with an average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor
Tier 4: Players who have the potential to make the majors; possible sleeper candidates for sustained MLB success
Tier 5: Players of interest, worth keeping an eye on, who may make (or have made) the majors but provide minimal impact
Levels listed for each player are the highest levels player reached in 2025
Tier 1
None
Tier 2
1. Moisés Ballesteros, 1B, 22, MLB
Ballesteros made his MLB debut on May 13, 2025 appearing in three different stints with the Cubs. In 66 plate appearances, he slashed .298/.394/.474 with a 143 wRC+. That was supported by an impressive 112.8 mph max exit velocity and strong plate discipline. However, his extremely high 62.2% ground ball rate stands out, even in a small sample size. He’ll need to get the ball in the air more to maximize his power. While Ballesteros also hit well at Triple-A Iowa, the knock on him is his defensive limitations, which likely mean he’s headed for a future at DH. There have also been questions in the past about his conditioning, but if he can stay in shape his bat has the potential to make him a real asset in the Cubs lineup, especially against righties. (@CLEBoxscoreBeat)
2. Jaxon Wiggins, RHP, 24, Triple-A
Wiggins was impressive in his second season back from TJ surgery. While on an innings limit (78 innings), he struck out 97 while posting an impressive 2.77 ERA (1.03 WHIP) across three levels. His fastball sat in the mid-90’s, touching 98, his slider missed a ton of bats, and his changeup was effective enough to negate platoon splits. He could emerge as a high-strikeout starter with impact potential, maybe as soon as midseason. (@JMahyfam)
3. Ethan Conrad, OF, 21, College
Conrad looks like one of the more complete athletic outfield bats in the Cubs system, offering a strong blend of hit, power, and defensive utility that fits multiple alignments. He features a smooth swing with good bat speed and a simple operation, showing advanced bat-to-ball skills and above-average raw power, particularly when he’s hunting fastballs and driving the ball to the gaps. The path can work uphill, and he can get long at the top of the zone, with some vulnerability to spin that will test how consistently the hit tool plays at higher levels. Still, he runs well for his size, is an aggressive and instinctive baserunner, and has enough athleticism to give him a real chance to stick in center field, though a corner profile remains a safe fallback. If he tempers the aggression and keeps the contact quality steady, the hit/power mix and defensive value give him a chance to rise quickly within the organization. (@ShaunKernahan)
Tier 3
4. Jefferson Rojas, SS, 20, Double-A
5. Jonathon Long, 1B, 23, Triple-A
6. Kevin Alcántara, OF, 23, MLB
7. James Triantos, 2B/OF, 22, Triple-A
8. Kane Kepley OF, 21, Single-A
Rojas showed good plate discipline, speed, and contact skills, but struggled offensively after moving to Double-A last season, hitting just .164 with no homers. Long hit .305 with 20 home runs and 91 RBI at Triple-A and is set to make his MLB debut in 2026. Alcántara made his MLB debut in ’25, but questions remain due to his high strikeout rate and recovery from offseason core-muscle surgery. Triantos spent most of 2025 at Triple-A where his batting average dropped almost 50 points from the prior year. He posted a 76 wRC+ as he continued to struggle with hitting too many ground balls. Kepley brings elite contact skills, advanced zone awareness, and 70-grade speed to the table. Think Chandler Simpson with better defense. He posted a .299 AVG, .481 OBP, and 16 steals over 131 plate appearances at Single-A last year. (@CLEBoxscoreBeat)
Tier 4
9. Pedro Ramirez, 3B/2B, 21, Double-A
10. Josiah Hartshorn, OF, 18, High school
11. Brandon Birdsell, RHP, 25, Triple-A
12. Cole Mathis, 1B, 22, Single-A
13. Juan Cabada, 2B/3B, 17, Rookie (DSL)
14. Juan Tomas, SS, 18, Rookie (DSL)
15. Jostin Florentino, RHP, 21, Single-A
16. Dominick Reid, RHP, 22, College
Hartshorn was drafted by the Cubs last year with the 181st pick and they went way over slot value to sign him. There is a solid hit/power combo which could allow him to move more quickly than the average high school sign. Birdsell will miss all of 2026 while recovering from elbow surgery. Even before surgery there was significant reliever risk, even more so now. Mathis, a former two-way player in college, had a bit of a slow start thanks to TJ recovery. He still has the upside of a solid major league bat with a strong feel for the zone and 25+ home run power potential. Cabada and Tomas were both international signings from the 2025 class and have some enticing tools to dream on. Florentino has advanced pitchability for his young age and has the makings of a starter’s arsenal. How much velocity he adds will likely determine his ultimate ceiling. The Cubs were very aggressive, grabbing Reid in the third round of last year’s draft even though scouts projected him to go much later. He features a changeup that is already a plus pitch and with further development to his fastball and breaking ball, he could make that third round selection pay off. (@JMahyfam)
Tier 5
17. Ty Southisene, 2B, 20, Single-A
18. Tyler Schlaffer, RHP, 24, Double-A
19. Will Sanders, RHP, 23, Triple-A
20. Angel Cepeda, SS/3B, 20, Single-A
21. Kaleb Wing, RHP, 19, High school
22. Nick Dean, RHP, 25, Double-A
23. Brody McCullough, RHP, 25, Double-A
24. Connor Noland, RHP, 26, Triple-A
25. Kade Snell, OF, 23, High-A
26. Nazier Mulé, RHP, 21, High-A
27. Brett Bateman, OF, 23, Double-A
28. Fernando Cruz, SS/2B, 19, Rookie (ACL)
29. Carter Trice, OF, 23, Double-A
30. Owen Ayers, C, 24, Single-A
31. Grant Kipp, RHP, 26, Double-A
32. Ben Cowles, SS/2B, 25, Triple-A
33. Eli Lovich, OF, 20, Single-A
34. Jack Neely, RHP, 25, Triple-A
35. Erian Rodriguez, RHP, 24, Double-A
36. Ariel Armas, C, 23, High-A
37. Yahil Melendez, SS/3B, 20, Single-A
38. BJ Murray Jr., 1B/3B, 26, Triple-A
39. Pierce Coppola, LHP, 23, Single-A
40. Ezequiel Pena, 2B/3B, 19, Rookie (DSL)
41. Drew Gray, LHP, 22, High-A
42. Derniche Valdez, SS, 19, Rookie (ACL)
43. Ethan Flanagan, LHP, 23, Single-A
44. Jose Escobar, OF/2B, 21, Single-A
45. Evan Aschenbeck, LHP, 24, High-A
46. Alexis Hernandez, 2B/SS, 21, High-A
47. Freiker Betencourt, OF, 17, Rookie (DSL)
48. Colton Book, LHP, 23, College
49. Yenrri Rojas, RHP, 22, Double-A
50. Leonel Espinoza, OF, 22, High-A
Southisene’s younger brother Tate was drafted by the Braves in 2025. Ty was the Cubs’ 4th round pick in 2024 and he spent most of last season (90 games) at Single-A Myrtle Beach. As a 19-year-old he didn’t show much power but stole 41 bags. It’s hard to believe that Schlaffer was drafted seven years ago (2019), is still only 24, and hasn’t played above Double-A. He’s coming off a solid year in A+/AA, but 2026 could be make or break if he’s going to climb the ladder in the organization. Wing, drafted in the 4th round of 2025’s MLB Draft, hasn’t made his pro debut yet as he comes out of Scotts Valley HS in California. Dean was a 19th rounder (2023) who’s made his way up to Knoxville, but struggled across two levels in 2025. Coming off a 5.43 ERA and 1/36 WHIP, he looks to fare better this season, likely back in Double-A. Trice spoke with Tom Usiak last season and said, “Hitting for power, home runs, extra-base hits, and taking my walks. Just a power-speed combo that I’m looking for.” If he can continue to do that and keep multi-position eligibility, then he could be a deep sleeper for dynasty leagues. Neely, a 6’8” 245 lb. right-hander, reached the MLB bullpen this past season and is projected by Roster Resource to head up the Triple-A Iowa pen to begin 2026, although he’ll be battling for a major league spot this spring. The proverbial clock could be ticking on Murray Jr., who reached Triple-A in 2024, but regressed and spent all of 2025 at Double-A, launching 20 homers, knocking in 89 and stealing 20 bases. Valdez has played three seasons in Rookie ball since being signed as a 17-year-old in 2023. He’s hoping to be assigned to Myrtle Beach to kick off the 2026 season. (@Scotty_Ballgame)
Author
Prospects1500 is your comprehensive dynasty league resource, featuring deep MLB/MiLB top prospect lists, news and rankings.
President of Prospects1500. Founder of Diamond Duos dynasty fantasy baseball leagues and the MLB Fantasy Playoffs Parlay. Participant and champion in several dynasty/fantasy baseball and football leagues. Sales Manager for Reminder Publishing by day. Huge Bruce Springsteen and pro wrestling fan. Along with his wife and two boys, lives in Longmeadow, MA. Follow on Twitter at @Scotty_Ballgame.
Jeremy covers the St Louis organization and contributes on Prospects of the Week for Prospects1500. Born and raised in the Midwest, he is a lifelong fan of the Birds on the Bat. You can follow him on Twitter @JMahyfam for more baseball content.
“Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good, too.” -Yogi Berra
Shaun Kernahan is the MLB Draft correspondent for Prospects1500. When not at a game, chances are the TV and/or tablet has a game on and he has a notepad out taking notes. When not scouting draft prospects, he is the Director of Baseball Operations for the Mile High Collegiate Baseball League, a collegiate wood bat league in Colorado. Shaun can be found on Twitter at @ShaunKernahan.
Greg covers the Toronto Blue Jays organization for Prospects1500. Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, a long-suffering fan of both the Blue Jays and the Toronto Maple Leafs. For more than 15 years now a participant/commish in many dynasty baseball leagues, all with extremely deep minor league rosters. Follow on X @gregbracken07.
J.W. resides in Northeast Ohio and is a lifelong Cleveland sports fan. His favorite baseball player of all-time is 2018 Hall of Fame inductee, Jim Thome. He enjoys playing Fantasy Baseball, especially dynasty leagues. He has been a contributor to Prospects1500 since January 2025. You can follow J.W. on X at @CLEBoxscoreBeat.
