2025 In-Season Cubs Top Prospect Lists Updates

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Kiley McDaniel updated his top 10s today: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/43639138/2025-top-10-prospect-rankings-all-30-mlb-teams-kiley-mcdaniel#chc

[CaliforniaRaisin]

33. Matt Shaw
37. Moisés Ballesteros (up 20 spots)
51. Cade Horton
69. Owen Caissie

Kevin Alcántara fell off the top 100.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Kiley McDaniel updated ESPN’s top 50: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45223803/top-50-2025-mlb-prospects-updated-roman-anthony-bubba-chandler-marcelo-mayer

36. Moisés Ballesteros
38. Matt Shaw
44. Cade Horton

[CaliforniaRaisin]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6385849/2025/05/29/mlb-top-50-prospects-2025-roman-anthony/
 

 Klaw updated his rankings of top 50 prospects in the minors (so no Shaw or Horton):

31. Kevin Alcántara
35. Moisés Ballesteros

[mul21]

12 minutes ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6385849/2025/05/29/mlb-top-50-prospects-2025-roman-anthony/
 

 Klaw updated his rankings of top 50 prospects in the minors (so no Shaw or Horton):

31. Kevin Alcántara
35. Moisés Ballesteros

And this is why:

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Kiley updated his team top 10 prospects: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/43639138/2025-top-10-prospect-rankings-all-30-mlb-teams-kiley-mcdaniel#chc

I would assume when he does this exercise on July 1, Shaw and Horton will both have graduated and not be eligible:

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

BA updated their top 30s today: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2025-chicago-cubs-top-30-prospects-june-update/

They didn't add Ryan Gallagher. Shaw is still on their top 30 list.

1. Moisés Ballesteros
2. Matt Shaw
3. Cade Horton
4. Owen Caissie
5. Jefferson Rojas
6. Kevin Alcántara
7. Jonathon Long
8. Jaxon Wiggins
9. James Triantos
10. Juan Tomás

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Rojas gets back on the BA top 100:

 

[Tryptamine]

I know it's not officially the mid season report yet, but still kind of expected Wiggins to appear. 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Pipeline updated their top 100 prospects (Shaw and Horton graduated):

[CaliforniaRaisin]

BA updated their top 100 too. They still have Horton on there because they don’t care about service time:

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Updated top 30: https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/2005-chicago-cubs/prospects/

1. Moisés Ballesteros
2. Owen Caissie
3. Jefferson Rojas
4. Kevin Alcántara
5. Jaxon Wiggins
6. Jonathon Long
7. James Triantos
8. Juan Tomás
9. Will Sanders
10. Brandon Birdsell

[Tim]

That's an aggressive ranking for Tomas. 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

9 minutes ago, Tim said:

That's an aggressive ranking for Tomas. 

They had him in the low teens preseason and Shaw and Horton have since graduated.

Hopefully he rewards BA's faith by getting above the Mendoza line in the DSL.

[Tim]

1 hour ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

They had him in the low teens preseason and Shaw and Horton have since graduated.

Hopefully he rewards BA's faith by getting above the Mendoza line in the DSL.

Love the 20+% walk rate. Not as thrilled about the 30+% k rate.

[Donzo]

Where do you guys have Conrad on your list?

As of now I have him #5 (with all due respect to Alcantara & Triantos)... On August 1st, he could be #1.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

1. Ballesteros
2. Caissie
3. Rojas
4. Wiggins
5. Conrad

[Tryptamine]

I have him 6th behind Ballesteros, Rojas, Caissie, Wiggins and Alcantara. 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Callis said he might rank him second behind only Caissie.

[Bertz]

I'd put Conrad 7th, behind the five guys Tryptamine listed plus Long..  Which is not a knock on him but an acknowledgement that the system is very top-heavy right now. 

Kepley probably 11th.  The seven above, then he also slots behind Triantos/Birdsell/Hernandez IMO.

Reid in the back half of the teens?  I think the total package sounds similar (in value not style) to Ryan Gallagher.

[Outshined_One]

A healthy Conrad is probably around 7 for me, behind Alcantara and Long, but as is, I'd probably slide him back around 9 due to his injury and surgery.  He apparently is making good progress with his recovery, but shoulder injuries have a nasty tendency to linger, and I'm curious as to whether he'll see any action in fall/winter ball.

[Rex Buckingham]

10 hours ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

Callis said he might rank him second behind only Caissie.

that seems nuts... we've already seen Mo tear up the lower minors, and he's only 8 months older than Conrad, Rojas is almost 2 years younger, plays a more premium position, and is on fire at South Bend, and Wiggins has a k/9 over 11 in (limited action) AA. I can see maybe the shine wearing off Alcantara, and not being impressed with Long... but having him any higher than 5 seems like SNTS to the max, especially with the injury concerns

(and yes, I know Raisin is just the messenger and does not hold this opinion)