6/16/26 Top 20 Prospects

[lfg26]

Here's my updated list:

1. Josiah Hartshorn RF/1B/DH

2. Pedro Ramirez 3B/2B

3. Jefferson Rojas SS/2B/3B

4. Owen Ayers C

5. Kane Kepley CF/LF/RF

6. Jaxon Wiggins SP

7. Johan Geraldo SS/3B/2B

8. Kaleb Wing SP

9. Ethan Conrad RF/CF

10. Juan Cabada 2B/3B

11. Cole Mathis 1B/3B

12. Mason McGwire SP

13. Pierce Coppola SP

14. James Triantos 2B/OF

15. Riley Martin RP

16. Brooks Caple SP

17. Jonathon Long 1B/3B/DH

18. Dominick Reid SP

19. Ty Southisene 2B

20. Jaims Martinez SS

Edited 23 hours ago by lfg26

[Butch Gernant]

Good list.

[JBears79]

Where do we think Fernando Cruz should be right now? He's had a decent start to the season in the ACL and seems to be fully healthy from that shoulder injury. K rate is still too high but the OBP and slugging are encouraging and hes holding his own average wise. Curious to see what he will do at MB as I think he gets promoted there for the second half of the year. Another offseason of conditioning and weight training and I think he has a strong chance to breakout next season. I'd probably have him at 17-21 as I'm still a bit higher on him then most and I believe the defense and speed will carry him up to the big leagues long term.

[lfg26]

Yeah Fernando Cruz's K rate is what moved him off of the top 20 for me. Hopefully he can start making more contact as he matures.

The big jumps up that list for some of the players are what excites me the most -- Hartshorn, Ramirez(before he was called up), Rojas(currently on fire), Ayers, Geraldo(small sample size tho), Wing, McGwire, Coppola, Caple.... lots of eye-popping numbers in that group. Let's hope they keep progressing.

The only sizable let downs have been Long, and the injuries to Wiggins/Conrad (I haven't at all counted them out though). Lots of positive news outside of those 3 bits of negative news. The 2025 draft has the potential to go down as one of the best in recent Cubs history. 6 of the top 7 picks from that draft are on that list. The farm is trending in the right direction imo.

Edited yesterday at 04:28 AM by lfg26

[lfg26]

I'd say there's quite a bit of top-end potential for Numbers 1 through 13. They won't all work out, but there's lots of talent in that top 13. And then there's a solid chance a couple of the guys from the 14 to 20 range manage to make it to the bigs and contribute as well. Not nearly as much top-end potential for those 7 guys though..... at least at this current moment. Prospect lists are always a bit of a crap shoot. I'm just stoked that there's some exciting breakouts going on for some of our guys.

Edited yesterday at 11:10 AM by lfg26

[bryzz0brist]

i was wondering what happened to reggie preciado, once highly touted as a youngster return in the darvish trade.  Still hasn't gotten past A ball and isn't impressing many folks.  I want to say he was on the mlb or fangraphs top 10 list a few years ago.