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July is an incredibly important month for minor leaguers and their value. With the trade deadline looming, a poor performance can sink trade value while a great performance can boost a players' stock. Which hitters helped the Chicago Cubs, and themselves, most in July? Spoiler alert, the top two players on this list are no longer with the organization.
Ranking Cubs' Best Minor League Hitters In July
Honorable Mention: Jose Escobar - UTIL - South Bend
Jose Escobar has put together a really nice season this year, albeit largely under the radar. Promoted to South Bend at the end of May, Escobar slashed .343/.420/.614 in June and followed that up with a .367/.420./520 line in July to land in last month’s edition. Escobar put up that stat line along with just a 14.6% strikeout rate while being a tad young for the level. The diminutive 21-year-old has mostly played left field but has starts at 2B and in RF as well in South Bend. With a strong finish to his solid season, Escobar has likely earned the chance to start his age-22 season at Double-A Knoxville.
Third Place: Josiah Hartshorn - OF - South Bend
The year of Hartshorn continued in July. The reason he takes home the bronze and not in one of the top two spots this month is a slight drop off in production compared to previous months, but Hartshorn still managed a .256/.393/.453 slash line with an 18.8% strikeout rate and a 16.9% walk rate. His slugging percentage dipped from June but he paired that with a dip in k-rate and an increased walk rate. The switch-hitting teenager also played more on the dirt this month, starting 12 games at 1B and only 8 in RF, the first time this year he has started more games in the infield than the outfield. If you were looking for signs that Hartshorn is hitting a wall in his first professional season, you won’t find any in July.
Runner-Up: Brett Bateman - OF - Iowa
Bateman wins the runner-up in July largely on the back of a 18-game stretch from July 2 to July 28. He hit safely in 17 of the 18 games, including a 14-game hitting streak. Bateman recorded multiple hits 11 times, scored 22 runs, and hit .416 with just 10 strikeouts and 12 extra-base hits. He entered July slashing .284/.427/.355, which is passable, but then slashed .358/.430/.547 over the month. In his fourth professional season, Bateman has steadily moved up the ladder due to solid strikeout and walk rates and a solid defense/speed combo in the outfield.
The Blue Jays clearly bought into the hype, acquiring him (alongside Ty Southisene) in the Kevin Gausman trade.
Winner: Jonathon Long - 1B - Iowa
Through June, I think the only way to sum up Jonathan Long’s 2026 season was as a disappointment. He was coming off a solid season in Iowa in 2025 and expected to make a bit of a push for the majors, even if he was blocked by Michael Busch. Long followed up an .883 OPS in AAA last year with an .738 OPS entering July. Long proceeded to hit .371/.446/.652 last month, good for a 1.097 OPS with a walk rate of nearly 11%. He had 17 doubles and 7 home runs over the first three months, and 13 doubles and 4 homers in July. He was weighed down by a really poor May, but got fully back on track just in time for the trade deadline.
Like Bateman, Long's boosted stock proved useful on the trade block, as he got shipped to Miami (with Jace Beck) in exchange for Braxton Garrett.
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