Why Josiah Hartshorn is Now Cubs' Top Prospect, and What He Still Needs to Work On

Josiah Hartshorn wasn’t some premier, can’t-miss prospect in the run-up to the 2025 MLB Draft. He was Chicago’s sixth-round selection last summer, but he's since blossomed into the organization’s top prospect. That’s quite the jump in a short time, and it’s not hard to see why the Cubs are so excited about his future.

He began the 2026 season with Low-A Myrtle Beach, where he posted an .884 OPS, while recording 15 extra-base hits and seven more walks (34) than strikeouts (27) in 39 games. Promptly, the Cubs promoted him to High-A South Bend, where he was even better. In 83 games in the Midwest League, he logged 39 extra-base hits and an outstanding .965 OPS. He also stole 12 bases, while recording 79 strikeouts and 54 walks, showcasing the well-rounded offensive game that makes him such an intriguing prospect. Oh, and he did all of that at just 19 years old. A lot of players that young aren’t even at that level, let alone putting up an OPS north of .900, but Hartshorn made it look easy, generating power to all fields and overpowering opponents athletically. He even got a brief opportunity to appear in a few Double-A games at the end of the season, giving him a taste of the next level.

It’s clear that the Cubs are excited about what he could become, and it's hard to blame them. But what's made Hartshorn so successful, and why has he climbed the prospect rankings so quickly?

For starters, Hartshorn hits the ball hard consistently from both sides of the plate, but he doesn’t have to sell out to generate that contact. His 25.3% line-drive rate is outstanding, giving him a strong foundation for continued success as he progresses through the minors. Line drives are the most sustainable form of batted balls for logging hits, and Hartshorn has shown an ability to produce enough of them to run a high batting average. If he can maintain that approach against increasingly advanced pitching, there’s reason to believe he can continue to find success at each level.

His splits from each side of the plate are pretty interesting, and might be where a note of caution is worth sounding. As a left-handed hitter (against right-handed pitching), Hartshorn posted a .949 OPS. That was more than 150 points higher than his .795 OPS as a right-handed hitter. He posted a .462 on-base percentage from the right side of the plate, but that's because he drew a whopping 32 walks in 117 plate appearances. He hit 23 home runs on the year, but 22 of them came left-handed. Whatever version of him might someday thrive in the majors against lefties has yet to emerge; a passive walks-only approach won't cut it.

Of course, Hartshorn brings more to the table than just his offensive ability. He also provides decent defense, although his long-term defensive profile adds little value. He appeared in 58 games at first base and another 58 games in the outfield this season. Of his 58 outfield appearances, 37 came in right field, while the other 21 came in center field. He might not be the twitchiest athlete on the field, but he has strong straight-line sprint speed. If nothing else, he has great size, and might soon be the best defensive option at first base in the organization.

Then there’s his arm. Hartshorn pitched in high school, sitting in the low- to mid-90s on the mound. That arm strength has translated well to the outfield, where he recorded seven outfield assists this season. Seven assists from a part-time outfielder is pretty remarkable, and it gives the Cubs another reason to feel good about his defensive potential—although, in the minors, assists often come from reckless baserunning and/or shallow fences.

Hartshorn has become Chicago’s top prospect in a short time for a reason. He’s a well-rounded hitter who combines contact, power potential and plate discipline. Defensively, he offers versatility and the arm strength to become a plus defender in a corner if things go especially well.

He’s still very young, and there’s plenty of development ahead before he’s ready to contribute at the major-league level. Hartshorn will turn 20 next year, so a debut at Wrigley Field in 2027 might be asking a bit much. But 2028 is certainly a possibility, and the Cubs have plenty of reasons to be excited about what the future holds.

Finding a player with this kind of potential in the sixth round is no easy task. Chicago appears to have done exactly that, and if Hartshorn continues developing at this pace, he could become a cornerstone for the club before the end of the decade.

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