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Some questions I'm pondering this morning: 1. Will Moises Ballesteros open the season behind the plate at Iowa or will he begin a career as a DH/1B// emergency C type in the majors? 2. Will Owen Ayers pick up where he left off in the AFL? 3. Will Michael Carico’s wrist and other injuries turn out to be career ending? 4. Is Jairo Diaz someone to watch or were his low-A numbers a SSS fluke? 5. Will Ariel Armas continue on track to be a defense-first backup C? 6. Will Ethan Conrad spend most of 2026 in the OF, at 1B, or at DH? 7. Will Josiah Hartshorn show up healthy and look more like a $2M signee than a 6th rounder? 8. Will powerless Kane Kepley continue to walk more than he strikes out against high-A and/or AA pitching? 9. Will Alexander Ramirez activate his 5:30 power and get enough playing time to threaten the Cubs minor league strikeout record? 10. Will Eli Lovich emerge as a prospect or continue to struggle against class A pitching? 11. Will Cole Mathis remain at 3B and re-gain his plus exit velocities? 12. Is Fernando Cruz a bust or will his bat come alive during his second crack at the ACL? 13. While Juan Tomas showed “you can walk off the island”*, will he become more aggressive stateside and show more than a major league glove? *if you have a great glove and signed for $$$. 14. Will Juan Cabada’s quick compact swing produce enough power for him to stay on track to make the majors as a bat-first second baseman? 15. Will Derniche Valdez remain in the infield, get regular playing time, and show that 2025 was just a nightmare?

According to Arizona Phil, Saul was released today.

Yes, that would certainly help with the roster crunch. and could move him into top 100 prospect status by year end if it works. Another less exciting option is to start Kade Snell there as he is a a year-and-a-half older. With the expected promotion of under-performing Juan Tomas to Mesa, it seems more likely that the Cubs will promote Fernando Cruz to low-A. and Yahil Melendez to 3B or SS.

It must be fun to watch youth baseball in the Dominican Republic. One pitcher, one centerfielder, 6 shortstops and presumably a first baseman. Seriously, it is kind of fun to sign so many prospects to 5 digit contracts. There may be some real competition for promotion. In the past few years, the top $ signs have been promoted to the state's despite dismal performances in their first DSL year (Fernando Cruz last year and apparently Juan Tomas this year). Obviously, tools are much more important than DSL stats but does it make sense to promote a play on tools alone. Not sure.

With minor league signings trickling in - lineup options abound -

Yes, at least one article referring to his signing references last summer. I read "remarkably" good curve and change (the wonders of translation). A downside: He averaged more walks than strike outs in the Cuban league.

Thanks. Looks like he'll turn 24 this spring. I imagine he'll be given an opportunity to make the low-A or high-A teams as a reliever.

I'm a bit surprised they didn't list Connor Noland somewhere in the 20 to 30 range -given his "best control award". I guess his "fringy", "well-below" average FB is not expected to play above AAA. I was surprised to see Pierce Coppola on the list, and BA believes Owen Ayers fall stats are real. I had Grant Kipp just outside of the top 30 - so not too surprised there. He had a good year in 2005 and a 92-95 mph FB isn't too shabby. I think it takes a while to warm up to guys who weren't drafted. Certainly a sleeper to many. Nick Dean is a guy who really outperformed his AA ERA last year. Perhaps he'll get a cup of coffee in the majors someday soon.

Fun list. Low-A and at 1B. Perhaps a consequence of the log jam of outfielders (Snell, Escobar, Kepley, Conrad, Espinoza, Lumpuy) who in an ideal world would begin 2026 in high-A. I was also a bit surprised that he continues to hold out hope for JP Wheat as a starter, believes Jerzembeck is healthy enough to start, and gives a second chance to Frank (well he is a lefty).

C/1B Jairo Diaz 5’10” 180 Lbs S/R (200407) [VZ-2021] In 2022, Jairo posted a 0.196/0.273/0.237 line in 108 DSL PA. He began 2023 in XST where he finished with a 0.245/0.356/0.306 line in 59 PA. In the ACL he posted a 0.263/0.371.0.386 line in 70 PA with a 14/10 K/W and 1 SB in 1 attempt as a 2nd string catcher behind Adan Sanchez. He threw out 13 of 42 basestealers. In 2024, Jairo returned to the ACL as a backup C and hit well before going on the 60-day DL on July 26; he finished with a 0.355/0.417/0.435 line in 72 PA with a 15/7 K/W; he threw out a solid 36% of base stealers (9 of 25). In 2025, Jairo returned to the ACL where he posted a 0.265/0.339/0.306 line in 112 ACL PA with a 24/10 K/W before getting promoted to low-A on July 3. In low-A he posted a 0.314/0.479/0.400 line (0.879 OPS) in 48 PA. Overall, he threw out 26 of 87 base stealers, 29.9%. I thought he put together a good season in 2025. Perhaps he is a poor handler of pitchers, perhaps the Cubs feel he is developing too slowly and will be a MiFA before he can help the Cubs, ...

Not that I'm aware of ... To play devil's advocate, Nico was 24 when signed and will still be under Houston's control for several years. At one point the Cubs were hoping to sign Jaims Martinez as part of the 2025 class. Assuming he is still unsigned, I doubt this is enough money to make that happen As Craig suggested a pitcher or two makes the most sense.

Thanks for your comments. Yes, Southisene in high-A makes a lot of sense and is fun. As you likely know, Escobar played more OF than 2B last year. Southisene had a solid K/W and should not be overwhelmed in high-A. Of course a 0.665 full-season OPS last year is underwhelming and could argue for a mid-season promotion. Melendez could end up starting 2026 as a high-A utility infielder if Fernando Cruz or Derniche Valdez surprise. Yes, with the current MiL roster, Bateman is likely to start in AAA.

Here is an early look at one possible placement of Cub minor leaguers in 2026. Position players. Clearly, several MiFA will need to be signed. If you would like to play this game, other options include C Jose Silva, OF Edward Vargas, OF Joan Delgado, IF Drew Bowser, CF Robin Ortiz Starting pitchers ( Tyler S. is eligible to be a MiFA but I assume he is re-signed here). Mason McGwire and Colton Book are other options.

Could happen. Assuming a typical 14 month recovery, he could pitch an inning or two during the last week of the 2026 AFL season.

Owen CaissieMoises BallesterosJefferson RojasJaxon WigginsEthan ConradJonathon LongKevin AlcantaraKane KepleyAngel CepedaJosiah HartshornWill SandersJames TriantosJuan CabadaCristian HernandezCole MathisBrandon BirdsellPedro RamirezJostin FlorentinoErian RodriguezNazier Mule 21. Tyler Schlaffer 22. Juan Tomas 23. Ty Southisene 24. Kaleb Wing 25. Connor Noland 26. Eli Lovich 27. Dominick Reid 28. Evan Aschenbeck 29. Yennri Rojas 30. Ariel Armas 31. Nick Dean

I wouldn't give up on SB just yet. Despite their miserable overall record, they are tied for the 2nd half lead in their division.

Oft-injured 5th round (2020) draft choice, Koen Moreno made his season debut for South Bend. He hasn't pitched since last June. Hopefully, this multi-inning appearance (2.1) signals they have few health concerns going forward, although a multi-inning first appearance back for Kohl Franklin in early May didn't work out so well.

Moises BallesterosJaxon WigginsJefferson RojasOwen CaissieEthan ConradKevin AlcantaraJonathon LongWill SandersBrandon BirdsellJuan CabadaKane KepleyRyan GallagherJames TriantosPedro RamirezCristian HernandezAngel CepedaRonny CruzWilfri De La CruzConnor NolandDominick Reid 21. Christian Franklin 22. Cole Mathis 23. Nazier Mule 24. Kaleb Wing 25. Carter Trice 26. Juan Tomas 27. Tyler Schlaffer 28. Jostin Florentino 29. Eli Lovich 30. Cameron Sisneros

Could you add Connor Noland to the options

Thanks. I guess the only change is that there won't be any late evening calls from agents saying "you know, the HS kid I represent hoped to be draft despite his "I will not sign" pledge and would consider an offer.

Is the 11th round still a "thing" given the draft has been suppressed into 2 days?

Thanks for pointing that out, it's easy to give up on a guy who enters June with a 0.150 BA and sub 0.500 OPS. Another likely non-prospect who is hitting well recently is Reivaj Garcia

Perhaps related. RHRP Jordan Henriquez 6’4” 245 Lbs (200404) [2024-DR] Jordan signed with the Cubs a few weeks before his 20th birthday. In 2024, Jordan posted a 21/10 K/W in 24.1 DSL IP with a 0.174 BAA. In 2025, Jordan returned to the DSL posting a 13/5 K/W in 9.1 IP with a 0.094 BAA before getting promoted to the ACL in late June.

Moises BallesterosJaxon WigginsJefferson RojasJonathon LongOwen CaissieKevin AlcantaraWill SandersJames TriantosAngel CepedaCristian HernandezBrandon BirdsellRyan GallagherCole MathisNazier MuleJuan TomasWilfri De La CruzTy SouthiseneIvan BrethowrRonny CruzEli Lovich 21. Carter Trice (please add to your list of options) 22. Connor Noland 23. Derniche Valdez 24. Riley Martin 25. Pedro Ramirez 26. Fernando Cruz 27. Christian Franklin 28. Juan Cabada 29. Justin Florentino

I'm curious as to why Cameron spent so much time in low-A given his age, OPS, K/W and how poorly Brian Kalmer has played. Perhaps they were hoping he could re-find his power stroke while working on his fielding, perhaps they wanted to give Brian a fair chance as he presumably beat out Cameron this spring, perhaps they believed Cameron's success this year was due to a SSS, or other (likely the actual reason)