Jason Ross

I really like Harshorn, but I'm going to hold off on putting him number 1 right now for a few reasons: 1. Jaxon Wiggins is both closer, and he had a really, really encouraging year last year. I know it feels like he's dead but like, one good start where he's pumping 100mph and we'll remember the upside 2. Josiah Hartshorn hasn't had a slump yet and I want to see a team attack a weakness. He can't have none. 3. It's still just two months. 4. First base remains in play As of today, I think I'd list them as follows: 1. Jefferson Rojas 2. Pedro Ramirez 3. Josiah Hartshorn 4. Jaxon Wiggins And I say this as someone who's been a big time Josiah fan. I just need a bit more. Talk to me on draft day. I think a full half season sample of him just cruising will be enough that I'll forgive there being no slump/work through as a fear (which you can say he's just that good or that I'm punishing him for being good, but I kind of expect every young player to have a slump because I like seeing the response and the next step). I'm in the "slow moving list" camp, so I try to keep things pretty consistent month over month when I can be.

I'm fine with that. If he was going to be in the lineup at all, that suggests it's very minor. Better safe than sorry.

I don't disagree. However, I do think the amount of "reasonable" fans is pretty limited, especially at the point when Counsell was hired (fresh off a really rough month of September). The overall point is that simply swapping out a manager, or a VP of baseball Ops with someone who has had success isn't an immediate light switch or fix. Counsell was an easy Cubs-centric one, but David Sterns and the Mets is probably a better analogy to what might happen if the Cubs were, say, to can Jed Hoyer and then sign the guy running another successful organization. It doesn't mean it has to go badly, just that it isn't so simple.

I don't have a 1-30 ranking, but I'd grade him as "pretty good". He isn't perfect, I do think you *can* upgrade on him, but that most moves would be "lateral". Much of what people piss and moan about Hoyer can be said about others. And for his drawbacks, he rarely just sinks the Cubs or that they're watchable. The Brewers are good, yes. Good reminder, though, David Sterns and Craig Counsell were considered the engine, both left and the Brewers have been just fine with both Sterns and Counsell haven't had the same success. So when we do these things, what we attribute to one person or another isn't always the case.

Huh? The Cubs have drafted really well outside of the 1st round. Jaxon Wiggins, Kane Kepley and Jackson Ferris have all logged top-100 rankings at one point or another and Ferris was used to bring in Michael Busch. Don't forget 2026 non-1sts like Josiah Hartshorn (popping on top-100s already) and Kaleb Wing (off to a flying start). There's also Zyhir Hope (top-50) traded for Busch and Jonathon Long as deep-picks. Brooks Caple is off to a great start this year, too. Don't forget Cam Smith being used for a full year of Kyle Tucker, Matt Shaw and Cade Horton (first round picks) as well. I get people want to blame Hoyer right now (I'm not inclined to say this is as much on him as the players) but his drafting and specifically the people who's been chosen to be around him to ensure good picks, is not one of them. There are legitimate gripes I can understand, this however, isn't a top-20 issue.

Typical of high-swing, high-contact rookies. Sadly, the only way to get better is to get through this. They have to learn "just because I can hit it doesn't mean I should".

Not impossible, but feel like it's highly unlikely. The Cubs never say anything about any MiLB injury, really. The only time they don't is when you have a guy down for TJS or something. Beyond that they're incredibly mum. I also don't think he'll be in trade talks. He hasn't played much in a full calendar year and a half. He has more value to the Cubs as an org than another team is going to view him.

Agreed. I'd like to see some reports of him popping up.

The Cubs aren't usually forthcoming with MiLB injuries. Frankly, they have little reason to be very transparent.

He joined Arizona in 2021.

Crazy to think come mid-June that Ben Brown would be the one SP we all trusted.

I assumed Ben Brown's leg had just...fallen off. This is both a better outcome and a more logical one.

A Cubs pitcher? On the IL? Shocked I say.