Jason Ross

I like Triantos swing this offseason. I see a bit more loft. I see a bit different hand placement. Had some good contact. Could maybe also get some of the velo guys in there.

Yep. Trade worked out in the end for the Cubs. They traded Darvish, ended up with 4 lottery tickets and one of them turned into three years of Edward Cabrera. That's probably the best possible outcome for a group of four teenagers you could ask for,

Nope. Ramirez wasn't in that trade. Reggie Preciado is our last standing prospect from that trade. Sadly he is 22 and posted a 72 wRC+ in South Bend.

They only tried it in the MLB-affiliated (none of the players are signed to an MLB contract, however, the MLB does own the league) independent league. It lasted part of one season in 2019. MLB uses that league as a testing ground for new rules.

Absolutely. Just wanted to clarify that I think we can always assume with a prep hitter development will be important, but that we probably don't needed any added trust or anything here. It'd be one thing if the Cubs went off board, picked someone ranked by most pubs in the late 150-200 range and gave him early second round money. Then I'd think that's probably something we'd all need to do more than normal.

Hartshorn was ranked #76 on MLB.com's pre-draft list. It isn't like the team went off the board; he got early 2nd round money and was ranked in an area he could have been realistically picked in the early 2nd round, signed for slot, and no one would have batted an eye. With any player you're trusting in development, but Hartshorn is already a strong bat to ball and power hitter for his age, has a man's body at 18/19 and was ranked according to his bonus, so I don't think any added trust needs to be placed, either, if we're being fair to all parties here.

This is where I'm at. If we aren't going to have an automated system, and calls right now are sitting at 50/50 or so, you'd expect there to be a lot of them. How many times do we see a pitcher or a catcher, per game, throw eyes or shrug off a call like they knew better only to sign on to Savant and see they were wrong? A bunch! Same for a hitter. We can debate whether the number of wrong ones should be 2 or 3 or 4 or whatever, but as long as we're not going full automated, we should assume that players will abuse them if they're unlimited which would be a bad look for all involved.

Cubs breakout roster is out. Brandon Birdsell is on the roster, which I found interesting. https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/mlb-spring-breakout-2026-how-to-watch-schedule-roster-analysis-for-every-team/

Same here. Conrad is someone I keep getting higher and higher on. His batted ball data is very close to Cam Smith's in the ACC. Should be noted, Smith ran his batted ball data all year and Conrad missed most of the year with an injury so we didn't get the same volume of it, but I also like Conrad's swing much more than Smith's. coming out of college. I wouldn't be surprised to see Conrad in Iowa before May next year. That's not really a prediction; he hasn't taken a single professional PA and we thought Mathis would move fast, too. But it feels like a trajectory that isn't insane, either.

Oh yeah I was mostly saying: I don't see any reason to think he'll be in LF. LF is for the "guy I'm not sure who has the arm for RF" types, which Conrad isn't. He might end up at 1b or DH, but I think RF is definitely on the table and LF feels like a pretty weird spot for his arm if he's capable of handling right.

I ranked him higher than Triantos when we voted, and I had him higher than 9th on my personal list, but it's mostly upside based even if he hasn't seen the field. I just really like the bat here. You don't find many power-hit combos like this from prep bats, and I'm pretty excited. Triantos isn't my dude, so that's also part of it. But I don't find issue with the idea that you'd have James above him, either.

He has a plus arm so going to LF probably isn't on the table. Not to say he can't, but he has the arm to play RF. If you're worried about his athleticism, RF and LF are pretty interchangeable there, with the main difference usually being an arm strength thing. The only thing that would push him to LF would be someone blocking him in RF, if that makes sense.

Image courtesy of © Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images We continue our look at the Chicago Cubs' top 20 prospects today, with our ninth-ranked prospect, outfielder Josiah Hartshorn. For a quick refresher, make sure you check out our other articles in the series: Prospects #20-16 Prospects #15-11 Prospect #10 - James Triantos #9 - Josiah Hartshorn (Orange Lutheran High School) Josiah Hartshorn was the Cubs' sixth-round pick in the 2025 draft. The team gave him a pretty massive $2-million bonus, buying him out of a commitment to Texas A&M. Hartshorn had an interesting senior year, as the switch-hitter faced both right and left elbow issues that forced him, in turns, to hit only right- or left-handed. Despite those setbacks, he was ranked within the top 100 draft prospects by MLB.com, and none of the injuries were bad enough to scare the Cubs away from the selection. What to like: Hartshorn displays both a good hit and power tool. For someone his age, it's usually one or the other, but with the Cubs' sixth-rounder, it's both. Hitting .364 over his 29 games, the outfielder added five home runs while walking six more times than he struck out. Clearly he made a lot of contact, and the approach is somewhat advanced for his age. While the five home runs may not wow you on their own, it's a good reminder that he dealt with a handful of injuries to his back and his elbow over his time, and spent a decent amount of it banged-up. Where the power was truly on display was during the 2024 High School All-Star Home Run Derby, when he finished tied for the win with eventual 19th-round selection Jacob Parker. Don't let his draft round fool you, though, Parker didn't sign a contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and decided to go to Mississippi State instead. Parker was ranked the ninth-best incoming freshman in baseball, so his draft round was due to signability issues, not talent. That night in 2024, Hartshorn went toe-to-toe with him, forcing Parker to hit a buzzer-beater to share the title. The Home Run Derby isn't our best data point, but it does highlight the pure power potential. He absolutely thumped some of those pitches, and if this can translate from "derby power" to "game power," the organization could have something very fun on their hands. Defensively, there's enough athleticism and arm strength to believe he could become an average or slightly above-average right fielder. He may see some time in center field initially because he moves pretty well for his size, but he's probably destined for the corners. His defense will never be the calling card, but an average right fielder with the type of light-tower power he's shown is a player you can really get excited about. What to work on: Because he's already 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, there might not be a lot of projection in Hartshorn moving forward. While it's not impossible he could grow an inch or two more, as of now, he's kind of maxed out his body. That's not inherently a bad thing—with many kids this age, you're hoping they grow into that body—but it also means that he must maintain it. If he doesn't work hard, what could be a slightly plus defensive right fielder can turn into a first baseman or a DH very quickly. It also means there's less to dream on, but with his current pop, that's easily forgiven. Another thing; the bumps and bruises he's suffered shouldn't be entirely ignored. With back and elbow issues on the injury ledger already, it's important that the team do everything to ensure that those do not become chronic, nagging and recurring. It could mean a little extra load management, or a different workout regimen, or teaching Hartshorn simply that it's okay to take a game off through an ailment. And while it's less "something to work on" and more "just the truth of the matter," Hartshorn is a prep player; he's very far away. There's a lot of potential here, but the only at-bats he's taken in pro games have come this spring, and it's only been a few at the back end of Cactus League contests. Patience is key. We may find that he struggles against a certain type of pitch more than others, or that mechanically, he needs to change some things (such as his big leg kick he flashes from time to time). What's next: While many prep hitters need time in the Complex to work on adding bulk and size, Hartshorn is mostly filled out and should probably see Myrtle Beach pretty early in the year. Baseball America did note that his left-handed swing is a bit more raw, so the team may want to keep him in Arizona for a little bit of time just to work through refinement, but it's pretty likely he'll see a good chunk of time in Low-A. The hope is that over the next few years, with a patient mindset, the Cubs can turn Hartshorn into an exciting, power-hitting corner outfielder from both sides of the plate. The athleticism is there today, and the arm strength should be a plus. If things go well, he could be MLB-ready in three years, putting him on track to make a debut by age 22. But not all things go the way you want to, and it could take time for the Cubs' big investment to pay off. With a history of injury and his youth, it may take longer. On the other hand, it does feel notable that he's been in three Cactus League games, including playing a few innings of the team's visit to the Brewers Wednesday. For a teenager who wasn't a top pick to play big-league games the following spring speaks to the organization's faith in his polish. On Wednesday, he hit the only pitch he saw hard in the air, flying out to deep right field on a cutter from Brewers lefty Shane Drohan—who's eight years his senior and on the cusp of the majors. Regardless, worrying about his MLB timeline right now feels like putting the cart before the horse. A successful 2026 will see Hartshorn spend his time in Myrtle Beach. Luckily for the Cubs' newest addition, the Cubs have moved the fences in at Myrtle Beach this season by 10 feet, which should make hitting in the Low-A affiliate of the team a bit easier. Here's hoping he can take advantage of the new, shorter porches. What do you think of the Cub's big-bonus signing of 2025? Do you think he will stick at RF? Sound off in the comments below and start a discussion! View full article

Dylan Carlson becoming a good MLB player would be big for the Cubs. And could give the Cubs another, slightly cheaper resign option over their other 30+ year old OF'ers which they then could reinvest elsewhere. We're well early for that talk, but something I've considered deep in the recesses of my brain.

New mechanics. I really like them.

Yeah I'm really hoping that a good bench bat with utility is his home. But not one of these "gets 100-150 pity PA's" type, but maybe more like the 250-300 PA type where they're really a "first off the bench" type

He read my article today and got mad.

I'll admit that Triantos just isn't my favorite prospect and probably hasn't been for a bit. He's alright, but I have a bunch of concerns about his batted ball profile. It's probably not entirely logical either, because I know high contact, high swing guys do this. But the year last year was pretty rough, and it kind of confirmed some of my issues I already had, even if it's not entirely fair. I tried to find a way to punt him out of my personal top-10, though ultimately couldn't find an adequate replacement. That said, not giving up on him, either. Still think there's an MLB guy in there, and I like that swing change. I hadn't even really noticed it until looking into him for this; took some time looking through X/Twitter and so I am probably more hopeful than I've been. That's a clean swing and I like a little added loft into his game.

Image courtesy of © Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images We've already explored the 11th- through 20th-ranked prospects in the Cubs system, as voted on by our North Side Baseball writers, in two installments (Nos. 11-15, and Nos. 16-20). Today, we continue our look at our top-20 by diving deep on our 10th-ranked prospect: infielder James Triantos. #10 - James Triantos (Iowa Cubs, Triple-A) Triantos, 23, saw a full season of Triple-A action in 2025 after a strong 2024. While at Double-A Tennessee, the former second-round pick showed improved power, posting a career-high .137 ISO. Power has been one of the knocks on the infielder's game, so seeing him begin to flash some pop while in Tennessee provided hope that he could marry his contact-oriented approach with just enough pop to create the ultimate version of himself. Sadly, his first extended look at Iowa was not what he or the Cubs had hoped, putting his place in the organization a bit in limbo as we enter the 2026 season. What To Like One thing Triantos has never struggled with is making contact, and a lot of it. Even during his time in Iowa last year in which the player struggled, Triantos only struck out 15% of the time. On top of the low punchout rate, Triantos showcased a 90th-percentile whiff rate and 82nd-percentile zone contact rate. He makes a lot of contact, regardless of whether it's in the zone or out of it. One of the things the diminutive hitter has struggled with has been selectivity. This isn't unique to Triantos; it's something many high-contact hitters need to learn—that not everything you can hit is something you should hit. While the overall numbers didn't really get much better, his swing decisions did ,and that is a positive sign for the future. From the beginning of the season to the end of the year, he lowered his chase rate and his overall swing rate, which is a good thing; he needs to be a little bit choosier at the plate. His bat control is good enough that he's able to get deeper into a count and still make contact. Another thing he does well: he hits the fastball. Triantos's best outcomes were on fastballs last year. His overall wOBA of .312 was disappointing, but a .337 wOBA when making contact with fastballs was better. By being more picky at the plate, he can also hunt these pitches a little more successfully. While you'd love to see his numbers against other types of pitches be better than where they are, getting to the fastball is a good first-step as he continues to grow as a hitter. What To Work On: While Triantos clearly can hit the ball often, his quality of contact is just not where it needs to be right now. While some of these things can be explained away as the cost of a contact-oriented approach, he's never going to survive at the next level if he doesn't hit the ball with a bit more authority. On the 2025 season, James had just a 76 wRC+ against Triple-A pitching. For any organization to think he's ready, he's going to need to show (at least) the ability to dominate at the highest level of the minors. Sadly, because he will offer limited defensive ability (despite his versatility), his bat is going to have to be a bit stronger. One reason why his batted-ball data is so poor could be a leg injury suffered early in the season. Triantos has a pretty quiet swing and doesn't generate a lot of power to begin with, but if you cut a leg out from under him, it's going to be even worse. We shouldn't attribute everything to this, but it could be a mitigating factor, and something to keep in the back of our minds. What's Next: Another full year of hitting in Iowa is on tap, barring his turning a corner. While Triantos once looked like a virtual lock to make an MLB roster one day due to his versatility and bat-to-ball skills, his 2025 season threw that into question. The good news is that he's still quite young, still has versatility, and if he can show an offensive game 10% or so better than league average, he'll quickly put his name back onto broader prospect radars. One thing to keep an eye on: there's video out there of what looks like an overhauled swing entering this spring. We'll have to see what he looks like in games and what this means, but he appears to be a little less upright, and his hands seem to have been raised. It's a setup and swing geared toward a little extra loft, as well. Compare the video below with the video above, from August 2025. I don't think Triantos profiles as a big-league regular. He's probably best at second base (despite a plus arm), but he's not particularly great at any position. His arm is strong enough for third, but he isn't a particularly adroit fielder. His legs are good enough for center field, but he hasn't found a home there, and against the best pitching in the world, his bat probably doesn't have enough oomph to be a starter on a good team. With that said, he's got a great chance of being "just good enough" to play second,. third and anywhere in the outfield, while flashing enough contact ability and speed that if you squint hard and believe even harder, he can offer sneaky value. There's still upside in Triantos, even if 2025 didn't really go to plan. What do you think of James Triantos? Do you like his new mechanics? What are your projections? Let us know in the comment section below! View full article

Yeah, Clement feels like a product of the moment. He had some memorable moments in the playoffs and he got picked that way.

Yeah, I think I can understand why someone may like Conrad. He's going to more likely stick at a premium position where as Rojas is going to most likely move off of it. Rojas isn't coming off a great first look at Double-A either. Looking at recent Cub first rounders from college they've made their way to Double-A quickly, so while Conrad hasn't taken a swing yet, if he follows that pathway, good chance the two intersect there. I'd have Rojas above Conrad right now. I also am very encouraged with his swing adjustments. But I also expect there's a good chance by seasons end Conrad is going to be the top prospect in the system by easy consensus.

Yeah, I have some love for Will Sanders. Really, if he can turn into a Colin Rea who doesn't need to go across the seas to find his spot in baseball, I think that's a great outcome. And not a bad one for him, either. Rea is a useful pitcher on an MLB team and I think one that goes a little underrated either as a member of the rotation or BP. I'm hoping he can make it, he's a fun little arm and I think he's someone who I'd like to see get some run with the Cubs someday