The Cubs have overhauled their farm over the past four years, creating one of baseball’s top systems via blockbuster trades, fast-moving Draft picks and international signings. While some prospects have graduated to Chicago already, more can be classified as coming soon.
The top-heavy Minor League system has created a situation where president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer and his front-office team have to factor a growing list of prospects into the MLB equation. Some players could be trade chips, while others could be reaching the big league roster soon.
“There's a balance there, but we should never underestimate the value of depth,” Hoyer said at the end of the season. “We've gotten to this place where our best prospects are either breaking into the big leagues or they're in Triple-A. That provides real depth, and a lot of depth is off the 40-man roster, which is even more valuable.
“So, we'll obviously think about all sorts of different opportunities, but that's a really enviable position that -- with an injury or poor performance -- the kind of guy that's coming up to the roster is a Top 100 Prospect. And I don't want to lose sight of that.”
Here are five prospects (listed alphabetically) who could impact the Cubs’ in ‘25:
The Cubs’ outfield currently includes Ian Happ in left, Pete Crow-Armstrong in center and Seiya Suzuki in right field. Cody Bellinger is also part of the picture right now, unless he opts out of his deal and hits the free-agent market this winter. That leaves Alcántara in the next-man-up category for next year.
This past season, the 22-year-old Alcántara hit .278/.353/.428 with 14 homers, 21 doubles, 61 RBIs and 14 steals in 111 games between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa. He went 1-for-10 in a three-game stint with the Cubs in September. Acquired from the Yankees in the 2021 trade involving Anthony Rizzo, Alcántara can play all three outfield spots.
Ballesteros, who will turn 21 on Nov. 8, is coming off a strong season with both Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa and is getting more action in the Arizona Fall League. The Cubs were impressed with Miguel Amaya’s progress this year, but the team will nonetheless look to improve its catching options for ‘25. Ballesteros is very much on the radar.
In 124 games this past season, Ballesteros hit .289/.354/.471 with 19 homers, 24 doubles and 78 RBIs, while getting playing time at catcher (72 games), designated hitter (42 games) and first base (eight games). Ballesteros posted an .867 OPS in 56 games at Double-A before his promotion, earning a spot in the All-Star Futures Game.
OF Owen Caissie (No. 2/No. 34)
Like Alcantara, consider the 22-year-old Caissie among the first considered for a call-up to help the outfield (or add some potential thump in the DH role). In 127 games at Triple-A in ‘24, the lefty slugger hit .278/.375/.472 with 19 homers, 29 doubles, 75 RBIs, 71 walks and 11 steals. Caissie ended with a .958 OPS in 18 September games. The Cubs need to add him to the 40-man roster this offseason to protect him from Rule 5 Draft eligibility.
The 23-year-old Horton looked to be on the fast track to Chicago this year, but an injury (right subscapularis strain) stalled his season in late May. The 2022 first-rounder (selected No. 7 overall) was limited to 34 1/3 innings (4.46 ERA with 40 strikeouts and 13 walks) in nine games between Double-A and Triple-A before spending the final four months recovering and rehabbing. With a clean bill of health, Horton could be an option for the Cubs at some point in ‘25.
INF Matt Shaw (No. 1/No. 22)
Shaw has been rising fast since the Cubs picked him out of Maryland with the No. 13 overall pick in the ‘23 Draft. Chicago’s infield is set with Nico Hoerner (second base), Dansby Swanson (shortstop) and Isaac Paredes (third), but Shaw has positioned himself to be a possibility for all those spots if an opportunity arises next year.
In 121 games between Double-A and Triple-A this past year, Shaw hit .284/.379/.488 with 21 homers, 19 doubles, 71 RBIs, 78 runs and 31 steals while mostly playing third and getting action at second and short, too. He posted an .841 OPS at Double-A, followed by a .929 OPS at Triple-A (35 games), including a 1.011 OPS in September.
