Even though the Chicago Cubs have their sights set on winning the NL Central this season, their future remains as bright as ever. Ever since the teardown of the roster during the 2021 trade deadline, the front office has taken an immense amount of pride in the farm system and how well it ranks among the rest if the league.
The 2016 World Series winning team’s foundation was largely built on the prospects that came through the farm system and executed in a big way. Moving forward, the assumed hope is that the next championship team that comes through Wrigleyville has a similar foundation.
The Cubs have four prospects in the latest top 100 list that was released by Fangraphs. Other lists from different outlets have more from Chicago on their lists, so some could see this as disappointing. Nonetheless, the names that Fangraphs chose to highlight are important ones for the Cubs future, which is most important at the end of the day.
Matt Shaw and Kevin Alcantara could be on the Chicago Cubs this year
Shaw is the highest ranked prospect by Fangraphs, coming in at 13th overall in all of baseball. The 2023 first round draft choice is expected to get the first crack at playing third base and Spring Training and will likely be the Opening Day starter at that position in Japan next month. Shaw spent time in Double-A and Triple-A a year ago where he dominated at the plate like he had in 2023.
The former Maryland Terrapin hit 21 home runs and drove in 71 while slashing .284/.379/.488 with Tennessee and Iowa. Despite winning the Brooks Wallace Award in his final season of collegiate baseball as the nations’ best shortstop, Shaw will be taking care of the hot corner to begin his big league career with Dansby Swanson anchoring short for the Cubs.
Alcantara ranked 46th as the second highest Cub on this list. Similar to Shaw, Alcantara split time with Tennessee and Iowa last year. The 22-year-old earned a call to the show in the final week of the regular season when the team was in Philadelphia based on his play in 2024. He slashed .278/.353/.428 last year and mashed 14 home runs while driving in 61 runs.
Known as “The Jaguar”, he is expected to compete for the backup centerfielder role in Spring Training, and should have the inside edge to win the job based on his competition. Alcantara was acquired from the New York Yankees for Anthony Rizzo during the 2021 trade deadline.
A pitcher and shortstop round out the list for the Chicago Cubs
Cade Horton is the lone pitcher on this list for the Chicago Cubs, where he slots in at 79th overall. The right-hander was a first-round pick in the 2022 draft and while he will not be on the Opening Day roster, he is expected to make his debut a some point this season.
Horton made nine starts between Tennessee and Iowa last year while battling injury. The former Oklahoma Sooner went 2-1 with a 4.46 ERA over 34.1 innings tossed. There is no doubt that Horton has the stuff to be an elite big league pitcher, but health will be the only thing that holds him back. He underwent Tommy John surgery in college and wasn’t able to stay fully healthy last year, so that’s something to keep an eye on moving forward.
Rojas is a fun and exciting name to see featured on this list. The 19-year-old shortstop ranks 81st according to Fangraphs after being signed by the Chicago Cubs organization on January 15, 2022. The youngster has tremendous upside and played in 96 games for the South Bend Cubs in 2024.
He slashed .245/.310/.336 while hitting six homers and driving in 47 runs as one of the most see players for South Bend. Rojas’s defense is must-see TV every time he takes the field and Chicago could very well have their shortstop of the future in him. He still has a little ways to go before being ready for the show which is more than fine with Swanson having five years left on his contract.
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