Even though the Chicago Cubs have gotten off to a strong start this season, it is always worth paying attention to everything going on in their farm system. Despite having a couple of marquee prospects beginning the season at the big league level, a decent amount of the top guys that general manager Jed Hoyer has brought in over the last handful of years are putting in the work down on the farm.
Six players in Iowa have stood out so far in the early going this season. Three bats and three arms who have different types of big league experience have made names for themselves in Triple-A and they’ll be important to keep an eye on when injuries occur in Chicago this year.
Owen Caissie is swinging a hot bat to begin his season in Iowa
Owen Caissie is off to a strong start at the plate this season after sustaining an injury during Spring Training that forced him to be away from big league camp. The outfielder is slashing .269/.367/.539 with a .905 OPS in seven games. Caissie has left the yard once so far this season and has driven in six runs in his 26 at-bats.
The 22-year-old was the main piece acquired in the Yu Darvish trade with the Padres over four years ago. Caissie has performed well while staying healthy in the minors throughout the last three seasons and is knocking on the door of a call up to the show. He will need to rely on an injury to one of the Chicago Cubs primary outfielders to get his first crack of big league action, but there is no doubt that Caissie has a future at the highest level if he continues to hit like this.
Two Other Iowa Cub hitters have impressed so far
Christian Franklin joined the Chicago Cubs organization not too long after Caissie was acquired. Another outfielder, Franklin was selected in the fourth round of the 2021 draft out of the Arkansas. This season is the first that he has spent in Iowa and he is swinging the bat well. Franklin is slashing .276/.432/..483 with a .915 OPS in 29 at-bats and eight games.
Franklin hit .268 in over 400 at-bats in Double-A last year, so his bat becoming consistent has been a recent development. He was praised for his speed and defense entering the 2021 draft, but his ability to come through at the dish was always a question mark. If he can establish a strong presence in the box at the Triple-A level, he could have a future in the big leagues.
Jonathan Long was a ninth round draft choice of the Cubs out of Long Beach State in 2023. Despite being a later draft pick compared to some of his peers in Des Moines, the infielder has stood out in his 149 career minor league games.
Long played 114 games last season between South Bend and Tennessee and earned his way onto the Iowa Cubs Opening Day roster. In 33 at-bats so far this year, Long is hitting .303, getting on-base at a .343 clip and is slugging .515. The first baseman trails just Franklin on Caissie on the squad in the OPS department with a .858 mark.
Having all three of these prospects just one level off from the show is extremely important. It gives the Chicago Cubs front office reassurance that their depth isn’t too far away and that they have the pieces necessary to fill in any gaps this year if injuries come up.
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