The Chicago Cubs have a ton of prospects that could make big impacts on their major league roster at some point this season.
The Cubs top prospect Matt Shaw has the best chance to make the Opening Day roster with him expected to compete for the starting third base job. That path could be blocked if the Cubs end up signing Alex Bregman who they appear to be ‘aggressively’ pursuing.
The Cubs recently were honored with having seven of their prospects make MLB’s top 100 prospects list, but were recently ranked as one of the weaker farm systems in a recent report.
The Chicago Cubs ranked as the 10th-best farm system
In his latest rankings, ESPN’s Kiely McDaniel put five of the Cubs prospects on his top 100 list and ranked the Cubs farm system at 10th in baseball and having a value of $215 million. This is a dramatic drop-off from last season where the Cubs ranked second and had a value of $328 million.
As I said Shaw has the chance to be the Cubs Opening Day third baseman if all goes well this spring and if the Cubs don’t sign Bregman. Shaw has the ability to be a future superstar in the league with having the same body type and makeup as Bregman.
Right-handed pitcher Cade Horton could be up in the Cubs rotation with the Cubs needing another starter. Horton is coming into this spring ready to bounce back after suffering a shoulder injury last season. Horton can be a middle to top-of-the-rotation type of arm with two-plus pitches in his arsenal.
Horton expressed that one of his main goals coming into this season was to make sure that his mechanics were sound and more importantly that his hands separated on time. Horton expressed that would help him be able to throw more consistent strikes. Another area of focus mechanically for Horton was making sure he stayed on his backside longer in order to get more drive down the mound and to the plate.
Others on the list
As for Owen Caissie and Kevin Alcantara, they are both currently blocked from having a spot on the major league roster. Currently, Alcantara is blocked by Pete Crow-Armstrong who is out in the center, and Caissie is blocked by Kyle Tucker and Ian Happ from playing either of the corner outfield spots. It wouldn’t make sense to keep both on the roster and use either off the bench for this season, given that would stunt their development. Other prospects named on the lister were Moises Ballesteros, James Triantos, and Brandon Birdsell. Ironically, Birdsell made McDaniel’s list but not MLB’s top 100 list, where he fell just short of making it in.
An exciting time for the Cubs
The Cubs have a bright future ahead of them with so many prospects in their organization to help bring success.
Naturally not all of these prospects will make the big leagues or pan out being that baseball is a sport that exposes even the best of players. However, having as many prospects to choose from as the Cubs do gives them a better chance of striking gold with a few of them.
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