Chicago Cubs: Breaking down the team’s top prospects entering the season

Despite graduating countless previous top prospects, the Chicago Cubs’ system remains strong – and could impact the roster significantly in the near future.

The Chicago Cubs are now in year six of the Theo Epstein era. After joining the Cubs in 2011, Epstein started to rebuild the franchise from the ground up. Over the next few seasons, Epstein drafted players like Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber and Albert Almora.

In addition to drafting top-tier prospects, Epstein has also pulled off several lopsided trades. Guys like Kyle Hendricks, Jake Arrieta and Anthony Rizzo have been acquired in trades that fell heavily in favor of Chicago.

Epstein, as well as the rest of the Cubs front office, has done a great job in stockpiling top talent in the minors. Last year, that painful rebuilding effort paid off when the Cubs won their first World Series title in 108 years.

Just because the Cubs have graduated top prospect after top prospect from their farm system does not mean the system is depleted. In fact, many experts have ranked the Cubs system right around the middle of the pack for the 2017 season. That is not bad considering the amount of talent that has moved up to the majors the last three seasons.