Cubs Minors: A who’s-who of the team’s prospects heading into the season

After a year-plus hiatus and a complete organizational overhaul that saw Major League Baseball seize control of operations, Minor League Baseball returns this week and, with it, we get our first look at where some of the top Cubs prospects will open the 2021 season.

Now, we already saw Chicago make a controversial decision with a young player when the team broke camp in Arizona, optioning Nico Hoerner to the alternate site to open the year. It was expected that he’d then be with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs when the team opened its season on May 4, but as we all know, he’s back with the big league club and proving he belongs in every way imaginable.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t guys worth checking in on as the MiLB season gets underway. Let’s take a look at where some of the team’s key prospects are going to begin the 2021 campaign.

Cubs have some marquee names headed to extended spring training

At the team’s extended spring training site in Arizona, we’ll see some of the organization’s most highly thought of names. Top prospects Brailyn Marquez and Brennen Davis headline that list, along with Reginald Preciado, who came over in the Yu Darvish trade.

Both Marquez and Davis are soon expected to join Double-A Tennessee – which boasts catching prospect Miguel Amaya, as well. The Smokies certainly won’t hurt for impact talent this season and, with the Cubs eyeing a rebuild or re-tooling (whatever you want to call it), it’s a critical year not only from the players’ standpoint, but for the organization, as a whole.

Cubs: Triple-A baseball is back in Des Moines this season

As someone who used to live in Des Moines, I’m here to tell you: the Iowa Cubs are a deeply-embedded part of that city’s identity. There are few things better than grabbing dinner downtown and heading to an I-Cubs game or deciding to head over to Principal Park last-minute.

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While the Cubs, as a franchise, lack blue-chip talent at the Triple-A level, there will be plenty of guys who bounce back and forth throughout the season. If the big league club sells off anything of value this summer, the depth at Iowa will become even more critical.

Right-hander Cory Abbott, the team’s #15 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, will open the year with the I-Cubs. Two years ago at Double-A Tennessee, he worked to a 3.01 ERA in 26 starts – a more than respectable performance given how hitter-friendly the league was.

That’s the only top 25 Cubs prospect who will open the season at Iowa. But plenty of other names will grace the team’s roster, including pitchers Jason Adam, Dakota Mekkes, Kyle Ryan, Brad Wieck and Robert Stock.

On the position player side of things, PJ Higgins and Jose Lobaton – both of whom could end up catching at the big league level this year, especially if the team trades Willson Contreras – kick things off. Ildemaro Vargas and Patrick Wisdom are two key infielders and in the outfield, Nick Martini, Cameron Maybin and Ian Miller will get reps.

Here’s to the return of Minor League Baseball. As was the case a decade ago, Cubs fans will likely soon find themselves paying more and more attention to these affiliates and their standout performers.