4 Chicago Cubs prospects who have been on a tear recently

Chicago Cubs: Tennessee – Grayson Byrd, 1B

We have not talked about Grayson Byrd much if all here, and he is someone who can be in line as a future option at first base in the post-Rizzo era, whenever that comes. Byrd was a 2019 draft pick, a mid-20th round selection out of the SEC, having spent his collegiate days at LSU and Clemson, two baseball powerhouses.

Byrd got some time in during the 2019 season, at rookie ball and Low-A. The pandemic wiped his 2020 season out, but now he is back in 2021, at Double-A, and is tearing it up for the Smokies. Over the past week, Byrd has slashed .296/.345/.407 with a 135 wRC+ over his past ten games. He has also worked an 11.1 percent walk rate.

Byrd’s father, Paul Byrd, enjoyed a successful 14-year major league career. He retired in 2009 with a career 4.41 ERA. The younger Byrd hopes to replicate that success in his career as he works his way up the ladder. So far, it’s wings up for the Smokies’ first baseman.