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The names at the top of the Chicago Cubs' farm system rankings are known to just about every fan who has been following the team in recent seasons. Before this season, Matt Shaw was the team's best prospect, and he has graduated to the Major League level. Cade Horton and Moises Ballesteros have also reached the Major League level this season, and Cubs fans saw a glimpse of Kevin Alcantara at the end of the 2024 season. Owen Caissie, currently the Cubs' No. 2 prospect, has yet to make his debut but is currently on a heater with Triple-A Iowa.
There's another prospect who is quickly ascending toward the top of the Cubs' minor-league rankings, and that is infielder Jefferson Rojas. After signing with the Cubs as an international free agent in 2022, Rojas is having a breakout season in High Class-A this season.
Through his first 209 plate appearances this season, Rojas is slashing .287/.392/.360/137 wRC+ with 4 home runs. Given the success he is having, it seems that Rojas is ready for the challenge of Double-A pitching. He was the Cubs' prospect highlighted by the prospect experts at MLB.com when they looked at a prospect from each team who is begging for a promotion.
Cubs may have found their next star as Jefferson Rojas keeps dominating
Cubs fans may not realize that Rojas has leapfrogged James Triantos. Triantos fell out of MLB Pipeline's Top 100 rankings. Meanwhile, Rojas has ranked as the No. 72 prospect in baseball and the fifth-best prospect in the Cubs' system.
Dating back to last season, Rojas has over 600 plate appearances at the High Class-A level. This would be around the time that the Cubs would consider a promotion to the next level. Add in the fact that he is dominating, and it seems like the move up a level is coming very shortly.
Rojas could be an intriguing prospect ahead of the Major League Baseball Trade Deadline. With Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson entrenched as the Cubs' middle infielders, the Cubs could dangle Rojas as one of the centerpiece prospects in trade talks ahead of the deadline.