Cubs prospect promotions reveal 2025 MLB draft may have been exactly what the farm system needed

With recent graduations of Matt Shaw, Cade Horton, and Moises Ballesteros, the Chicago Cubs were hoping that there would be a breakout or two from their 2025 MLB Draft. Kane Kepley has certainly helped that cause for the Cubs, and their latest prospect promotion revealed yet another prospect from the 2025 draft class on the cusp of breaking.

The Cubs announced on Tuesday that outfielder Josiah Hartshorn and pitcher Mason McGwire have each been promoted to High-A South Bend. In Low-A to start his professional career, Hartshorn was slashing .273/.424/.460 with a wRC+ of 149. With five home runs through his first 39 games, Hartshorn has tapped into the 50/55 raw power grade attached to his prospect profile.

There also may be a larger breakout occurring. It's no secret that the Cubs' farm system is in a bit of a transition. The organization's previous top prospect, Owen Caissie, was traded to the Miami Marlins during the offseason, and there's been varied opinions on who is the next to take up that honor. He may not be there yet but Baseball America's Bryan Smith suggests it could be Hartshorn by the the end of the summer.

It will be curious to see how the Cubs value Hartshorn's ascension this season. No, he won't be ticketed for Wrigley Field this year, but he's almost certainly going to be prospect asked about in trade talks. Considering Hartshorn's ETA is still a couple of years away at the earliest, it would be fair to suggest that the organization wouldn't think twice about moving him in the right deal ahead of the trade deadline.

Of course, that desire could also shift by the results on the field for the Cubs. If the Cubs continue to have mixed results over the next two months, it's hard to imagine Jed Hoyer and Co. would be eager to move Hartshorn for a piece specifically aimed to help the 2026 team. Especially if the Cubs believe that Hartshorn can turn into the next blue-chip prospect for the organization.

Mason McGwire's breakout couldn't arrive at a better time for the Cubs

As the Cubs deal with endless injuries to their major league pitching staff, it's been a reminder that the team doesn't have the healthiest of track records with pitcher development. Jaxon Wiggins and Brandon Birdsell were each viewed as top pitching prospects in the Cubs' system recently, but injuries have clouded their prospect profile.

It's why McGwire's success this season has been so important. Through his first 30 innings pitched, the 22-year-old is carrying an ERA of 2.40 while striking out over 36% of the hitters he's faced. If he can build on that dominance, that would be an important development for the Cubs' farm system moving forward.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow