MLB Pipeline unveils position player-heavy top 30 Chicago Cubs prospect rankings

MLB Pipeline unveiled their preseason ranking of the top 100 prospects in baseball back in January, tying the Chicago Cubs with the Seattle Mariners in front of the pack with seven players each making the list.

Now, with only a few weeks left until the regular season gets underway, the individual top 30 list for the North Siders dropped, reaffirming their status as a top farm system in the game and recognizing a few new names to watch. The list also has a few notable changes to the hierarchy, including among the team's top prospects.

As was noted in the top 100 rankings, the Cubs' top 30 features Matt Shaw, Cade Horton, Owen Caissie, Moises Ballesteros, Kevin Alcantara, James Triantos, and Jefferson Rojas taking up the top seven spots in that order. The only shift there is moving Horton back above Caissie, though they aren't that far separated in the overall list at 51 and 53, respectively. Both are expected to play a role at the big league level at some point this year. Currently, Horton is trending positively following a lost season to injury in 2024, sitting 95 to 97 MPH with his fastball in spring training while Caissie is battling his way back from a left groin strain.

Shaw, of course, will be starting with the major league team this year at third base coming off a 2024 season in which he hit .284/379/.488/146 wRC+ between Double-A and Triple-A. The rest, save for Rojas, the youngest of the bunch at 19, are all a threat to make it to Wrigley soon if they force the issue or injuries open up a spot. That big league readiness is a double-edged sword for the Cubs farm system. While still well-regarded and primed to make some big trades, they have a concerning lack of depth at other levels of the minors and could really do with some prospects taking steps forward in 2025 to ensure a consistent long-term stream of talent.

One name who took a massive leap up the rankings and could get some top-100 consideration before long is Brandon Birdsell. Fresh off Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Year honors at Tennessee and Iowa, he's soared from 27th in the system to eighth on the Pipeline list. By future value, his 55 control is also the best among the team's prospects save for Horton, whom he's tied with.

The top 10 is rounded out by international prospect Fernando Cruz at #9 and Jaxon Wiggins at #10, with other notable names including Cristian Hernandez (11), recent international signing Juan Tomas (12), and Arizona Fall League standout Jonathon Long (13), who was last ranked at 26. Wiggins has already turned heads with some of the best pitches in the farm, between his 65-grade fastball that sits around 95 to 97 MPH and a 50-grade changeup.

Cubs' top 30 prospects list shows a notable lack of pitching

While there are plenty of positives to take away, the Cubs do have a weakness at the top of their farm — pitching. The lack of prominent young arms after Horton, Birdsell, and Wiggins is made plain in MLB Pipeline's list, which only has six pitchers total on it. That's less than any other team in baseball. Past the trio above, the next arm on the list is Jack Neely, the relief prospect with a nasty 70-grade slider acquired from the Yankees for Mark Leiter Jr. last summer.

Granted, the list doesn't tell the full story of the young pitching depth the Cubs have at their disposal. All of Ben Brown, Jordan Wicks, Luke Little, and Daniel Palencia, who have all since graduated, will factor in throughout the season. Brown, in particular, is one to watch given that he's fully recovered from the osteoma in his neck that derailed his season and will look to pick up from his 3.58 ERA in 55 1/3 innings he posted before being shelved. Those players, along with relief prospects like Riley Martin, give the team plenty of high-ceiling arms to work for the time being.