3 Chicago Cubs prospects who have improved their stock and 2 who hurt it

The Chicago Cubs have amassed some tremendous talent in the minors in order to boast one of the most impressive farm systems in all of baseball. 

The 2024 season has seen some of those prospects continue to blossom and increase their potential trade value at the deadline this season while others have tanked their stock through poor play. 

Risers

Cristian Hernandez

Shortstop (High-A South Bend)

.288/.411/.387 2 HR, 8 2B, 1 3B, 19 RBI, 31 R, 21/24 SB, 32/45 BB/K

At the midway point last season there was already prospect fatigue on Hernandez. The former highly-touted IFA signing was even passed by his younger brother in our organizational prospect rankings prior to the 2024 season and when we said the Cubs had the best pair of brothers since Justin and BJ Upton, we definitely implied that Crisitan was BJ and Alexis was Justin. 

That being said, Hernandez has broken out this season and while he’s still hitting for less than ideal power he’s hitting the ball significantly more often and when he gets on base he’s wreaking havoc with steals. 

It’s worth keeping in mind that Hernandez is still just 20 years-old so there’s every reason in the world to believe that he’s still just scratching the surface of his potential, and if the Cubs can sell a team on that potential at the deadline he could easily yield a solid bullpen piece or middle-of-the-order bat by himself.