3 Chicago Cubs Prospects who rose and 2 who fell in the latest top 30 ranking

4 of 5

The MLB pipeline rankings have been updated and the Cubs' top 30 list looks way different now that we're more than two-thirds of the way through the 2023 season. There have been some impressive performances that skyrocketed a couple of players up the chart, while a couple have been bumped down to make room for others. The Cubs are also considered to have one of the best farm systems in all of baseball and they now have 5 prospects in the MLB top 100 list. Here are some of the biggest risers and fallers from the latest top 30 rankings.

Riser: OF Owen Caissie (no. 3)

Owen Caissie is having himself a breakout year with the Tennessee Smokies with a .288/.393/.549 slash line, 21 home runs, and 74 RBIs. This performance has bumped Caissie into the third spot in the Cubs' system and he even cracked the top 100 list coming in at 69th. The 21-year-old has always flashed above-average power, but he is also showing good plate discipline with 56 walks on the year.

As a left-handed power bat, Caissie could become useful on the major league roster next year. As a below-average defender in the outfield, Caissie could be a useful designated hitter or converted first baseman in the future. He was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the second round of the shortened 2020 draft, and he came to the Cubs as a main piece in the Yu Darvish trade. Prior to the season, Caissie also represented Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic and he is the highest-drafted Canadian-born outfielder in baseball history.

Faller: LHP Jordan Wicks (no. 10)

Left-handed starting pitcher Jordan Wicks went from fifth to 10th on the Cubs' top 30, but his fall is deceiving. Wicks is not having a bad year by any means and he recently earned a promotion to Triple-A Iowa. He is 3-0 in his first six starts for Iowa with a 3.81 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 28.1 innings. Wicks is projected to be a starting pitcher at the major league level, and he could make an appearance at Wrigley Field as soon as this year.

Despite these positives, Wicks fell on the top 30 list mostly due to the outstanding performances of others. I do admit, his pitching isn't flashy as he relies on a low 80s changeup as his primary weapon while his fastball usually sits in the 91-93 mph range. But he is a solid starter that strikes out a lot of batters with the deception of his secondary slider and curveball. At 23 years old, Wicks could prove useful with the Cubs' rotation but is seeing severe struggles from Drew Smyly.

Riser: C Moises Ballesteros (no. 7)

Catcher Moises Ballesteros is starting to garner attention in the Cubs' system at just 19 years old. He made his way to the A+ level this year and his stats between Myrtle Beach and South Bend are impressive. In 322 at-bats, Ballesteros is hitting .286 with 10 home runs, 51 RBIs, and 24 doubles. At just 5'7, Ballesteros is powerful for his height with his lefty swing, but he also shows great plate discipline with 57 walks on the year.

He signed as an international free agent out of Venezuela in 2021. His catching skills are solid but he is slow to second base as he gave up 85 stolen bases last year according to MLB. But he has flashed enough talent to earn himself the seventh spot in the Cubs system, making him the highest-ranked catcher in the organization.

Faller: 1B Matt Mervis

Nobody was hotter in the Cubs farm system in 2022 than first baseman Matt Mervis, who signed with the Cubs as an undrafted free agent in 2020. Mervis crushed a whopping 36 home runs in three different levels of the Cubs' farm system in 2022, propelling him into the top 10 and earning himself a major league promotion in May. But he struggled to transfer his skills to the MLB, and Mervis was sent back down in June.

Mervis has continued to put up solid offensive numbers in his second stint in Iowa, with 7 home runs, 23 RBIs, and 30 walks since June 15th. Although he has fallen to 13th on the Cubs' top 30, he will likely get another chance to prove himself at the MLB level. But with the addition of Jeimer Candelario, Mervis likely won't get his next chance until 2024 unless a series of injuries hit the major league squad.

Riser: Matt Shaw (no. 6)

The Cubs' first-round pick in the 2023 draft was shortstop Matt Shaw, who is looking like an absolute stud who will be fast-tracked through the system similar to Nico Hoerner. The 21-year-old is already playing with the A+ South Bend Cubs where he is slashing .292/.346/.417 in his first 24 at-bats. With the ability to play all around the infield, hit for power and run at above-average speed, Shaw could end up being a special player and it will be fun to watch his journey to the big leagues over the next couple of years.

More Chicago Cubs News

feed

Home / Chicago Cubs Prospects