9 of Chicago Cubs top 30 prospects make a stacked AA Tennessee Roster

The Chicago Cubs finally have a farm system that ranks in the better half of the league, and those top prospects are making their way up quickly. The Cubs AA affiliate - the Tennessee Smokies - released their roster on Tuesday, and it is loaded with 9 of the Cubs top 30 prospects ranked by MLB including their number 1 minor leaguer Pete Crow-Armstrong. This means that a big wave of young talent is inching its way to the big league roster, and those players could provide some invaluable depth for a Chicago team that is looking to get back to the postseason within the next couple of years. Let's take a look at each of those top prospects who will be repping the Tennessee Smokies in AA and hopefully AAA Iowa soon after.

1. OF Pete Crow-Armstrong (Cubs #1)

The aforementioned top prospect in the entire Cubs minor league system is the speedy outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. Cubs fans are already chomping at the bit to see this guy patrol center field at Wrigley as there is a lot to like about this 21-year old stud. Armstrong boasts one of the best gloves among all minor league outfield prospects and he took home a gold glove last year for his efforts between Myrtle Beach and South Bend.

The Cubs acquired their prized youngster, who also ranks 28th among all Milb prospects, at the 2021 trade deadline in exchange for Javier Baez and Trevor Williams. In hindsight, giving up half a year of Baez and Williams was a bargain compared to potentially years worth of perennial gold glove nods and leadoff hits Armstrong will hopefully give the Cubs. With a lefty bat, incredible speed (32 stolen bases last season) and gold glove caliber defense, the Cubs have quite a player on their hands and he will likely find his way to AAA Iowa by the end of the 2023 season.