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Number 3
Jackson Ferris LHP
Age: 19 Years Old
Level: A Myrtle Beach
Joined the organization via: 2nd Round Pick in 2022 MLB Draft
2023 Stats: 31.0 IP 3.19 ERA 40/16 K/BB
Jackson Ferris is not the best player in the Cubs system but he is my favorite. Years ago the Cubs drafted Kyle Schwarber in the first round and in doing so saved enough money to be able to draft prep pitchers Carson Sands, Justin Steele, and Dylan Cease. I’m not going to sit here and say that when the Cubs drafted Cade Horton last year and signed him under the slot and used that money to sign prep pitchers Nazier Mule and Jackson Ferris is the exact same thing, but it has the potential to be.
Ferris has been as dominant as any player in the system, albeit against lesser competition at Myrtle Beach. He’s struggled with the walks in his last couple of starts and the Cubs are treating him with kid gloves a little bit as his average appearance has lasted less than three innings, but when they’ve let him loose he’s been extremely impressive.
I understand that there are a lot of people that will use the fact that a Low-A pitcher is ranked higher on this list than two guys knocking on the door at AAA to invalidate it, but this is an instance of star power outweighing a high floor. If we look at the best-case scenario for guys like Ben Brown, Cade Horton, Jordan Wicks, etc. I see middle of the rotation on a division-winning team or a number two on a solid wild-card team.
When I look at Jackson Ferris I see a guy that could be a legitimate ace, someone that has the possibility to not only be the best pitcher in our system but potentially the best left-handed pitching prospect in all of baseball and anchor a staff that is World Series bound.
He is not close to reaching that potential right now. He may never get to that potential because his arm could fall off. However, when I look at this system there is one player that jumps off of the page every time I see him and it’s Jackson Ferris.