With the 2023 season in full swing, the thought came to me what a 26-man roster full of Chicago Cubs top prospects might look like. With all the revamping of the farm system in the last two years, it's no surprise that the organization's future is in good hands. The Cubs have a lot to look forward to, from hitters to starting pitchers to the bullpen. Let's look at what a full 26-man roster would look like regarding prospects only.
The lineup:
1. Pete Crow-Armstrong CF
2. Brennen Davis RF
3. Kevin Alcantara LF
4. Matt Mervis 1B
5. Jake Slaughter 3B
6. Yonathan Perlaza DH
7. Cristian Hernandez SS
8. Pedro Ramirez 2B
9. Miguel Amaya C
Bench: Alexander Canario, Owen Caissie, Darius Hill, Haydn McGeary
First, I'm opting for youngster Pedro Ramirez over Chase Strumpf at 2B because, in my opinion, he has a brighter future/ceiling. Last season, at just 19 years old, he slashed .329/.399/.541 in 145 ABs in Rookie Ball, and I'm excited to see what he brings to the table for Myrtle Beach in 2023. Jake Slaughter looks like a candidate to get called up before long, as he already has seven RBIs in just three games at Triple-A Iowa to begin the year.
Elsewhere, Haydn McGeary's video game-like numbers in Division II ball earned him a signing by the Chicago Cubs in the draft last season. In 2022, at the collegiate level, McGeary slashed an absurd .481/.579/1.061 with 35 HRs and 79 RBIs in 214 at-bats. He, too, will start in MB with Ramirez, and it will be interesting to see his next step forward. Consistently finding himself among the top 100 prospects lists, Cristian Hernandez will also play in his first full season of pro ball with Myrtle Beach.