Unknown Cubs prospect nets Arizona Fall League honor after a monster showing

Each of the last three players to earn Arizona Fall League Breakout Player of the Year has made his MLB debut the very next season. This year, switch-hitting Chicago Cubs catcher (and sometimes first baseman and outfielder) Owen Ayers took home the honor - erupting onto the national scene in dramatic fashion.

Unlike those prior winners, though, barring a wild ascent through the Cubs' system, don't expect to see Ayers at Wrigley Field in 2026. He's yet to play a single game above A-ball and doesn't even have 100 professional games under his belt yet.

“It's nice to have a lot of success and everything, but at the end of the day, I realized what I do here doesn't matter for next year,” Ayers told MLB.com. “If I do good or do bad, really it's the preparation in the offseason, what I do in spring training that's gonna determine how well I'm able to do next year. I’m just trying to stay even, not get too high, too low, and just continue to put the work in because I know I have a lot of work left to do. Even though I've had some success, it doesn't end.”

Humility aside, the former 19th-round pick out of Marshall slashed an ungodly .379/.539/.591 in 89 plate appearances, drawing 22 walks to just 10 strikeouts in the process and rewriting the story of his 2025 season.

Owen Ayers closes the book on 2025 by turning heads in Arizona

Ayers broke his right hand in July, so the chance to get back on the field this year before the offseason began allowed him to showcase his skillset, which spans far beyond just putting the bat on the ball. The 24-year-old was a force behind the dish, pairing a strong throwing arm with an elite pop time to control the running game - something he also did with Myrtle Beach earlier in the year.

Not even on MLB Pipeline's organizational top 30, this fall was definitely a coming-out party for Ayers, who will likely crack that list in its next update. Looking big picture at the catching position, the Cubs will roll into the spring with Carson Kelly and Miguel Amaya behind the dish, and top prospect Moises Ballesteros figures to factor into that picture in some way, as well.

That same trio could stick together for 2027, as well, with Ballesteros still years away from arbitration eligibility, Amaya arb-eligible for the first time that year and Kelly with the option of remaining in Chicago via a $7.5 million mutual option. In other words, there's no rush for Ayers to make his way to the big leagues just yet.

The hope is that he can build on his breakout fall league performance and force his way into that conversation. But don't expect the Cubs to change their plans for him based on an impressive few weeks in Arizona. There's no need for it - and it's just not how this front office operates.