The Chicago Cubs have a deep farm system and it is clear that many within the baseball industry agree. Baseball America released its top-100 prospects list Wednesday and although the Cubs didn't have nine players make those rankings like they did on Baseball Prospects, the Cubs did have five prospects crack the top 50.
While the system may not have a top-10 prospect, seeing five ranked in the top 50 is remarkable. As he has been since last year, center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong is the top-rated Cubs prospect, followed by Cade Horton, Matt Shaw, Michael Busch and Owen Caissie.
Cubs Prospects in Baseball America's top-100
OF - Pete Crow-Armstrong: No. 18
RHP - Cade Horton: No. 24
INF - Matt Shaw: No. 31
INF - Michael Busch: No. 43
OF - Owen Caissie: No. 47
One thing that has stood out to me looking at these early prospect rankings is that Matt Shaw has quickly caught the attention of scouts. After two months destroying minor league pitching out of college he is viewed as a legit prospect heading into the 2024 season. Shaw, who was picked 13th overall out of Maryland, was ranked ahead of Horton in Baseball Prospectus' top 101 list that was released earlier this week.
Beyond the five Cubs prospects ranking in the top-50 at Baseball America's first rankings of 2024, there are up to 11 Cubs prospects that were considered to make the list.
Baseball America wrote about the players who just missed the top-100 and two Cubs prospects were mentioned.
Via Baseball America.
The list will change plenty throughout the season, and the process that led to the list included far more than just 100 players. Below are 15 players who could find themselves on the list later in the season, especially when the major league season kicks off and players begin graduating from prospect consideration.
C - Moises Ballesteros: The biggest question mark surrounding the Cubs catcher according to Baseball America is whether or not he'll stay in shape and have the ability to remain behind the plate. Ballesteros was fantastic at A-Ball in 2023, slashing .288/.379/.460, with 14 home runs, a 135 wRC+, and had almost as many walks, 62, as strikeouts, 75, in 472 plate appearances. The 19-year-old ended the 2023 season at Double-A, where he played in five games.
OF - Kevin Alcántara: There were definitely some rough patches during the 2023 season for Kevin Alcántara, but he may have been on this top-100 list if he didn't miss nearly a month after he was getting hot again. Despite some early season struggles, Alcántara had a great end to his year that boosted his overall numbers that finished at a 125 wRC+ with a slash line of .284/.345/.465.
Baseball America also has a glowing scouting report on Alcántara, although strikeouts remain his biggest concern.
When everything is going right, Alcantara is one of the most aesthetically pleasing prospects in the sport. The lithe, lanky outfielder has a whip-quick swing that produces light tower power to all sectors, but his long limbs can lead to a disconnected swing, and he struggles against spin. Alcantara is a surefire center fielder who uses his long limbs and plus speed to gracefully cover large swaths of ground, though it can take a little while for him to get to full speed. He earns plus grades for his throwing arm as well.
So, the Cubs have five prospects in the top 50, two more who just missed the list and then Baseball America included players who received at least one vote for the top-100 prospect list and that has four more Cubs prospects.
LHP - Jordan Wicks
SS - Jefferson Rojas
OF - Alexander Canario
RHP - Ben Brown
Cannot emphasize this point enough, the Cubs have a deep minor league system.
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