• 
• 1.
• Matt Shaw
• Pos: IF
• Born: 2001-11-06
• B: Right
• T: Right
• H: 5′ 9″
• W: 185 lbs.
• History: Drafted 13th overall in the 2023 draft, University of Maryland; signed for $4,848,500.
• Previous Rank: #2 (org), #21 (Top 101)
• Major League ETA: 2025

The Report: Without overtly stating it, the Cubs have handed over the starting third base job to Shaw this winter. The trade of Isaac Parades to Houston and the non-tendering of Patrick Wisdom leave the door wide open for Shaw to make his claim on the hot corner. The 13th-overall selection in the historically deep 2023 draft, Shaw has quickly made his way up the ladder, hitting for average and power at every step of the ladder. That journey culminated with a .298/.395/.534 slashline last year in 35 Triple-A games. Compact and strong, Shaw makes loud contact to all fields and does a good job at working himself into hitters’ counts. It is a well-rounded offensive profile, a mix of bat-to-ball, pop, and speed on the bases without any major red flags. Drafted as a second baseman, Shaw got a crash course at third base during the second half last year, seeing more time at the position than he had in college and his previous minor league season. There was a learning curve early, but Shaw settled in and by the winter Premier 12 tournament in Japan looked like a seasoned veteran. Chicago added Gage Workman and Jon Berti this offseason as infield depth and both could be used as placeholders early in 2025 but Shaw is the future for the Cubs at the hot corner.

OFP: 60 / first Division infielder, occasional All-Star
Variance: Low. Shaw is about as major-league ready as any prospect. He’s had success at every level, including the upper minors and should be a safe bet to be at least an average major league hitter. —Nathan Graham

Jesse Roche’s Fantasy Rundown:

• Top-500 Dynasty Prospects: 13
• Potential Earnings: $15-20
• Fantasy Overview: Shaw is currently penciled in at third base this year for the Cubs after putting up a 20-30 season between Double- and Triple-A last year. He is an aggressive hitter with strong bat-to-ball ability and plus power. Shaw also should contribute plenty of stolen bases. All told, he is a potential five-category producer with 20-20 upside and immediate proximity.
• Reckless Fantasy Comp: David Wright without the elite hit tool

• 
• 2.
• Moises Ballesteros
• Pos: C
• Born: 2003-11-08
• B: Left
• T: Right
• H: 5′ 8″
• W: 195 lbs.
• History: Signed January 2021 out of Venezuela.
• Previous Rank: #6 (org), #84 (Top 101)
• Major League ETA: 2025

The Report: After his 2023 breakout, the diminutive Ballesteros just kept hitting in 2024, almost perfectly duplicating his previous year’s OPS between two upper-minors stops. It’s an unorthodox swing, generating plus power from a listed “5-foot-8” frame. He starts up on his toes, strides in, and uses a fidgety, two-stage load, so he has to start the whole swing process early. That Ballesteros makes as much hard contact as he does is a tribute to his balance and explosion once he starts everything going forward, but he does tend to just swing once he gets going, posting concerning chase rates. His bat-to-ball skills are at least plus, but Ballesteros may find it more difficult to make the same kind of contact and do the same kind of damage with this approach against major-league-quality stuff. He has a lot of offensive juice to give back and still be above-average for a catcher though, and I do think he should be able to maintain a .280 batting average with some power, if perhaps not quite as loud as he’s shown in the minors. Now, on the catching side, I’d guess Ballesteros is an inch or so shorter and maybe 15 pounds heavier than his listed height and weight. His lateral movement behind the plate is below-average at best, and while he has a strong arm, he’s not particularly explosive out of the crouch or on the transfer and has struggled to control the running game above Low-A. Ballesteros has played some first base, but he’s a tricky fit there given his height, and I don’t believe he’d have the foot speed for corner outfield. Mostly you have to just live with the defensive shortcomings behind the plate—his framing is fringy but fine—and hope the bat carries the profile. This may all end up looking a lot like his fellow Top 101 catching prospect across town, Edgar Quero.

OFP: 55 / Above-average, bat-first catcher
Variance: High. Where Ballesteros lands on the 20-80 scale with the glove is going to result in a very large range of outcomes relative to his major-league proximity. If a team isn’t comfortable with his defense behind the plate, he’s maaaaaaybe got enough bat to be a second-division DH—roster inflexibility aside—If he’s below-average but playable for you—something like that OFP 55, sixth-to-12th-best catcher in baseball is available. If he improves past that defensively, well, there just aren’t that many of those kinds of two-way catchers are there? —Jeffrey Paternostro

Jesse Roche’s Fantasy Rundown:

• Top-500 Dynasty Prospects: 101
• Potential Earnings: $5-10
• Fantasy Overview: A bat-first catcher who is not a good defensive fit anywhere else due to his size and athleticism is a risky prospect despite his upper-level performance. That said, Ballesteros can really hit, with above-average power and advanced contact skills. He could provide a rare blend of average and pop if his glove is serviceable enough.
• Reckless Fantasy Comp: What we hoped Alejandro Kirk would be

• 
• 3.
• Owen Caissie
• Pos: OF
• Born: 2002-07-08
• B: Left
• T: Right
• H: 6′ 3″
• W: 190 lbs.
• History: Drafted in the second round by the San Diego Padres in the 2020 draft, Notre Dame HS (Burlington, ON); signed for $1,200,004. Acquired from the Padres for Yu Darvish.
• Previous Rank: #4 (org), #65 (org)
• Major League ETA: 2025

The Report: Caissie hits baseballs about as hard as any prospect in the minors, yet posted only a .473 slugging percentage in a league that averaged .420. If you read the previous 25 lists you likely have a correct guess at the culprit, Caisse’s swing is not geared for either hard pulled contact or general fly-ball contact. He starts upright, slightly leaning back and then bends a bit at the waist, dips his hands, and tries to swat the ball back through its origin. He’s so strong he can hit it out to the big part of the park, but his combination of swing length and approach means he may hit a few too many warning track flies. When Caissie does pull a ball in the air—usually on a mistake offspeed—It’s capable of taking out low flying drones, but he just doesn’t do it enough. His approach can feel like Cubs-era Cody Bellinger, and given that unlike Bellinger, Caissie is likely to post below-average contact rates and play right field, he really needs to make the most of his power. He has always been a swing tweak away for his minor league career, but the longer he doesn’t get it, the less likely it feels.

OFP: 55 / Above-average right fielder
Variance: Medium. The closest comp in the International League to Caissie’s combo of high-end exit velocity and inability to pull the ball in the air was…uh, Brett Baty.  —Jeffrey Paternostro  

Jesse Roche’s Fantasy Rundown:

• Top-500 Dynasty Prospects: 35
• Potential Earnings: $10-15
• Fantasy Overview: Caissie performed well as one of the youngest regulars in Triple-A. He possesses massive raw power that plays down in games due to an all-fields, line-drive approach. That approach, though, does allow him to run elevated BABIPs and hit for a better average than his borderline contact rates would suggest. Caissie has upside to develop into a .260/25 corner outfielder, give or take.
• Reckless Fantasy Comp: What we hoped Nomar Mazara would be

• 
• 4.
• Cade Horton
• Pos: RHP
• Born: 2001-08-20
• B: Right
• T: Right
• H: 6′ 1″
• W: 211 lbs.
• History: Drafted seventh overall in the 2022 draft, University of Oklahoma; signed for $4.45 million.
• Previous Rank: #3 (org), #27 (Top 101)
• Major League ETA: 2025

The Report: Somewhat of a surprise selection at seventh overall in 2022, Horton made the Cubs’ draft room look good the following season as he flew up the ladder, dominating hitters over three levels. The buzz going into last year was that Horton would be in Wrigley at some point during the summer, joining  Ben Brown and Jordan Wicks as the next wave of young arms for Chicago. Unfortunately for the Northsiders, all three ended up spending time on the injured list with Horton being shelved after just nine starts to begin the season. It was a subscapularis strain in his throwing shoulder that cost him the remainder of the year, definitely a worrisome issue for a young pitcher, but he’s reportedly on a throwing program and on track to return to action in spring training. When healthy, the stuff is electric. The fastball lacks movement but it sits easily in the mid-90s and Horton commands it well. The breaking pitches are his best offerings and he has shown a feel for using  both the curve and slider to generate swing-and-miss. Throw in a changeup that is a weapon against left-handed hitters and Horton has a complete starter’s arsenal, capable of getting big league hitters out.

OFP: 55 / Mid-rotation starter
Variance: High. Shoulder injuries are scary and Horton has to prove he’s fully recovered. —Nathan Graham

Jesse Roche’s Fantasy Rundown:

• Top-500 Dynasty Prospects: 55
• Potential Earnings: $10-15
• Fantasy Overview: Horton ended 2024 on the shelf and enters 2025 with many questions. Other than health, his fastball took a step back last year, and now sits on the edge of being strictly classified as a cutter. His breaking balls, however, remain electric offerings, and his changeup offers over a foot of horizontal movement separation from his fastball. Horton is a unique arm with an excellent track record, but likely lacks the pure upside of other high-end pitching prospects. Even so, his pitch mix and command provide a solid floor and ceiling, health willing.
• Reckless Fantasy Comp: Something like Max Fried

• 
• 5.
• James Triantos
• Pos: 2B
• Born: 2003-01-29
• B: Right
• T: Right
• H: 5′ 11″
• W: 195 lbs.
• History: Drafted 56th overall in the 2021 draft, James Madison HS (Vienna, VA) signed for $2.1 million.
• Previous Rank: #7 (org), #91 (Top 101)
• Major League ETA: 2025

The Report: Triantos has flirted with the back of our Top 101 off and on since he was a buzzy prep pick in 2021. There was hope at various points that he would develop a little more power than he has, or be a better defender than he is, but after spending a year in the upper minors hitting exactly .300, Triantos’ prospect career has more or less played out as we expected on draft day, a bat-to-ball merchant, who hits the ball hard, but not in optimal directions. As he’s climbed the minor-league ladder he’s gotten a bit overly aggressive outside the zone, but he has the kind of barrel control that allows him to waste good offspeed. Triantos’ preference to hang back a bit to try and hook breakers into left field can leave him a little late on fastballs sometimes. Here again, he does make contact, but he tends to waste them into the first base stands or maybe dump them in front of the right fielder. It will limit his power to around 10 homers a year in a good year, and require him to run pretty high batting averages, as his approach means he won’t walk a ton either.

While there’s some risk better velocity in the majors takes the sting out of his bat entirely, something Marco Scutaroish seems possible, although that is a common comp for this player type, because it’s hard to find long-term above-average regulars that walk this particular tightrope. Defensively, Triantos has landed at second base primarily, although he gets some center field reps from time to time. He has the foot speed for some work on the grass, but he doesn’t really have an outfield quality arm.

OFP: 55 / Above-average second baseman
Variance: Low. We’ve seen what Triantos can do in Double- and Triple-A, and Nico Hoerner’s injury might give him an early 2025 major-league opportunity. He’s likely to be around a 2-3 win player as long as he keeps the contact rate up where it’s been, but doesn’t really have the upside past that given the limited damage potential in the bat. —Jeffrey Paternostro

Jesse Roche’s Fantasy Rundown:

• Top-500 Dynasty Prospects: 87
• Potential Earnings: $10-15
• Fantasy Overview: Triantos is a premier contact hitter with an aggressive approach and nominal power typical of such bats that likely will result in high averages, low walk rates, and low homer totals. What sets him apart is his base-stealing ability, aided by solid speed and a quick first step. So while he may struggle to reach double-digit home runs, he should contribute 20+ steals and an excellent average to boot.
• Reckless Fantasy Comp: Nico Hoerner

• 
• 6.
• Kevin Alcántara
• Pos: OF
• Born: 2002-07-12
• B: Right
• T: Right
• H: 6′ 6″
• W: 188 lbs.
• History: Signed July 2018 out of the Dominican Republic by the New York Yankees for $1 million. Acquired from the Yankees for Anthony Rizzo.
• Previous Rank: #5 (org), #80 (Top 101)
• Major League ETA: Debuted in 2024

The Report: An overarching theme of this year’s Cubs list is that a lot of the same players from recent, highly-ranked iterations of the org just haven’t really developed in the ways you would have hoped. It’s always easier to put a rosy shine on a low-minors prospect that hasn’t had swing holes or pitch command issues exposed—see below—but by the time you get to the upper minors, the question becomes “what can you do for my major-league roster?” Like Caissie, Alcántara hits the ball hard, but even less often in the air. Some of that comes from a propensity to chase—and a better ability to make contact when he does—as he does have a more optimized swing path generally and plenty of bat speed to spare, but his longer levers mean he’s going to have more structural issues with in-zone miss than Caissie. It’s a bit of pick your poison, although Alcántara is a burner who can play center field—granted, not for the Cubs at the moment. Given the Kyle Tucker trade, and Pete Crow-Armstrong’s emergence as a defensive wizard, Chicago can send Alcántara back to the cornfields of Iowa for further consolidation in Triple-A. If he’s able to tamp down some of his aggressiveness outside of the zone, there’s clearly first-division upside here, but swinging less can be just as tricky to tease out successfully as swinging up.

OFP: 55 / Above-average outfielder
Variance: High. A long swing path and a habit to go fishing means the hit tool here remains high-variance. And as goes Alcántara’s contact rate and quality of contact so goes his major-league role. —Jeffrey Paternostro

Jesse Roche’s Fantasy Rundown: 

• Top-500 Dynasty Prospects: 78
• Potential Earnings: $5-10
• Fantasy Overview: Alcántara possesses plus power and speed, but struggles to lift the ball and is a mediocre base runner. His long levers also result in ongoing swing-and-miss issues, though far from debilitating. His hit-over-power approach results in a lot of hard, low-lying contact and drives elevated BABIPs and averages. The allure of his tools remains, but the skills to maximize those tools are simply not there yet.
• Reckless Fantasy Comp: Gregory Polanco

• 
• 7.
• Jaxon Wiggins
• Pos: RHP
• Born: 2001-10-03
• B: Right
• T: Right
• H: 6′ 6″
• W: 225 lbs.
• History: Drafted in the second round of the 2023 draft, University of Arkansas; signed for $1,401,500.
• Previous Rank: #15 (org)
• Major League ETA: 2026

The Report: A first-round talent who dropped in the 2023 draft due to a recent Tommy John procedure, Wiggins finally hit the mound for the Cubs during the second half last season. After overpowering hitters during a brief stop at Myrtle Beach, he ran into some adversity when promoted to High-A. The command took a step back, with the walk rate jumping to over 5 per 9, but that was to be expected during the first year back from TJ. Despite the strike-throwing issues, the stuff still flashed, allowing Wiggins to rack up 71 strikeouts in just 59 innings of work. Built like a shooting guard, Wiggins’ 6-foot-6 frame allows him to get excellent extension when attacking hitters and his athleticism helps give him a smooth, relatively easy delivery. Outside of Cade Horton, Wiggins has the most electric stuff in the organization. His four-seam fastball lacks movement but is still effective, sitting comfortably in the upper-90s. His secondaries are inconsistent but both the curve and vertical breaking slider do show promise along with a seldom used changeup. Typically year two post surgery is when we see the command begin to return and if it does, Wiggins could plant his flag as the top arm in the organization.

OFP: 55 / Mid-rotation starter or leverage reliever
Variance: High. With less than 60 innings of professional work, there’s not much of a track record. There is some positive variance if the command takes a step forward. —Nathan Graham

Jesse Roche’s Fantasy Rundown:

• Top-500 Dynasty Prospects: UR
• Potential Earnings: $0-5
• Fantasy Overview: Coming off Tommy John surgery, Wiggins showcased his loud stuff, headlined by a mid-to-upper 90s fastball. Yet, he struggled to throw strikes (as many do after TJS) to the tune of a 14.2% walk rate. Wiggins could break out this year and fly up rankings with improved command of his big stuff.
• Reckless Fantasy Comp: Luis Gil

• 
• 8.
• Pedro Ramirez
• Pos: 3B/2B
• Born: 2004-04-01
• B: Switch
• T: Right
• H: 5′ 8″
• W: 165 lbs.
• History: Signed January 2021 out of Venezuela.
• Previous Rank: #19 (org)
• Major League ETA: Late 2026/2027

The Report:  Ramirez has quietly hit his way through the lower levels of the Cubs org, but now has added enough juice in his bat that he’s making some noise on their Top 10. The switch-hitting infielder uses a pretty similar set-up and swing from both sides, but has a bit more good whip as lefty. His southpaw stance and stroke ironically reminds me a bit of Caissie, although that approach makes a bit more sense when you are 5-foot-8. Ramirez keeps his hands higher throughout the start though, and swings down at the ball, meaning an even slashier, less fly-ball-driven approach than Caissie. He hits the ball harder than you’d think, posting slightly higher than major-league average contact metrics, but a lot of it is of the ground-ball or low line-drive variety. That suits his game well enough, as he makes a good amount of contact—his wrists are strong and point the bat well or allow him to hang back on offspeed—although the swing can get a bit too big when he sees offspeed in the zone. Ramirez’s bat-to-ball skills, coupled with his quality of contact improvements, suggest at least a 55 hit tool, although there won’t be a ton of over-the-fence power to go with it. Defensively he mostly bounced between second and third for South Bend, getting a small taste of left field work at the end of the season, perhaps in preparation for more of a superutility role. Ramirez is a solid, if unspectacular second baseman, and his actions and above-average footspeed help a merely average arm play up at third. He may look like Owen Caissie in the box at times, but the ultimate role here will be closer to James Triantos.

OFP: 50 / Second-division second baseman or useful super-utility option on a better team.
Variance: Medium. Ramirez has a fairly stable skill set, although I would like to see how he fairs against upper minors offspeed before I wholeheartedly endorse an everyday role given the power and glove limitations. —Jeffrey Paternostro

Jesse Roche’s Fantasy Rundown: 

• Top-500 Dynasty Prospects: UR
• Potential Earnings: $0-5
• Fantasy Overview: Ramirez is a high-contact skill with limited physical tools. He likely will struggle to project for even double-digit homers or steals at the MLB level, and his hit tool is not special enough to carve out a fantasy-relevant role.
• Reckless Fantasy Comp: Yolmer Sánchez

• 
• 9.
• Jefferson Rojas
• Pos: SS
• Born: 2005-04-25
• B: Right
• T: Right
• H: 5′ 11″
• W: 150 lbs.
• History: Signed January 2022 out of the Dominican Republic for $1 million.
• Previous Rank: #9 (org)
• Major League ETA: 2027

The Report: This time last year, there was plenty of buzz around Rojas as a potential breakout star in the organization. The Cubs had aggressively pushed him up to the Carolina League for the second half of the season and the then-18-year-old responded by holding his own in a tough-on-hitters environment and showing the ability to hit for contact and a sneaky amount of power. Chicago again pushed him, making Rojas one of the youngest players on a High-A opening day roster. It was at South Bend, however, that he got his first taste of adversity as a professional. There were times where he looked overmatched at the plate, still showing a good amount of bat-to-ball but lacking quality contact. Too many times his passive offensive approach would put him in disadvantageous counts, limiting the ability to do damage. Rojas does a good job at getting the ball in the air with his quick and compact swing. If he can refine the approach and become more selective on when to attack, he could produce fringe-average power numbers. In the field, his footwork and hands are adequate but the range is slightly below average. His arm also looked stretched for the left side, making second base a likely landing spot down the road. Rojas will still be a teenager when the season starts and while last year was definitely disappointing in terms of development, there is still reason to believe that he can rebound in 2025.  

OFP: 50 / Average infielder
Variance: High. Rojas might not be a shortstop and doesn’t hit the ball all that hard. He’ll need to improve his swing decisions if he’s going to be an everyday player. There is concern that advanced pitching will overpower him and make the profile look more like Mike Fontenot 2.0. —Nathan Graham

Jesse Roche’s Fantasy Rundown:

• Top-500 Dynasty Prospects: 138
• Potential Earnings: $5-10
• Fantasy Overview: Rojas had a difficult season as one of the youngest players in High-A. However, he displayed superb contact skills and enough pop to continue to dream on a .270/15+ future outlook. (Rojas will drop significantly in the next Top-500 Dynasty Prospects.)
• Reckless Fantasy Comp: Orlando Arcia

• 
• 10.
• Cole Mathis
• Pos: 3B
• Born: 2003-07-25
• B: Right
• T: Right
• H: 6′ 1″
• W: 210 lbs.
• History: Drafted in the second round of the 2024 draft, College of Charleston; signed for $1,681,200.
• Previous Rank: NR
• Major League ETA: 2027