With the Minor League season opening this week, here's where the Cubs' Top 30 Prospects are projected to start:
1. Moisés Ballesteros (MLB No. 53), C -- Chicago (MLB)
2. Jaxon Wiggins (MLB No. 56), RHP -- Iowa (Triple-A)
3. Ethan Conrad, OF -- Extended spring training (lower back)
4. Kevin Alcántara, OF -- Iowa (Triple-A)
5. Jefferson Rojas, SS/2B -- Tennessee (Double-A)
6. Kane Kepley, OF -- South Bend (High-A)
7. Jonathon Long, 1B -- Iowa (Triple-A)
8. Josiah Hartshorn, OF -- Myrtle Beach (Single-A)
9. Pedro Ramírez, 3B/2B -- Iowa (Triple-A)
10. James Triantos, 2B/OF -- Iowa (Triple-A)
11. Owen Ayers, C -- South Bend (High-A)
12. Juan Cabada, 2B/3B -- Extended spring training
13. Kaleb Wing, RHP -- Extended spring training
14. Juan Tomas, SS -- Extended spring training
15. Cole Mathis, 1B/3B -- Myrtle Beach (Single-A)
16. Dominick Reid, RHP -- Myrtle Beach (Single-A)
17. Brandon Birdsell, RHP -- Iowa (Triple-A) -- IL (Tommy John surgery rehab)
18. Jostin Florentino, RHP -- South Bend (High-A) -- IL
19. Jaims Martinez, SS -- Extended spring training (Dominican Republic)
20. Ariel Armas, C -- Tennessee (Double-A)
21. Brett Bateman, OF -- Iowa (Triple-A)
22. Johan Geraldo, SS -- Extended spring training (Dominican Republic)
23. Erian Rodriguez, RHP -- Tennessee (Double-A)
24. Luis Martinez-Gomez, RHP -- Tennessee (Double-A)
25. Angel Cepeda, INF -- South Bend (High-A)
26. Ty Southisene, 2B -- Myrtle Beach (Single-A)
27. Kade Snell, OF -- South Bend (High-A)
28. Riley Martin, LHP -- Iowa (Triple-A)
29. Grant Kipp, RHP -- Tennessee (Double-A)
30. Fernando Cruz, SS/2B -- Extended spring training
Team to watch
Right-hander Jaxon Wiggins is by far the Cubs' top pitching prospect and headlines a Triple-A Iowa roster with five of the system's 10 best prospects. Outfielder Kevin Alcántara and second baseman James Triantos are former Top 100 Prospects, while first baseman Jonathon Long and third baseman Pedro Ramírez rank among the Minors' best at their positions. Brett Bateman is one of the fastest runners and best center-field defenders in the Minors. Left-hander Riley Martin owns one of the better curveballs in the system.
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Wiggins has a clearer path to Wrigley Field this season than any of Iowa's position-player prospects because the Cubs' big league lineup is already overcrowded. Martin should get a bullpen audition at some point.
New faces
Of the players who received the five highest bonuses in Chicago's 2025 Draft, four will make their pro debuts this spring. Outfielder Ethan Conrad (first round) is currently sidelined (see below), right-hander Dominick Reid (third round) and outfielder Josiah Hartshorn (sixth) will open at Single-A Myrtle Beach this month and righty Kaleb Wing (fourth) will start in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League in May. Shortstops Jaims Martinez and Johan Geraldo, the prizes of the Cubs' 2026 international class, will begin their careers in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League in June.
On the shelf
Conrad is currently in extended spring training working though lower back issues and likely will report to Myrtle Beach or High-A South Bend in May. Right-hander Brandon Birdell, who had Tommy John surgery as a high school sophomore in 2016, needed a second elbow reconstruction last summer and will miss all of this season. Righty Jostin Florentino, the organization's 2025 Minor League pitcher of the year, needs a little more time to build up for the season and should be ready to pitch at South Bend soon.
How to watch
Fans can watch Minor League Baseball games for free on the Bally Sports Live app or at BallySports.com. Fans may also purchase an MLB+ subscription, which includes access to MiLB games live and on demand, in addition to live MLB audio for all 30 teams, MLB Network and MLB Big Inning. Plus -- with or without a subscription -- Minor League games featuring MLB's top prospects are available in the MiLB Free Game of the Day.