Don’t forget to pick up your copy of the The 2024 Prospect Digest Handbook here.
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1. Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 70 | 55 |
Background: There may not be a more perfect background story in today’s game than Pete Crow-Armstrong and his famous tie to the game. The former first rounder’s mom, actress Ashley Crow, is forever immortalized as the mother of Chicago Cubs pre-teen flame-thrower Henry Rowengartner, who famously broke his arm in the move Rookie of the Year and came back sporting a plus-plus heater that made Barry Bonds shake his head. As luck would have it, Crow-Armstrong, who was originally taken by the New York Mets with the 19th overall pick in the COVID-limited 2020 draft, was dealt to the North Siders as the return package for Javier Baez’s last successful big league breath and veteran hurler Trevor Williams. A product of Harvard-Westlake High School, the hyphenated centerfielder missed all but half-a-dozen games during his debut season in 2021 thanks to shoulder surgery. But he’s quickly – and efficiently – moved through the Cubs’ farm system. The former first rounder split his 2022 season between Myrtle Beach and South Bend, hitting an aggregate .312/.376/.520 with 20 doubles, 10 triples, 16 homeruns, and 32 stolen bases (in 42 total attempts). Last season, Crow-Armstrong continued his rapid ascension through the minors with stops in the Southern and International Leagues, as well as a 13-game cameo with the Cubbies. The 5-foot-11, 184-pound centerfielder slugged a minor league aggregate .283/.365/.511 with career bests in doubles (26), homeruns (20), and stolen bases (37) to go along with seven triples. His overall production, as measured by Weighted Runs Created Plus, topped the league average mark by 27%. Crow-Armstrong “batted”, I mean technically, .000/.176/.000 in 19 plate appearances for his wildly (short and) disappointing Big League debut.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: He grinds out at bats, making the opposition throw pitch after pitch.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2006, only two 21-year-old bats posted a 130 to 140 wRC+ with an 8% to 10% walk rate and a 22% to 26% strikeout rate with one club in any Double-A league (min. 300 PA): Thomas Saggese, a top prospect in the Rangers’ farm system, and Pete Crow-Armstrong.
There’s been more than enough internet ink spilled on Crow-Armstrong last season, most of which hinged on his contact or, more specifically, the quality of contact he’s exhibited. The former first rounder looked average – like league average-ish – at the plate during his first foray into the International League last season, but a few red flags did rear their ugly head as well. His whiff rate was 30%. His chase rate was a terrible 38%. But the actual batted ball data wasn’t overly bad. Crow-Armstrong posted a hard-hit rate of 40%, though his Top Exit Velocity, 107.3, was middle of the pack. Basically, Crow-Armstrong may not be developing a plus-hit tool, it may only be average. But he backs that up with average power, plus speed, and a tremendous glove at a premium position. In terms of big league production, think: .270/.340/.410.
Ceiling: 3.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: Debuted in 2023
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2. Matt Shaw, 2B/SS
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 50 | 55 | 60 | 50 | 50 | 55 |
Background: It’s not hyperbole to say that the University of Maryland isn’t a baseball school. Actually, it’s an understatement to say that. The Terrapins have produced just four midsummer first round picks since 1967. And prior to last season the most recent was southpaw Brett Cecil 16 years ago. Infielder Matt Shaw changed that. A product of Worcester Academy, Shaw entered the Big Ten with little fanfare. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound middle infielder hit .332/.409/.544 with 16 doubles, one triple, seven homeruns, and seven stolen bases during his freshman season. And he continued to batter the competition as he moved into the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League that summer as well, slugging .369/.469/.689 with 21 extra-base knocks in only 35 contests. Shaw’s production took a slight step back during his sophomore campaign as he slashed .290/.381/.604 with 11 doubles and 22 homeruns – then a school record for dingers. The Massachusetts native continued to swing a scorching stick as he moved into the vaunted Cape Cod League, mashing .360/.432/.574 with 10 doubles, two triples, five homeruns, and 21 stolen bases in only 36 games with the Bourne Braves. He would be named the Cad Cod Summer Player of the Year following that tremendous performance. Shaw saved his finest performance for 2023, his final jaunt through amateur ball. Appearing in a career best 62 contests, the offensive dynamo slugged .341/.445/.697 with career bests in doubles (20), homeruns (24), and stolen bases (18). Chicago selected Shaw with the 13th overall pick last summer, signing him to a deal worth $4,848,500. Shaw made stops in the Complex League, High-A, and Double-A during his debut, batting a Ruthian .357/.400/.618 in 38 games.
Scouting Report: Pre-draft scouting report:
“Consider the following:
Since 2011, only two Big 10 hitters batted at least .340/.440/.690 in a season (min. 275 PA): Nick Lorusso and Matt Shaw, both of whom accomplished the feat for Maryland in 2023, believe it or not.
Taking it one step further:
Since 2011, only 12 hitters at the Division I level batted at least .340/.440/.690 with 20 homeruns and more walks than strikeouts (min. 275 PA): Andrew Benintendi, Jonathan India, J.J. Bleday, Kyle Lewis, Drew Ellis, Kody Hoese, Tyler Locklear, Ivan Melendez, Sonny DiChiara, Cam Fisher, Chase Davis, and – of course – Matt Shaw, Mr. Maryland.
It’d be easy to dismiss Shaw’s dominance in the Big 10 because, well, the competition isn’t as consistently strong as, say, the SEC or ACC. But the promising middle infielder alleviated a lot of those concerns with his stellar – and dominant – performance in the Cape last summer. Easy above-average power, Shaw’s never been much of a free swinger, oft-times grinding out each plate appearance after several pitches. Above-average speed. Solid hit tool. He’s profiling as a .265/.340/.440 type infielder – though he’s likely to slide over to the right side of the keystone. The bat would also play well at the hot corner too. Shaw could be one of the surprise picks that goes earlier than expected. It wouldn’t be shocking to see a team like the Athletics or Reds snag him with the sixth or seventh overall pick.”
Ceiling: 3.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024/2025
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3. Kevin Alcantara, CF/RF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 50 | 50/55 | 50/40 | 50 | 50 | 55 |
Background: Once the difficult decision had been made, that the club had to move into yet another rebuilding phase, the front office – wisely – focused their efforts on acquiring young, potentially impact bats. And they did just that when they shipped out All-Star first baseman Anthony Rizzo to the Yankees in exchange for outfielder Kevin Alcántara and right-hander Alexander Vizcaíno. A seven-figure signing off the international market in mid-July 2018, Alcántara made the successful leap to the Carolina League in 2022 as he batted .273/.360/.451 with 40 extra-base knocks in 112 games with Myrtle Beach. The 6-foot-6, 188-pound outfielder spent the majority of last season battling – and often beating – the High-A competition: he slugged .286/.341/.466 with 25 doubles, three triples, 12 homeruns, and 15 stolen bases (in 19 attempts). His overall production with South Bend, as measured by Weighted Runs Created Plus, topped the league average mark by 24%. Alcántara spent the final two-plus weeks with the Tennessee Smokies in the Southern League.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: One of the more underrated prospects in the game. Alcántara owns a very loud, yet somewhat raw, toolkit. A move to a corner outfield spot is a real possibility.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2006, only three 20-year-olds met the following criteria with one club in High-A (min. 350 PA): 120 to 130 wRC+, a 22.5% to 24.5% K- rate, and a 6% to 9% BB-rate. The three: Carlos Gonzalez, Matthew Sulentic, and Kevin Alcántara.
Built like an NBA shoot guard, Alcántara takes some healthy hacks at the plate, often leaving nothing to the imagination. The 6-foot-6, 188-pound wiry outfielder, who has plenty of room left on his frame to fill out as he matures, is still tapping into his above-average power all the while continuing to chew down his once-concerning strikeout rates. Last season, he whiffed in only 23.8% of his plate appearances in High-A. With that being said, the swing is a bit on the long side and he looks a bit vulnerable at the top part of the zone. The Cubs had Alcántara spend a decent amount of time in rightfield, likely his final spot thanks to the club’s depth at the position. He could handle center adequately.
Ceiling: 3.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024/2025
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4. Cade Horton, RHP
| FB | CB | SL | CH | Command | Overall |
| 60 | 60 | 60 | 50 | 50/55 | 55 |
Background: It was one surprising picks in the 2022 draft, at least during the early parts of the opening round. But the Cubs’ front office brass were enamored by Horton’s impressive repertoire and selected him with the seventh overall pick that summer, signing him to a well-below slot deal worth $4,450,000, saving the club more than $1.2 million. And Horton already looks like the best first round pitching prospect the team’s drafted since Andrew Cashner (2008) or maybe even Mark Prior (2001). After throwing just 53.2 innings during his entire collegiate career at the University of Oklahoma, courtesy of Tommy John surgery, the 6-foot-1, 211-pound right-hander blitzed through three separate levels during his professional debut last season. The former Sooner made 21 starts between Myrtle Beach (Low-A), South Bend (High-A), and Tennessee (Double-A), throwing 88.1 innings while averaging a dominant 11.9 strikeouts and just 2.8 walks per nine innings.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: The lack of a consistent third option and the recent Tommy John surgery are the only things keeping him away from being the first pitcher chosen in the 2022 draft. ELECTRIC.
Scouting Report: It’s the type of arsenal that just doesn’t suggest upper rotation caliber arm, it screams it. Horton attacks hitters with an impressive, power-laden four-pitch mix: a mid- to upper-90s fastball, a big bending, knee-buckling curveball, a hellacious slider, and a workable, hard-diving changeup. I watched two of Horton’s starts. The first one his slider was plus-plus and the curveball was a little more inconsistent. In the second start it was vice versa with the curveball looking like a gift from the heavens and the slider less devastating. The former Sooner is more of a strike-thrower and not a true command guy, but he’s athletic enough (with plenty of developmental meat on the bones) that he projects to have 55-grade command. There’s some risk given his previous arm injury (Tommy John) coupled with the fact he hasn’t thrown more than 88.1 innings since leaving high school. Expect Chicago to limit his workload to around 115- to 120 innings in 2024.
Ceiling: 3.5-win player
Risk: Moderate toHigh
MLB ETA: 2024
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5. Michael Busch, 2B
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 45 | 55 | 35 | 60 | 50 | 55 |
Background: The opening round of the 2019 draft was loaded. Not loaded, but LOADED. It’s one of the better ones in recent memory. There’s star power, depth, talent sprinkled through the entire round and even spilling over into the second round (we see you, Gunnar Henderson). That opening round included the likes of Adley Rutschman, Bobby Witt Jr., Andrew Vaughn, Riley Greene, CJ Abrams, Nick Lodolo, Josh Jung, Alek Manoah, Corbin Carroll, George Kirby, and Anthony Volpe. That doesn’t include the guys that are solid, not franchise altering, big leaguers, like: Bryson Stott, Zack Thompson, Drey Jameson. Then there’s the group of ballplayers that haven’t established themselves at the big league level: Brett Baty, Quinn Priester, and Daniel Espino. Michael Busch belongs in one of those aforementioned groups, though he was previously caught in a bit of a numbers game in the Dodgers’ vast farm system and big purse strings. Taken with the 31st overall pick by LA that summer, the lefty-swinging infield vagabond spent the last three seasons squaring off against the Double-A and Triple-A competition, most of the time was spent dominating, by the way. Busch slugged .267/.386/.484 in 107 games with the Tulsa Drillers in 2021. The following year he batted an aggregate .274/.365/.516 with 38 doubles and 32 homeruns in 142 games with Tulsa and Oklahoma. And last year, the 6-foot-1, 210-pound first / second / third baseman mashed .323/.431/.618 with 26 doubles, a career best four triples, 27 homeruns, and four stolen bases (in as many tries). His overall production, per Weighted Runs Created Plus, was a staggering 50% above the league average threshold. The Dodgers called their former first round pick up for three separate, albeit short, stints in the Bigs; he batted a disappointing .167/.247/.292 in 81 plate appearances. Following the year, the front office shipper Busch to the Cubs in exchange for lefty starter Jackson Ferris and teenage outfielder Zyhir Hope, who was drafted in the 11th round just a few months earlier.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: Busch put his horrific showing against lefties in 2021 (.198/.355/.354) behind him as he batted a respectable .258/.352/.477 against southpaws in 2022. 45-grade hit tool that’ll constantly register consistent batting averages in the .240- to .250-range. He seems primed to be the big league club’s next version of Max Muncy.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2006, only two 25-year-old hitters posted a 145 to 155 wRC+ with a double-digit walk rate and a 17% to 20% strikeout rate with one club in any Triple-A league (min. 350 PA): Taylor Ward, a career .255/.334/.429 hitter sporting a 112 wRC+, and – of course – Michael Busch.
If you listen closely you’ll hear the Cubs cracking a case of beer followed by the “Bushhhhhh” sound because – hopefully – the organization has an opening for the lefty-swinging infielder. The former North Carolina Tar Heel turned in some solid batted ball data during his second stint in Triple-A in 2023 (courtesy of Statcast, of course). Busch rarely missed in the strike zone (10% in-zone whiff rate), chased infrequently (22%), and posted a hard hit rate of 43%. His average Exit Velocity, 91.1 mph, puts him in similar company as some pretty notable names in Triple-A, like Tyler Soderstrom, Coby Mayo, Jasson Dominguez, and Ronny Mauricio. Throw in some phenomenal patience and above-average thump and Busch has the makings of an impact big league bat. Defensively, he’s better suited at a corner infield spot, but the offensive production could make him livable at the keystone. In terms of big league production, think: .250/.330/.440 with 20 to 25 dingers.
Ceiling: 3.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: Debuted in 2023
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6. Owen Caissie, LF/RF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 40 | 50/70 | 40/35 | 55 | 50 | 55 |
Background: I’ve written about it ad nauseam, but the Cubs broke their World Series title draught on the backs of a collection of young hitters that were drafted and developed, signed off the international league market and developed, or acquired via trade and developed. Guys like Anthony Rizzo (trade), Addison Russell (trade), Kris Bryant (draft), Jorge Soler (international free agent), Javier Báez (draft), Willson Contreras (international free agent), Albert Almora (draft), and – of course – Joe Buck’s favorite, Kyle Schwarber (draft). And then something changed within their organizational philosophy, something that shifted the entire course of franchise and – in my opinion – ultimately shortened their window of continued contention: they started drafting pitchers. But they weren’t just any pitchers, they were crafty hurlers. And you know what they really means… Most didn’t pan out, like Thomas Hatch, Brendon Little, Cory Abbott, Paul Richan, Ryan Jensen, Burl Carraway, among others. And while the organization had to shift towards rebuilding in recent years, they went back to what they were good at: hoarding high upside hitters. The Cubbies owned one of the largest trade chips during the 2020-21 offseason in ace veteran Yu Darvish and they were able to parlay him into a package headlined by a Canadian high school slugger, Owen Caissie. Taken by the Padres that same summer, the Cubs aggressively challenged the hulking corner outfielder during his first season in the organization by pushing up to the Midwest League, despite spending just 22 games in Low-A the previous season. But Caissie quietly held his own, slugging .254/.349/.402 with 33 extra-base hits. Last season Caissie moved up to the minors’ toughest challenge, Double-A, the make-it-or-break-it level, and he passed with flying colors. Appearing in 120 games with the Tennessee Smokies, the 6-foot-3, 190-pound youngster mashed .289/.399/.519 with career bests in doubles (31), triples (two), and homeruns (22) to go along with seven stolen bases (though he was caught nine times). Per Weighted Runs Created Plus, Caissie’s overall production surpassed the league average threshold by 44%, the fourth highest mark among all qualified Double-A sticks.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: Equipped with some of the best bat speed in the minor leagues, Caissie uncorks a vicious left-handed swing that projects – at least – 30 homeruns at maturity. He’s just scratching the surface of his prodigious power.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2006, only a pair of 20-year-old hitters posted a 140 to 150 wRC+ with a strikeout rate of at least 27% with one club in any Double-A league (min. 350 PA): Riley Greene, a consensus Top 10 prospect who is coming off of a very solid big league season as a 22-year-old, and – of course – Owen Caissie.
Caissie is one of the most potent bats in all of the minor leagues, not just within the Cubs’ (very deep) system. The former second rounder owns some of the easiest plus (maybe even plus-plus) power around. He can absolutely punish mistakes. But that doesn’t mean he’s not without some pockmarks, namely the hit tool. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound outfielder has battled contact numbers at each stop along the way and Double-A was no different as he whiffed in more than 31% of his plate appearances. He’s also proven to a bit susceptible against southpaws as well. There’s a very real chance he climbs up into 40-homer territory. Big league production: .240/.350/.525. Eric Thames with better leather.
Ceiling: 3.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024
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7. James Triantos, 2B/3B
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 60 | 40/50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
Background: Aftersigning Jordan Wicks for the recommended slot value in 2021, the front office blew past the assigned value for their second pick – James Madison High School star James Triantos. Snagged with the 56th overall pick, Chicago signed the teenage slugger to a massive $2.1 million deal, roughly $900,000 above the recommended value. Three years later it looks like it was the right move. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound second / third baseman handled his assignment in the Carolina League well enough two years ago, batting .272/.335/.386 with 19 doubles, six triples, seven homeruns, and 20 stolen bases (in 23 attempts). Last season, Triantos appeared in 80 games with the Sound Bend Cubs in High-A, putting together a similar slash line: .285/.363/.390 with 14 doubles, three triples, three homeruns, and 16 stolen bases. His production topped the league average mark by 15%, as measured by Weighted Runs Created Plus. Triantos spent the last few games of the year in Double-A, promptly going 4-for-12 with a double. He popped up in the fall playing – and dominating – with the Mesa Solar Sox, slugging .417/.495/.679 with three doubles, five triples, three homeruns, and nine stolen bases (in 10 attempts) in only 22 games.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: Like a lot of the Cubs’ Baby Bashers, he’s still figuring out how to tap into his impressive power potential. He’s still learning the finer nuances at third base, but he should be at least an average defender.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2006, only three 20-year-old hitters posted a 110 to 120 wRC+ mark with a sub-12.0% strikeout rate with one club in any High-A league (min. 300 PA): Cedric Hunter, Jose Castro, and – of course – James Triantos.
For the first time in his career, the Cubs started experimenting with Triantos at the keystone, which significantly improve his prospect stock. And, you know what, the results were very encouraging. Per Clay Davenport’s metrics the former second rounder was a +3 defender at his new position and Baseball Prospectus’s numbers had him about average. Offensively speaking, Triantos owns – arguably – the top hit tool in the entire farm system, which – again – is saying something. He may not fully tap into his true power potential, but he should be perennial threat for 15 or so homeruns. He isn’t the flashiest of prospects, but Triantos is on the precipice of developing into an above-average big leaguer.
Ceiling: 3.0- to3.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024/2025
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8. Jordan Wicks, LHP
| FB | CB | SL/CU | CH | Command | Overall |
| 50 | 50 | 55/50 | 70 | 60 | 55 |
Background: Believe it or not, the Chicago Cubs have not drafted a successful left-handed starting pitcher in the first round of the draft in franchise history. Certainly, it’s not for a lack of trying. They just haven’t identified and developed the correct one – yet. Well, maybe. It depends how Wicks’ future in the coming years plays out. The 21st overall player taken three years ago, the Kansas State product split time between South Bend and Tennessee during his first full year in the minors, posting a 121-to-28 strikeout-to-walk ratio in only 94.2 innings of work. Last season, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound southpaw made 20 minor league starts with Tennessee (13) and Iowa (7), hurling 91.1 innings while averaging 9.8 strikeouts and 3.2 walks per nine innings. Wicks would make another seven starts with the Cubs, throwing another 34.2 innings with 24 Ks, and 11 BBs.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: I caught a couple of Wicks’ starts throughout the year last season, and each time I came away thinking he was better than I originally thought. The ceiling isn’t overly big as he’s still tracking like a #4-type arm. But he’s safe and likely to be with the Cubbies in 2023.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2006, there have been nine 23-year-old hurlers that posted a 28% to 30% strikeout percentage with a 7% to 9% walk percentage with one club in any Double-A league (min. 50 IP): Justin Dunn, Mark Worrell, Jharel Cotton, Eric Surkamp, Drew Parrish, Carmen Pignatiello, Rogelio Armenteros, Justin Jarvis, and Jordan Wicks.
Four-fifths of Wicks’ repertoire belongs to a spot starter: average low 92 mph fastball, fringy average curveball, a slightly better (but still average) slider, and a nice upper-80s cutter. But it’s his fifth offering, a plus-plus changeup, that’s going to make him quite a bit of big league money. It’s a bonafide swing-and-miss pitch sitting roughly 12 mph less than his average fastball, which allows that heater to play up. The former Kansas State ace commands the zone well and has the build to chew through a lot of innings. #4-type starter, a la Joran Montgomery.
Ceiling: 2.0-win player
Risk: Low to Moderate
MLB ETA: 2023
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9. Moises Ballesteros, C
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 45 | 55 | 35/20 | 55 | 45/50 | 50 |
Background: At various points throughout the year the Tennessee Smokies, the organization’s Double-A affiliate, rolled through as much hitting talent as any club in the entire minor leagues with the likes of Pete Crow-Armstrong, Owen Caissie, James Triantos, Matt Shaw, B.J. Murray, Pablo Aliendo, and – of course – Moisés Ballesteros. Signed off the international free agent market for $1.2 million bonus just three years ago, the lefty-swinging backstop has been on the fast-track to the big leagues practically from the first day. The bulky catcher reached Low-A by the end of 2022, just his second professional season. And last year, as previously noted, he accrued some precious experience – however short it may have been – in Double-A. As a teenager. Playing the single most demanding position, mentally and physically. Making stops at three separate levels, Ballesteros batted an impressive .285/.375/.449 with 27 doubles, 14 homeruns, and seven stolen bases (without getting caught). Per Weighted Runs Created Plus, his overall production topped the league average mark by 31%.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: Soft body lefty-swinging backstop owns plus raw power, which started to show up in games in Complex League and Low-A. His swing is a bit long and the hit tool doesn’t project that well.
Scouting Report: It’s impressive when any teenager cracks a Double-A lineup, but it’s doubly – maybe even triply – impressive when a catcher does. Ballesteros’ tenure at the level – and pretty much his entire season – was certainly stuck in the shadows of Ethan Salas, who took the minor league world by storm, but that doesn’t make Ballesteros’ rise any less impressive. He’s what you’d call, at least if you were in the Moneyball movie, a bad body catcher. But the man-child does not get cheated at the plate, taking massive cut after massive cut. Still not a huge believer in the hit tool because the swing looks long. But there’s above-average power at an obviously offensive-deficient position at the big league level. Defensively, he looked better than his the previous year. The bat is a premium if he can stay behind the dish, which would make him a lot of big league dough.
Ceiling: 2.5-win player
Risk: Moderate to High
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10. Jaxon Wiggins, RHP
| FB | SL | CH | Command | Overall |
| 60 | 50/55 | 55 | 35/40 | 50 |
Background: One of the more surprising picks in the 2022 draft. The Cubs’ brass selected Oklahoma right-hander Cade Horton, who was fresh off of his return from Tommy John surgery, with the seventh overall pick that summer. And so far that calculated gamble has paid off handsomely as the hard-throwing hurler vaulted through Low-A, High-A- and looked remarkably solid in his debut in Double-A. A year later the club took another calculated gamble, this time grabbing fellow Oklahoma-born right-hander – and oft-times dominant University of Arkansas arm – Jaxon Wiggins, who also happened to miss the year due to Tommy John surgery. A product of Roland High School, Wiggins split his freshman season in the SEC between the Razorbacks’ rotation and bullpen, throwing just 23.0 innings with 28 punch outs, 14 walks, and an unsightly 5.09 ERA. Arkansas pushed the sophomore hurler into a full-time starting gig in 2022. And it was much the same as he averaged 11.2 strikeouts and 5.9 walks per nine innings to go along with a 6.55 ERA. After the Cubs selected him in the second round, 68th overall, they signed him to an above-slot bonus worth $1.4 million, roughly $300,000 north of the recommended value.
Scouting Report: Unsurprisingly, Wiggins is equipped with an ace-like repertoire highlighted by a plus mid-90s heater with plenty of carry and some arm side run. He complements it with an above-average power changeup, and a low- to mid-80s slider, which he struggled to command but showed plenty of promise. The key for Wiggins is quite simple: can he throw enough strikes (not quality strikes, just strikes). He has the prototypical build, phenomenal repertoire, but it’s going to come down to strike-throwing ability.
Ceiling: 2.0-win player
Risk: High
MLB ETA: 2025/2026
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All statistics were provided via the following website: Baseball Reference, FanGraphs, TheBaseballCube, BaseballProspectus, ClayDavenport.com, Baseball America, and X-user @mk237700 (for compiling Statcast Data)
