Cubs Promote Two Rising Prospects to High-A
High-flying outfielder Josiah Hartshorn and dominant right-hander Mason McGwire head to South Bend after crushing Single-A competition with elite plate discipline and explosive strikeout numbers.
Video Transcript
What is up Cubs fans and welcome back to Cubs Roundtable.
I'm Joey Polizzi talking about all things Cubs.
And the Cubs made a pretty significant move here on Tuesday in the minor leagues by promoting two up-and-coming prospects from Single A Myrtle Beach to High A South Bend.
The two prospects that the Cubs have promoted are Josiah Harnthorn and Mason McGuire.
These two prospects have performed well at Single A this year and both much deserving of a promotion to High A.
With Josiah, this is his first taste of minor league baseball after being selected in the sixth round of the 2025 MLB draft last year after appearing in no minor league games last year after being drafted.
Harnthorn started his minor league career at Single A and he has performed well there, which is why he is being promoted to High A. Josiah, solid batting average above 270, five home runs, four stolen bases, couple of doubles, a triple, 20 plus RBI, like all around great, great start to the season for Harnthorn.
And I feel like his ability, his plate discipline has been such a big point early in the season.
That was on display here for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans early on as he drew more walks than strikeouts, 34 walks, 27 strikeouts.
So Josiah gets the promotion to High A where he'll continue to rise up prospect rankings.
Second player who got promoted here on Tuesday is Mason McGuire, the son of Mark McGuire.
Mason did not pitch at all last season due to an injury.
Struggled in 2024 at Single A with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, but this year Mason McGuire looks like a brand new pitcher on the mound.
240 ERA in his first 10 appearances, five starts, and most importantly, the strikeout numbers are way up from the last time the Cubs saw him back in 2024.
2024 had about a 50% strikeout rate.
This year to start the season, he's up to 36% strikeout rate.
McGuire has looked good and McGuire might actually be one of the most underrated prospect arms in the Cubs organization right now.
He's a player who continues to trend up and I think we could see him continue to trend up the minor league system this year, especially since this year, later this year after the season is the Rule 5 draft and McGuire will be eligible to be selected in the draft if the Cubs do not place him on their 40-man roster.
So something to take account for the rest of the season, but McGuire, Josiah, those two players well deserving of a promotion to High A.
Let me know what you guys think about these two prospects and as always guys, go Cubs go.
