Massive Shakeup On Cubs Prospect List: Biggest Risers and Fallers
Josiah Hartshorn seizes the top spot as breakout catcher Owen Ayers rockets up the rankings, while fresh faces and pitching shifts redefine the future of Chicago's farm.
Video Transcript
What is up, Cubs fans?
And welcome back to Cubs Roundtable.
I'm Joey Polizzi, talking about all things Cubs.
And MLB Pipeline has updated the Cubs' top 30 prospects ahead of the 2026 trade deadline.
Although this update does not include the 2026 draft picks, there was still a lot of shakeup in the Cubs prospect rankings ahead of the trade deadline.
The biggest one, number one prospect, Josiah Hornstein has now moved up to the top spot.
He was listed down at the number three spot a few updates ago, but now moves ahead of Jefferson Rojas and is the new top prospect in the Cubs organization.
No surprises here.
Hornstein has been the biggest riser in the Cubs organization this year in his first professional season.
He has 16 home runs, 16 doubles, really has looked good, and has 11 home runs so far with the High-A South Bend Cubs.
Another big riser for the Cubs is Owen Ayers, who is really in the midst of a breakout season.
22 home runs across three levels this season, up to number three in the Cubs organization.
Another riser, Mason McGuire, who was not ranked as a top 30 prospect ever, but now finds himself number 19 in the organization.
He's in the midst of a breakout season as well, has thrown the ball well.
Strikeout numbers look good, and he just recently pitched in the MLB All-Star Futures Game.
But with some risers, there's also some fallers, and the biggest faller, once again, is Jackson Wiggins.
Wiggins started the season 58th overall on MLB Pipeline, the Cubs number two prospect behind Moises Ballesteros.
Now he has fallen out of the top 100 on MLB Pipeline and has fallen down to the number six spot in the Cubs organization.
Obviously, missing two plus months with that elbow injury has hurt him, and also, since returning from that elbow injury, has not looked good at Triple-A.
He's given up 11 earned runs across seven and one-third innings pitched, so he continues to fall down prospect rankings and it's interesting to see what the Cubs do with him.
Could they move him at this year's trade deadline?
But let me know what you guys think about the Cubs, biggest risers and fallers, and as always, guys, go Cubs go.
