The Cubs may have found a quiet winner in their 2026 draft class, and it’s not one of the pitching prospects that dominated their haul.
Chicago came away with more than a dozen pitchers in that draft, so the attention naturally drifted toward arms. That left Caden Sorrell, the club’s second-round pick, a little out of the spotlight at first. But MLB Pipeline took another look at the class after the season, and Sorrell was the Cubs prospect it singled out for finishing strong.
He made the most of his first taste of pro ball. In 22 Single-A games, Sorrell hit .295/.347/.523 with a wRC+ of 131. He also flashed exactly why the Cubs liked him in the first place, piling up five home runs and eight stolen bases with a mix of power and speed that stood out right away.
There’s also a reason Chicago may feel good about this kind of profile. The Cubs have built a reputation for developing bats, and they’ve been especially strong with outfielders. That makes Sorrell the type of player they can realistically expect to grow into more.
MLB Pipeline placed Sorrell seventh in the organization in its end-of-season rankings, but he’s not the only outfielder on the list. Josiah Hartshorn, Kane Kepley and Ethan Conrad were all ranked ahead of him.
Hartshorn looks like the system’s blue-chip outfielder. Kepley appears lined up for a starting outfield role when he’s ready. Conrad, the Cubs’ 2025 first-round pick, got into 36 games over the summer, but injuries have continued to slow him down.
That could matter down the line if Sorrell keeps climbing. His progress may give the Cubs more comfort if they ever decide to discuss Kepley or Conrad in trade talks. Conrad’s injury history remains the same concern that followed him into the draft, while Kepley’s profile as a potential major league center fielder could also make him an attractive trade piece.
In Other News...
Craig Counsell Just Raised A Tough Nico Hoerner Question
Nico Hoerners 2026 season has put a familiar Cubs debate back in the spotlight, even if the organization does not sound alarmed by it. After a career-best 2025, Hoerners offense dipped noticeably this year, with his batting average and OPS+ both moving the wrong way, a reminder that his value has never been built on loud production alone. Craig Counsell recently pointed to the way Hoerner plays the game as part of the explanation, suggesting his results can swing heavily with fortune because of how much of his profile lives in contact and execution.
The Cubs, though, do not appear interested in tinkering with what makes Hoerner effective. They continue to trust the consistency of his approach and do not plan to change his mechanics or style, even with the numbers trending down from last season. For Chicago, the real question is whether this is just the kind of offensive variance that comes with Hoerners game, or the start of a longer stretch where the results keep lagging behind the process. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Still Have One Real Reason For Hope After 2026 Collapse
The Cubs had all the ingredients for a frustrating 2026 season, from repeated losing streaks and injuries to a rotation and bullpen that never quite settled in. Even with the offense leading baseball in runs, the inconsistency on the mound kept Chicago from turning production into the kind of year it expected, which made the late stretch feel like a long exercise in what-ifs.
Pete Crow-Armstrongs National League MVP season gave the club a centerpiece, but the broader reason for optimism was what held up behind him. Chicago finished at the top of the league in defensive runs saved and fielding percentage, with several players surfacing as Gold Glove finalists, giving the Cubs a foundation they can actually trust as they head into 2027. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Face A Tough Offseason Choice With Japanese Slugger Looming
Teruaki Sato is shaping up as one of the more intriguing names on the market this offseason, and the Cubs will at least have to do their homework. The Japanese slugger, who won the Triple Crown in NPB, is expected to be posted for MLB teams, which puts him on the radar for clubs looking for impact offense. For Chicago, the appeal is obvious: a player with that kind of pedigree would add a different kind of thump to a lineup that could use it.
The fit, though, is not as simple as the talent. Sato has played third base and right field, and those spots already come with roster complications for the Cubs, making the chase less straightforward than a typical splash move. Chicago also appears to be in a stronger position to bring back Seiya Suzuki, whose MLB track record and defensive value give the front office a more familiar path to upgrading the roster without having to solve as many moving parts. [Read more 🡒]