The Chicago Cubs’ farm system might not be topping prospect rankings right now, but its fingerprints are all over the big-league roster-and that trend doesn’t look like it’s slowing down anytime soon.
Over the past year, we’ve seen a wave of young talent either make their mark in Chicago or become key trade pieces. Remember last winter?
Cam Smith, the Cubs’ 2024 first-rounder, was flipped in the deal that brought Kyle Tucker to the North Side. Then came the summer surge-Cade Horton emerged as a legitimate frontline starter and nearly walked away with NL Rookie of the Year honors.
Owen Caissie and Moises Ballesteros got their first taste of big-league pitching, and Matt Shaw turned heads all season long, learning third base on the fly and somehow ending up as a Gold Glove finalist at one of the toughest positions in the game.
Fast forward to this offseason, and the Cubs are still dealing from a place of prospect strength. Caissie was sent to Miami in the Edward Cabrera trade, Shaw’s name continues to pop up in trade rumors, and Ballesteros is penciled in for everyday at-bats this year. The Cubs are betting on his bat to help soften the blow of losing Tucker, who signed a monster deal with the Dodgers.
So while the Cubs' farm system might not be getting the national spotlight, its impact is impossible to ignore. And this spring, the focus will understandably be on the familiar names-Ballesteros, Horton, Shaw-but there are a couple of guys further down the depth chart who could force their way into the conversation before long.
Jonathon Long and James Triantos: Two Names to Watch
Let’s start with Jonathon Long. The Cubs’ reigning Minor League Player of the Year put together an eye-opening 2025 campaign at Triple-A Iowa, slashing .305/.404/.479 over more than 600 plate appearances.
That’s not just solid production-that’s a mature approach at the plate. Long walked 79 times while striking out just 116, showing the kind of zone control that could translate nicely to the bigs.
At 24, he’s not exactly a kid anymore, but with only one full season at Triple-A, there’s no need to rush him. Michael Busch has first base locked down, and the Cubs brought in Tyler Austin on a one-year deal to provide some depth from the right side. Long is expected to get plenty of reps against lefties this year, and while there’s no clear path to everyday playing time in Chicago just yet, a hot spring could change that in a hurry-especially if Busch or Austin land on the IL.
Then there’s James Triantos, who brings something every big-league bench needs: versatility. Last season, he logged innings at second base, center field, and left field. That kind of defensive flexibility can be a game-changer, especially for a team looking to stay agile over a 162-game grind.
Now, the bat hasn’t quite caught up. Triantos hit just .258/.315/.369 at Iowa in 2025, and his career OPS at Triple-A sits at .693 through 538 plate appearances.
That’s not going to turn many heads. But if he can find a rhythm at the plate this spring, his glove and positional range could make him a valuable depth option-especially if the Cubs find themselves dealing with injuries or looking for a spark off the bench.
And before anyone starts pointing fingers at those minor-league numbers, let’s keep it real: the Cubs gave bench at-bats last season to Vidal Bruján, Nicky Lopez, and Jon Berti. So the bar for utility depth isn’t exactly unreachable.
Bottom Line
The Cubs are in an interesting spot. They’ve built a roster that’s competitive now, but they’ve also kept the pipeline flowing with talent that’s either contributing, developing, or being used to land key pieces. Whether it’s Ballesteros trying to establish himself as a middle-of-the-order bat, Horton continuing his rise as a rotation anchor, or guys like Long and Triantos waiting in the wings, the Cubs’ system is still doing its job-even if it’s not grabbing headlines.
Spring training is right around the corner, and the spotlight will be on the usual suspects. But don’t be surprised if a couple of lesser-known names force their way into the picture.
That’s the beauty of a deep farm system-it’s not always about the top 10 prospects. Sometimes, it’s the next wave that makes the biggest difference.