Tuesday, February 11

Welcome back to the Cubs Beat newsletter. Jordan Bastian has covered baseball for MLB.com since 2005, including the Cubs since the 2019 season.

MESA, Ariz. -- When camp opened for the Cubs a year ago, then-prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong had a path to the Opening Day roster. That changed in late February when Chicago re-signed Cody Bellinger, pushing the young center fielder down the depth chart and then to Triple-A Iowa to begin the season.

As Spring Training gets underway for the Cubs, Crow-Armstrong returns as the starting center fielder. He was promoted to Chicago by late April last year when Bellinger landed on the injured list, then received a runway to develop in the big leagues and seized hold of the job with dynamic play over the final few months.

This spring, the Cubs have six of their seven prospects from MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 rankings in camp (two on the 40-man roster and four who have been extended a non-roster invitation). Like Crow-Armstrong a year ago, most of them are blocked at the moment by the talent at the Major League level. But they will still likely play a role in the season ahead.

“Those are exciting depth pieces,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “Maybe not traditional, but I think that points to some of the health of the organization. And I think we're going to need one or multiple of those guys to surprise us this year.”

Here is a breakdown of the Top 100 prospects in camp for the Cubs.

No. 19: INF Matt Shaw (NRI)

Dating back to last summer, the Cubs have jettisoned every player who made at least one start at third base in 2024 for the team. The 23-year-old Shaw -- in Major League camp for his second straight spring -- has a chance to earn the vacancy at the hot corner, where veteran utility man Jon Berti is also an option.

“It’ll be a competition this spring, for sure,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said on Sunday. “I don’t think we’re in a world of anointing a rookie and just giving him a job. I think he’s going to have to win a job. But certainly, I think there’s real opportunity there.”

The wild card on this front would be whether the Cubs stay in the hunt for free agent Alex Bregman. Like Bellinger’s arrival last spring, an addition of that magnitude would have a ripple effect on the infield (and potentially Shaw’s Opening Day chances).

No. 52: RHP Cade Horton (NRI)

Horton’s season was cut short by a Grade 2 strain of a muscle behind his right shoulder last year, costing Chicago’s first-round pick in the 2022 Draft a shot at the big leagues in ‘24. The righty is healthy and back on a mound, but he's unlikely to make the Opening Day roster. Expect Horton’s arrival at some point this summer.

• 15 prospects primed for a bounceback season from injury

No. 54: OF Owen Caissie (40-man)

The current makeup of the Cubs’ outfield (Gold Glover Ian Happ in left, Crow-Armstrong in center, and both Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki offering options for right) will likely keep the 22-year-old Caissie and his powerful bat at Iowa for another season. Being on the roster, however, puts him in the next-man-up category if injuries were to strike.

No. 69: C Moisés Ballesteros (NRI)

The Cubs have their big league catching tandem in place with Miguel Amaya and Carson Kelly, but rare is the team that goes through a campaign using only two backstops. The 21-year-old Ballesteros has earned high praise for his offensive skills, which could carry him to The Show as a catcher/DH fit off the bench if/when a need arises.

• Ballesteros hopes consistent power in Fall League leads to spring camp

No. 73: INF James Triantos (NRI)

Triantos, 22, is in his first big league camp and gives the Cubs some more depth at second base. With Nico Hoerner’s timetable for return from October surgery on his right forearm unclear, Triantos will get some looks this spring (along with Shaw and others). Triantos hit .300 across Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A last year with an impressive strikeout rate.

No. 90: OF Kevin Alcántara (40-man)

Like Caissie, Alcántara is on the roster, making him one of the first options if an injury or two were to strike the big league outfield. Alcántara made his MLB debut last September and he has the kind of all-around skill set that makes him an intriguing prospect. His ability to play center also helps his cause.

Counsell cracked a smile on Sunday when a reporter from a Japanese outlet asked if lefty Shota Imanaga would pitch one of the games against the Dodgers in the Tokyo Series on March 18-19. Since the event was announced last year, the Cubs' manager has quipped that he was probably obligated to hand the ball to Imanaga in the opener.

"Shota's going to pitch in Japan,” Counsell said. “I think that's mandated, kind of. I don't think I have a choice, actually."

Imanaga -- who pitched eight years for Yokohama in Nippon Professional Baseball prior to signing with the Cubs in January 2024 -- enjoyed a spectacular MLB debut showing. The lefty went 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA and 174 strikeouts against 28 walks in 173 1/3 innings, made the National League All-Star team and placed fourth and fifth, respectively, in NL Rookie of the Year and NL Cy Young Award voting.

“We couldn’t be more excited that he’s back,” Hoyer said. “Year one was as impressive as anything I’ve watched from a pitcher making an assimilation. Provided everything is on schedule, I’m quite sure he’ll be pitching over there. What game? I don’t know. But certainly, I know the fans in Japan will be excited to see him.”

• Cubs open camp with October on the mind. Read more >>

• Three storylines that will dominate the Cubs’ spring. Read more >>

• Everything you need to know about Spring Training. Read more >>

• Who might be the Cubs’ top prospect in … 2027? Read more >>

“We’ve still got to win every day here in camp to try to prepare us for the long season. But yeah, we’re encouraged about the talent that we have. And we’re encouraged about the opportunity that presents us. It’s going to be a dog fight in the NL Central. It’s going to be a dog fight in the NL. We know that and we’re preparing for that.” -- Cubs GM Carter Hawkins, on the Cubs’ postseason aspirations

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