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Syndication: South Bend Tribune Syndication: South Bend TribuneSouth Bend Cubs infielder Jefferson Rojas watches his foul ball in the third inning of a minor league baseball game against the Lake County Captains at Four Winds Field on Friday, June 21, 2024, in South Bend. © MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK

Chicago Cubs’ 6th ranked prospect has had a scorching hot bat in May

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Andy Jachim | Last updated May 21, 2025 2:50 PM ET

Most of the attention on the Chicago Cubs farm system has gone to the the Triple-A, but there are plenty of solid prospects that aren’t on that team in their pool. The Iowa Cubs have a handful of the organization’s top prospects, and three of them have even made their big league debuts in 2025.

Matt Shaw began the campaign as the team’s starting third baseman, but only last 18 games before being sent back to Iowa to work on his swing. He is back with the Cubs now and is already thriving at the plate in the team’s road series against the Marlins.

Cade Horton and Moises Ballesteros have had brief stints with Chicago to begin their big league careers as well. Horton has taken the rotation spot of an injured Shota Imanaga, and Ballesteros was up for a week while Ian Happ was dealing with an oblique issue that required him to head on the IL. A highly regarded hitting prospect in High-A has been tearing the cover off the baseball so far this season, and plenty of people have taken notice.

Chicago Cubs’ prospect Jefferson Rojas has been red-hot in May

Jefferson Rojas has logged just over 900 career minor league at-bats since joining the Cubs’ system in 2022. The shortstop spent all of 2024 in High-A South Bend, which is where has has begun his 2025 campaign. Rojas is slashing .284/.388/.477 for a .865 OPS in 29 games and 109 at-bats. He has also driven in 15 runs while hitting four homers this season.

The month of May has been kind to Rojas, as he has been unreal in 16 games. In his 60 at-bats this month, Rojas is slashing .350/.437/.617 for a 1.054 OPS in the Midwest League. Three of his four home runs this year have come in May, and he has driven in 12 as well in this stretch.

Jefferson Rojas could be a big part of the Chicago Cubs’ future

Syndication: South Bend Tribune South Bend Cubs infielder Jefferson Rojas, right, throws to first after getting Lake County Captains infielder Tyresse Turner (22) out at second base in the second inning of a minor league baseball game at Four Winds Field on Friday, June 21, 2024, in South Bend.

Rojas has improved each year in the Cubs’ system at the plate, and his defense is must-see TV at all times. The 20-year-old still has a little ways to go before he is near the big league level, but his consistent success in High-A should put him on the radar to be apart of the organization’s long term plans. While the franchise is in win-now mode, Rojas might want to be a guy they consider keeping for the long haul, along with Ballesteros and others.

Even though Dansby Swanson still has four more years under contract after 2025, there is no saying that Rojas can’t be the next man up at the shortstop position when Swanson’s time with the team comes to a close. Rojas has the makings of a really good pro, and the front office might look to keep him around down the road.

Syndication: South Bend Tribune South Bend Cubs infielder Jefferson Rojas takes off from second base to score a run and put his team up by one in the eighth inning of a minor league baseball game against the Lake County Captains at Four Winds Field on Friday, June 21, 2024, in South Bend.

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

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