Chicago Cubs farm system ranking takes a dip

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Chicago Cubs farm system ranking takes a dip

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Zack Cariola | Last updated May 22, 2026 7:02 PM ET

The Chicago Cubs depleted their farm systems over the offseason after they acquired right-hander Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins. This was a season after the Cubs traded prospect, infielder/outfielder Cam Smith, to the Houston Astros for outfielder Kyle Tucker.

Still having some prospects to deal at this season’s trade deadline (Aug. 3), the Cubs will have to be strategic with how they use these prospects. Given the depletion of the farm system, the Cubs’ minor league ranking took a hit, dropping four spots.

The Chicago Cubs’ farm system ranking drops due to a lack of high-quality prospects

Aug 27, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; General view of the Chicago Cubs baseball bag before the start of the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

According to Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report, the Cubs, a little over a quarter of the way through the season, have the 25th-best farm system in Major League Baseball. Before the season, the Cubs ranked 21st.

Reuter ranked each prospect on a “Tier system” from one to four, with Tier 1 being the best. For the Cubs, they currently have no Tier 1 or 2-level prospects, with infielder Pedro Ramirez the highest-ranked (Tier 3).

The rest, outfielders: Josiah Hartshorn, Ethan Conrad and Kane Kepley, along with shortstop Jefferson Rojas, and right-hander Jaxon Wiggins are Tier 4 prospects.

The highlight of Reuter’s rankings for the Cubs is outfielder Josiah Hartshorn, who was a sixth-round draft pick of the Cubs last season.

“The Cubs gave Hartshorn a $2 million signing bonus last year, a record-setting payday for a sixth-round pick and the equivalent of second-round money,” wrote Reuter. “He was sent straight to Single-A for his pro debut, where he is hitting .269/.425/.454 with 13 extra-base hits and more walks (33) than strikeouts (25) in 36 games.”

An outfielder who can play first base, Hartshorn is an interesting player for the future of the Cubs. Left fielder Ian Happ and right fielder Seiya Suzuki are both pending free agents and could be on other teams in the next few seasons.

Having depth in the organization, like Hartshorn, who could be a quality big leaguer one day, will help the Cubs if their current stars leave.