Chicago Cubs farm system receives disappointing ranking

Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter wrote an article ranking each team’s farm system heading into the 2026 season, ranking the Cubs as having the No. 21 farm system in the MLB.

He highlighted the top 10 Cubs prospects, where they do a snapshot of pitcher Jaxon Wiggins. Below is what he wrote regarding the Cubs and highlighting Wiggins:

“The Cubs have not always had success developing arms in recent years, but Cade Horton bucked that trend, and Wiggins could be their next success story. The 24-year-old logged a 2.19 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 78 innings while reaching Triple-A last year, and his 70-grade fastball/60-grade slider pairing gives him true swing-and-miss stuff.”

Bleacher Report also has this listed as the team’s top 10 prospects, which they have as this:

1. C Moises Ballesteros
2. RHP Jaxon Wiggins
3. SS Jefferson Rojas
4. OF Ethan Conrad
5. OF Kevin Alcantara
6. 1B Jonathon Long
7. OF Kane Kepley
8. IF Pedro Ramirez
9. OF Josiah Hartshorn
10. C Owen Ayers

This is a significant drop from where they were on Bleacher Report’s list one year ago, ranking eighth. However, they did make some moves, trading away prospects.

Chicago dealt some prospects, including Owen Cassie, for Edward Cabrera this offseason. Having that happen, as well as some prospects like Cade Horton being elevated off the list, significantly weakened the prospect depth right now.

It will be intriguing to see how the front office drafts and develops some young talent to help bolster the major league roster in the next handful of seasons.