Team Outlook
The Chicago Cubs are firmly in the midst of being an NL Central contender, and how they will use their farm system to supplement that roster will be fun to watch over the coming months and years. The system is headlined by Jaxon Wiggins, who has the look of a mid-rotation starter with good stuff. They still have Owen Caissie, who projects to step into the Kyle Tucker-sized hole in the Cubs outfield. They also have Moisés Ballesteros, who might have a chance to get everyday playing time. Ethan Conrad was a shrewd selection by the Cubs and he projects to someday be a big-league regular. Since the days of Kris Bryant, Javier Báez, and company, the Cubs have been trying to develop a pitching pipeline that will help them have quality arms, as they do a solid job of developing bats. With Cade Horton and hopefully the likes of Jaxon Wiggins, they have found the sort of pitcher they can optimize and get to the big leagues.
About Our Top 20 Lists
Prospects Live, led by its evaluating team & Director of Scouting Rhys White, is proud to begin rolling out its annual offseason system reports. The team combines industry feedback, our live looks, film, and available data to compile each org. We believe this effort has enabled us to present you, the reader, with our best possible view of the prospects in the organization.
We have constructed this list using the Overall Future Potential (OFP) scale. There is no perfect equation for ranking prospects or assigning value to them, but we believe this method is the best possible approach. Every prospect on this list has been graded based on the tried and true 20-80 scouting scale. An 80 is the highest tool and OFP grade on the scale, reserved for MVP-caliber players or tools. Conversely, a 20 is reserved for non-prospects (NPs). A 50 OFP falls in the middle, indicating our evaluators deem this player a future average major league player. Below the 50 OFP tier are the 45s and 40s, comprising a large majority of players on each list. These are specific-role players, such as platoon hitters, utility players, or low-leverage relievers. Above the 50 OFP tier are the 55s and 60s. A 55 represents a future above-average player, and a 60 OFP designation is reserved for future All-Star caliber players.
In addition to the tool grades and OFP, we will also include a ‘Risk’ associated with each prospect. We use this to better communicate to you, the reader, whether a grade is more aggressive or conservative in nature. The evaluation team has worked hard to apply both the grades and risk components to better illustrate how each individual prospect stacks up in their respective system and in the baseball ecosystem.
Evaluators: Brandon Tew, Daniel Barrand, Grant Carver, Jackson Shelton, Jacob Maxwell, Mitch Stachnik, Nate Jones, Rhys White, Trevor Hooth
Find all the Top 20 Lists here:
2026 Team Prospect Lists – Prospects Live
Top 20 Prospects at a Glance
1. Jaxon Wiggins, RHP – 50 OFP
2. Moisés Ballesteros, C – 50 OFP
3. Owen Caissie, OF – 50 OFP
4. Ethan Conrad, OF – 50 OFP
5. Jefferson Rojas, SS – 50 OFP
6. Kane Kepley, OF – 45 OFP
7. Kevin Alcántara, OF – 45 OFP
8. James Triantos, 2B – 45 OFP
9. Brandon Birdsell, RHP – 45 OFP
10. Jonathon Long, 1B – 45 OFP
11. Angel Cepeda, SS – 45 OFP
12. Yahil Melendez, SS – 45 OFP
13. Ethan Flanagan, LHP – 40 OFP
14. Connor Noland, RHP – 40 OFP
15. Dominick Reid, RHP – 40 OFP
16. Riley Martin, LHP – 40 OFP
17. Jack Neely, RHP – 40 OFP
18. Cole Mathis, 1B – 40 OFP
19. Eli Lovich, OF – 40 OFP
20. Nick Dean, RHP – 40 OFP
Scouting Reports
Find Scouting Reports, Tool Grades and Dynasty Outlooks in each toggle section
Expand All Reports
1. Jaxon Wiggins, RHP – 50 OFP
HT: 6-6 WT: 220 H/T: R/R
Highest Level: AAA
ETA: 2026
OFP: 50
Risk: High
Fastball: 60 – (94-98 T101 mph)
Curveball: 45 – (79-84 mph)
Slider: 60 – (85-90 mph)
Changeup: 55 – (85-91 mph)
Command: 50
Scouting Report
Jaxon Wiggins is a big-framed right-hander with an equally big fastball — a plus to flashing double-plus four-seamer with a firm two-plane shape that continued to sharpen as the 2025 season progressed. The pitch looks explosive out of hand, carrying well above average for its 96–98 mph velocity and touching triple digits at peak. Generating around 17 inches of induced vertical break from a 6.5-foot release height and a high three-quarters slot, the fastball rides through the top of the zone with late life, projecting as a platoon-neutral weapon that misses bats in and above the zone. Working from a modified stretch, Wiggins steps forward with his left foot to build momentum into a chest-high leg lift, pairing it with a rhythmic glove tap before a hand break. The delivery is compact and straightforward, given his long frame, though there’s still a lot to sync up. Strike throwing remains inconsistent, with present control and command trending below average, but he’s begun to throw more competitive strikes as he settles into his size and timing. Given his ease of operation and athleticism, there’s reason to project fringe-average to solid command in time. His primary secondary is a hard slider, bordering on a cutter in velocity and shape, with some lift, a gyro that misses right-handed bats and can be backdoored or over the plate to lefties. It’s another potential plus offering that complements the fastball’s shape and plane. Wiggins will also mix a big curveball with true topspin depth and a firm changeup that dips beneath barrels, both of which have shown incremental improvement in shape and velocity. With the ABS challenge system coming, the ability to generate whiffs in the zone will be critical for pitchers like Wiggins, who still rely more on stuff than precision. Still, his arsenal looks every bit like a whiff generator. Health remains the major variable — he’s already undergone Tommy John surgery in his draft year and remains light on professional innings. The Cubs managed his workload carefully in 2025, with him finishing Triple-A Iowa, but if he continues to throw strikes and stay healthy, Wiggins projects as a potential mid-rotation arm with upside. Still, he’s realistically a No. 4 starter with an impact fastball and bat-missing offerings the Cubs could look to have pitching on the North Side by mid-2026. – Brandon Tew
2. Moisés Ballesteros, C – 50 OFP
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