Top 30 Chicago Cubs Prospects To Target In Dynasty Leagues

The breakdowns of the NL Central are flying by and this time we are diving into the Chicago Cubs. This is a system that has been “bulking up” over the past couple of seasons as the old guard of Rizzo, Bryant, and Baez fade in the rearview mirror. Make no mistake that the future is bright in Chicago and some of the top prospects are making their way into everyday roles and performing. Let us dive into the top 30 Cubs prospects to target in dynasty leagues.

Top 10 Prospects

Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF

(107 GP, .283/.365/.511, 20 HR, 82 RBI, 37 SB)

Since his trade from the Mets Pete Crow-Armstong has skyrocketed up the Cubs’s system climbing two levels each of the last two seasons, 2023 PCA got the call to the major leagues at just 21 years old after strong results in Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa. In his 73 games played in Tennessee PCA slashed .289/.371/.527 with 14 home runs, 68 runs scored, 60 RBIs, and stole 27 bases while maintaining a 9.1% walk percentage and a 24% strikeout rate.

Once promoted to Triple-A Iowa PCA slashed .271/.350/.479 with six home runs, 30 runs scored, 22 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases in 34 games played. These strong numbers encouraged the Cubs to call up PCA and let him get some reps with the big league club. It seems as though PCA is making his claim in the Cub’s outfield for years to come and should be on your radar in everything from 12 teams to deeper dynasty leagues.

Matt Shaw, SS

(38 GP, .357/.400/.618, 8 HR, 28 RBI, 15 SB)

The first-round draft pick of the Cubs in the 2023 MLB Draft was Matt Shaw out of the University of Maryland. Shaw hit the ground running after being drafted ascending three levels ultimately finishing in Double-A. The majority of Shaw’s games were split between High-A South Bend and the Double-A Tennessee Smokies.  While with South Bend, Shaw slashed .393/.427/.655 in 20 games played. Once with the Double-A Smokies Shaw slashed .292/.329/.523 with three home runs, nine RBIs, and six stolen bases in 15 games played.

Throughout each stop, Shaw showed low strikeout rates with 13.5% and 17.1% in High-A and Double-A. Matt Shaw should move quickly in 2024 starting the season in Double-A and I believe with a strong start to the season he could be in the Cub’s lineup by or after the All-Star break.

Cade Horton, RHP

(21 GS, 88.1 IP, 117 K, 3.26 ERA)

The future rotation is starting to take shape in the Cub’s minor leagues. Cade Horton put together a strong season across three levels, starting in Low-A Myrtle Beach and finishing in Double-A with the Smokies. Most of Horton’s time was spent in High-A South Bend where the 21-year-old struck out 65 batters in 47 IP (12.45 K/9) with a .203 average against and finished with a 3.83 ERA. Throughout the minor league season, Cade Horton remained steady as he made his stops ultimately finishing with a 10.33 K/9 and a 1.33 ERA across 27 innings pitched in Double-A.

Horton features a four-pitch mix with the fastball and slider profiling as true plus offerings. The curveball has the potential to be an above-average pitch and the change-up is still a work in progress as it wasn’t one he threw mutch while at Oklahoma. Long-term Cade Horton profiles as a high-end SP 3 or a low-end SP 2 for dynasty making him an intriguing target this off-season.

James Triantos, 3B/2B

(83 GP, .287/.364/.391, 4 HR, 48 RBI, 16 SB)

The rising star in the Cubs organization for me is James Triantos, the 20-year-old had a fantastic season in High-A and Double-A. While in South Bend, Triantos slashed .285/.363/.390 while walking 9.7% and only striking out 10.6% of the time. Defensively Triantos has been playing all over the infield and was getting some reps in the outfield during the Arizona Fall League. Speaking of the AFL Triantos was on fire slashing .417/.495/.679 with three home runs, 15 RBIs, and nine stolen bases in 10 attempts.

🌵🏜️CHC 2B/3B/OF James Triantos has had a stellar AFL capped by his All-Star selection. In 21 GP he has..

• .425 AVG
• .505 OBP
• .700 SLG
• 3 HR
• 15 RBI
• 9 SB

Triantos is one of the games most exciting prospects to watch going into 24’. @Fantrax @JamesTriantos https://t.co/BwBH9589M4

— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) November 4, 2023

I wouldn’t put it past the Cubs to call Triantos up by the end of the season. I would like to see him get a fair amount of at-bats and lock into a position long-term back in Double-A and Triple-A before getting the call to the majors. For dynasty purposes, this is a must-target as I’m sure he will climb higher and higher up in the rankings during the 2024 season.

Kevin Alcantara, OF

(102 GP, .284/.345/.466, 13 HR, 71 RBI, 15 SB)

The Cub’s future outfield is starting to take shape with Pete Crow-Armstrong making his debut in 2023 and it seems possible that Kevin Alcantara could be joining him in 2024. The rise of Alcantara in 2023 was impressive as he played 95 games in High-A South Bend. Alcantara slashed .286/.341/.466 with 12 home runs, 66 RBIs, and swiped 15 bases in 19 attempts. The plate discipline was solid this season as Alcantara walked 7.6% of the time and struck out just 23.8% across 408 plate appearances.

👀 Chicago Cubs OF Kevin Alcantara went 2-5 with two runs scored in Friday nights game against Quad City. Alcantara is ranked 59th in Fantrax HQ top 400. #CubTogether @SBCubs @Cubs @Fantrax @WeeklyStreamer pic.twitter.com/jUiDGF3T5Y

— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) April 8, 2023

After his time in the Arizona Fall League, the Cubs might be looking to push Alcantara a little quicker this season as he is already on the Cubs’ 40-man roster.

Owen Caissie, OF

(120 GP, .289/.398/.519, 22 HR, 84 RBI, 7 SB)

One of my favorite bats in the Cubs organization right now has got to be Owen Caissie. The upside is massive for Caissie who played the entire season in Double-A in 2023 at just 20 years old. In 120 games played Caissie slashed .289/.398/.519 with 22 home runs, 77 runs scored, 84 RBI, and 7 stolen bases. Caissie has displayed excellent walk rates throughout his minor league career to this point and continued that with a 14.4% wall percentage in 528 at-bats in 2023.

🚀CHC OF Owen Caissie has been on a tear for AA Tennessee Smokies slashing .313/.411/.667 with 4 HR, 14 RBIs and 2 SB in 14 GP. A strong 14.3% walk rate is encouraging for the 20 year old! Let’s just get those Ks ⬇️ #NextStartsHere @smokiesbaseball @owen_caissie @Cubs @CubsZone https://t.co/cCSz0OZCoM

— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) April 26, 2023

The area to improve on has got to be the strikeout rate for Caissie which finished with a 31.1% strikeout rate. There is a real possibility that Owen Caissie could crack the major leagues in 2024 at just 21 years old if he can continue to hit and cut down on that strikeout rate.

Miguel Amaya, C

(53 GP, .214/.329/.359, 5 HR, 18 RBI)

Making his major league debut in 2023 was Miguel Amaya, a prospect I’ve been watching a lot since 2019. The upside always seemed to be there for Amaya but the bat wouldn’t come around to show results till 2022. While in Double-A in 2022 Amaya slashed .278/.379/.485 with four home runs, and 19 RBIs in just 28 games played. Amaya took these gains and continued them in 2023, ascending three levels and ultimately finishing the year with the Cubs. Amaya showed excellent plate discipline during his time in the minor leagues, walking 18.3% and only striking out 23.2% in Triple-A prior his promotion.

Despite the low batting average during his debut season, Amaya impressed me by hitting the ball hard as nine of his 28 hits in the majors were extra-base hits five of which were home runs. The plate discipline was still solid for a 24-year-old rookie catcher as Amaya walked 7.7% while only striking out 25.6% of the time. With solid defensive skills and some interesting pop in the Bat Amaya is a target for me in dynasty leagues and could be a solid second catcher in 12-team formats.

Ben Brown, RHP

(26 GP, 19 GS, 92.2 IP, 130 K, 4.27 ERA)

Coming over from the Phillies in 2022 via trade, Ben Brown quickly skyrocketed up dynasty rankings. In 2023 Brown ascended two levels but started the season in Double-A where his 30 strikeouts in 20 innings pitched was good for an eye-popping 13.50 K/9 across four starts. Brown finished with a 0.45 ERA before being promoted to Triple-A Iowa. After the promotion, he finished off the season with 100 strikeouts in 72.2 innings pitched (12.39 K/9) with a .224 average against and a 5.33 ERA across 22 appearances (15 starts).

🐻 Cubs RHP Ben Brown has been on 🔥! 11 Ks in his last outing in AAA. For the season in AAA he has 36 Ks in 24 IP (13.50 K/9) .205 AVG and a 3.75 ERA in 5 starts. Keep your 👀 fixed on Brown! #NextStartsHere @IowaCubs @Cubs @Fantrax https://t.co/WMXtDMcITx

— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) May 31, 2023

Ben Brown continued the dominant strikeout performances we have seen throughout his minor league career but what stood out was the high 6.32 BB/9 and the increased HR/9 of 1.11. Brown features a three-pitch mix of a high 90s four-seam fastball, a sharp cutter/slider that sits in the low 90s, and a power curve that has great downward movement coming in the mid-80s. In addition, Brown has been developing a change-up but it is a work in progress at this point. If Ben Brown can get the walks under control this season he could be making his debut sooner rather than later with a young Cubs team.

Jackson Ferris, RHP

(18 GS, 56 IP, 77 K, 3.38 ERA)

The second-round pick of the Cubs in 2022 was a high school left-hander by the name of Jackson Ferris. Coming out of high school the advanced lefty was coming into the Cubs organization with a four-pitch mix of a fastball, slider, curveball, and change-up. Ferris did not pitch after he was drafted, instead, the Cubs started Ferris out in Low-A in 2023. Across 18 starts Ferris had a 12.38 K/9 with a .177 average against and finished with a 3.38 ERA.

Jackson Ferris is an intriguing prospect coming up through the Cubs system. If he can get the walks down a bit, he could jump up rankings quickly in 2024. Make Jackson Ferris a priority in 10-12 team leagues with deep minor league bench spots.

Jordan Wicks, LHP

(7 GS, 34.2 IP, 24 K, 4.41 ERA)

The rise of Jordan Wicks has been steady through the Cubs system and he finished the 2023 season in the rotation. Prior to his major league debut, Wicks climbed two levels, starting the season in Double-A. Across 13 starts Wicks struck out 69 batters in 58.1 innings (10.65 K/9) with a .225 average against and a 3.39 ERA. The strikeout rate dropped a bit once Wicks was promoted to Triple-A as he struck out 30 in 34.2 innings pitched (8.18 K/9) with a .215 average against and a 3.82 ERA.

📈📣CHC LHP Jordan Wicks is absolutely going to be a problem.. in 10 starts the lefty has 53 Ks in 46.1 IP keeping batters to a .211 AVG against and has a 2.91 ERA. All while keeping the walks per nine low at 2.33. #NextStartsHere @smokiesbaseball @Cubs https://t.co/zxpEZN62Pa

— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) June 3, 2023

Jordan Wicks profiles as a back-end starter if everything breaks right, he won’t overpower with the fastball but with plus breaking pitches in a slider, curveball, and best in his draft class change-up he could stick in the Cubs rotation.

Chicago Cubs Top 30 Fantasy Baseball Prospects