Busch embracing athleticism at first base
This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian’s Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
Rojas raring to pursue dream of becoming Cubs' shortstop
MESA, Ariz. -- While rain pounded a tarp covering the Sloan Park diamond on Friday afternoon, a group of Cubs prospects headed to the ballpark’s concourse to sign autographs. If the weather was not going to play along with the inaugural Spring Breakout showcase, at least fans could walk away
LIVE: White Sox-Cubs Spring Breakout
The Cubs and White Sox will renew their rivalry in a unique format on Friday, when the Spring Breakout pits the cross-town teams’ top prospects against each other. The showcase is a first of its kind exhibition featuring highly-touted prospects from each farm system. Here’s everything to know about the
Best of Spring Breakout: Catchers, pitchers, infielders, outfielders
Spring Breakout is here, and if you can’t tell, we’re just a little excited. It all started on Thursday, when No. 7 Reds prospect Cam Collier hit the first homer in a 4-1 victory over the Rangers' prospects, and the showdown of the night saw MLB Pipeline's No. 3 overall
Top 5 reasons to watch Cubs’ Spring Breakout
This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian's Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
Ranking the 10 best Spring Breakout rosters
The 2024 MLB Pipeline preseason Farm System Rankings were published Friday night, giving fans an idea of how the young talent of each organization lines up. Supporters for all 30 clubs will get a closer look at the next generation of stars this week during MLB's inaugural Spring Breakout --
After Spring Breakout, Horton's sights set on Majors
MESA, Ariz. -- Cade Horton took a seat on the metal bleachers behind Field 1 earlier this spring, observing a round of live batting practice. The pitching prospect watched intently as Cubs lefty Jordan Wicks went through his workout as a candidate for an Opening Day rotation spot. A year
Loaded Cubs farm has new director, similar vibe to past glory
MESA, Ariz. -- For the past few years, Jason Kanzler’s world of baseball instruction was much smaller. Working for the Astros, he had moved from Minor League hitting coordinator to being on the Major League staff, helping that Houston lineup win the 2022 World Series. When he took the gig
PCA headed to Triple-A ... for now
MESA, Ariz. -- Once the Cubs put the finishing touches on the contract that brought star center fielder Cody Bellinger back into the fold earlier this spring, the writing was on the wall for top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong. Barring the unexpected, the rookie was ticketed for Triple-A Iowa to start
Here's the Cubs' 2024 Spring Breakout roster
MESA, Ariz. -- The Cubs wanted to ensure that Owen Caissie made the most of his first spring in big league camp. The outfield prospect was informed early on that he was not competing for a spot on Chicago’s Opening Day roster, but rather getting the opportunity to learn from
Shaw showing ‘exceptional’ work ethic in first MLB camp
This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian’s Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox. MESA, Ariz. -- Matt Shaw quickly ranged to his right, snagged the chopper off the bat of Kansas City’s Tyler Gentry and then threw
Brandon Birdsell highlights
Alexis Hernandez highlights
Pedro Ramirez highlights
Fernando Cruz highlights
Here are the Cubs' 2024 Top 30 prospects
In the middle of the previous decade, the Cubs assembled one of the most impressive collections of position prospects, ranking as baseball's best farm system in 2015 before ending their 108-year World Series championship drought the following season. Their system currently is the strongest it has been since then and
Wicks finds value in facing Padres' top sluggers
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Jordan Wicks knows the priority is to focus on his own stuff, but sluggers digging in at the plate are still sluggers, even in early March. The left-handed Wicks made another bid to snare that Opening Day rotation’s fifth spot by allowing just one run over his
PCA doing 'the right things' in wake of Bellinger return
MESA, Ariz. – A few weeks ago, Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson had a long conversation over the phone with prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong. It was an opportunity for the young center fielder to ask questions and have an open and honest chat about a wide array of topics. “We just kind
Canario powers way into Cubs’ outfield battle
This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian's Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
2023 1st-rounder Shaw soaking in first Spring Training
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Matt Shaw was still at the University of Maryland at this time last year. Now, the infield prospect is a few lockers down from Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ in the Cubs’ clubhouse, experiencing his first Spring Training and getting an expedited education on the path to
Wicks relying on Counsell in bid to make Cubs' rotation
MESA, Ariz. -- One of the advantages to bringing Craig Counsell into the fold as the Cubs’ new manager is the fact that he faced the North Siders for so many years with the rival Brewers. Plenty of Chicago’s players planned on using this spring to get feedback from Counsell
Busch gets chance to stick in Majors with Cubs
MESA, Ariz. -- Not much has changed in Michael Busch's swing since the last time Cubs hitting coach Dustin Kelly watched it regularly. Busch’s hands are positioned slightly differently, but the swing itself still looks the part of a player who can thrive in the big leagues. “It's such an
PCA using tough debut as motivation for 2024
MESA, Ariz. -- Pete Crow-Armstrong admits that it took him some time to shake off the zero that will forever be on the back of his baseball card. The highly touted prospect got his first taste of the big leagues in a playoff chase with the Cubs last September but
Cubs prospects get to work with Spring Breakout upcoming
MESA, Ariz. -- Outfielder Owen Caissie looked down the row of lockers to his right inside the Cubs’ clubhouse on Thursday morning and started pointing to prospects who were now in the room. He rattled off the names of center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, catcher Pablo Aliendo and reliever Daniel Palencia.
Matt Shaw, Caissie highlight Cubs' non-roster invites
CHICAGO -- Matt Shaw got a glimpse at what the Cubs are trying to build during his trip to Cubs Convention last month. Not only were the North Siders’ core big leaguers on hand, but the ballclub had a long list of the farm system’s prospects in Chicago for the