Typically, when prospects receive a promotion, there's an adjustment period. Thus far, that hasn't been the case for Josiah Hartshorn.
The Cubs' No. 7 prospect, who only just arrived at High-A on May 26, continued to torment Midwest League pitching this weekend. After going yard on Saturday, Hartshorn swatted his seventh homer on the circuit in Sunday's 10-3 win over Peoria at Four Winds Field.
The switch-hitting slugger's latest long ball marked his fifth dinger in the past seven games. Through 18 games for the Cubs, he's hitting .422.
“I think the biggest thing driving my success right now is that I am always getting my 'A' swing off," Hartshorn said Saturday. "I'm letting it fly."
The 19-year-old's 13th homer of the year came in the eighth inning on Sunday. From the left side, Hartshorn teed off on the first pitch of the at-bat against Jawilme Ramírez (Cardinals), pounding the ball off the outfield scoreboard. The solo tater capped a 3-for-4 afternoon in which he collected two RBIs, two runs and a walk.
For his 12th roundtripper of the season in Saturday's 6-4 victory, Hartshorn squared off against right-hander Jacob Odle (STL No. 13), working the count to 2-2. Choking up slightly on the bat, the switch-hitter got a slider on the inner third and proceeded to blast the two-strike offering over the wall in right. This season, he’s batting .316 when hitting left-handed.
"Every at-bat I take left-handed, I choke up just a touch to feel that little counterbalance," said Hartshorn. "With two strikes, I try to let the fastball get a bit deeper, so I can maybe go oppo with it and still catch the offspeed."
Hartshorn also cited his switch from a leg kick as an amateur to a toe tap as a pro as a reason behind his results from the left-handed batter's box.
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The latest shot by the New York native pushed his RBI total to 53, fiving him 28 in only 18 games at High-A. Not surprisingly, Hartshorn has proven lethal in at-bats with runners in scoring position this season. With South Bend, he's gone 7-for-13 in such situations with a 1.642 OPS and 18 RBIs.
"At this level, pitchers are in the zone more and I feel like I can be more aggressive," he said. "I also know that with better pitchers at this level, if I see a mistake, I have to hit it because they won’t come back with that same mistake again."
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The sixth-round pick from the 2025 Draft ranks in the top five among qualified High-A hitters in OPS (1.33), slugging percentage (.859), hits (27) and total bases (55) in the time since his promotion.
Along with the gaudy power and run production numbers, Hartshorn has maintained his exceptional plate discipline, walking 42 times to 41 punchouts.
"Growing up, I always swung at everything in BP, which helped me understand what I can and can't drive. Or what I can foul off or can't foul off," Hartshorn said. "For me, the strike zone isn't necessarily the swing zone. Instead of worrying about ball or strike, it’s more about if I can or can’t drive it."