Pedro Ramirez surges to the second spot while teenage sensation Josiah Hartshorn leaps over established names, fueled by elite contact rates and surprising power across the farm.
Prospect rankings are always changing.
ESPN recently updated each team’s top 10 prospects after the first month. With Moises Ballesteros officially graduating from prospect status, there was some significant movement for the Chicago Cubs on ESPN’s latest ranking.
Here’s the updated Cubs top 10 prospects on ESPN:
- Jaxon Wiggins, RHP
- Pedro Ramirez, 3B
- Jefferson Rojas, SS
- Ethan Conrad, OF
- Josiah Hartshorn, OF
- Kevin Alcantara, OF
- Kane Kepley, OF
- Jonathon Long, 1B
- Cole Mathis, 3B
- James Triantos, 2B
So, who were the biggest risers on this prospect list? Let’s take a look.
Pedro Ramirez
It’s not a surprise to see Ramirez climbing up Minor League rankings. ESPN previously listed him as the Cubs’ No. 4 prospect, but he is now up to No. 2 in their latest rankings. His rise to the No. 2 spot is in large part due to his strong start to the 2026 season.
Ramirez is currently batting .300 with eight home runs, seven doubles, one triple, 31 RBI, and 11 stolen bases across 30 games with the Iowa Cubs. He owns a .948 OPS and has an elite zone-contact rate (92.6%) and swinging strike rate (6.9%) to begin the year.
The 22-year-old also continues to play above-average defense at third base. He won the 2025 Rawlings Minor League Gold Glove award back at Double-A last season and continues to make highlight reel plays at the hot corner.
Josiah Hartshorn
The biggest prospect riser in the top 10 in ESPN’s rankings is Hartshorn. He was previously ranked No. 9 in the Cubs' farm system and now finds himself at the No. 5 spot. The 19-year-old is now ranked higher than Kevin Alcantara by ESPN.
Hartshorn was selected in the sixth round of the 2025 MLB Draft. After not appearing in any Minor League games last year, the California native has posted solid all-around numbers in his first taste of Single-A ball this season.
He is slashing .262/.427/.429 with three home runs, three doubles, one triple, 13 RBI, and three stolen bases across 23 games for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Hartshorn has totaled more walks (23) than strikeouts (17) to start the season and has the hitting tools to continue to rise up prospect rankings.
Cole Mathis
The biggest shock in ESPN’s prospect rankings is third baseman Cole Mathis having a spot inside the top 10. Mathis was not previously ranked in the Cubs’ top 10 prospect rankings, but ESPN has moved him to the No. 9 slot in this update.
Mathis was selected in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft. Although he only played in 29 Single-A games due to Tommy John Surgery last year, the 22-year-old has shown some encouraging things in the Minors this season.
He is batting .261 with seven home runs, eight doubles, one triple, 23 RBI, and five stolen bases across 25 games. Mathis was also recently promoted from Single-A to High-A, showing just how impressive his start to the season has been.