Cubs Promoting Top Prospect Josiah Hartshorn To Double-A

The Chicago Cubs are promoting their top prospect to Double-A Knoxville. 

Chase Ford reports that the Cubs are promoting Josiah Hartshorn to Double-A. The fastest-rising prospect in Chicago’s organization will now get some meaningful reps at Double-A before the end of the season. 

It has been a memorable first professional season for Hartshorn. The Cubs selected him in the sixth round of the 2025 MLB Draft, and the young 19-year-old has raked the ball in his first taste of the minors in 2026. 

Hartshorn started the season down at Single-A Myrtle Beach. He slashed .273/.424/.460 with five home runs, nine doubles, one triple, 25 RBI, and four stolen bases in his first 39 games there before being promoted to High-A in late May. 

While it takes most young prospects some time to get going at a new level, Hartshorn immediately made an impact with the South Bend Cubs. He slashed .293/.355/.587 with seven home runs, four doubles, one triple, and 25 RBI in his first month at the High-A level. 

Those strong offensive numbers then continued into July and August. Hartshorn slashed .256/.393/.453 with two home runs, five doubles, three triples, and 26 RBI in July, and slashed .333/.453/.595 with six home runs, four doubles, and 20 RBI in August. 

Hartshorn even had some big-time offensive games in the first few weeks of September. He went 2-for-3 with a home run on September 1 against Cedar Rapids and then went 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI on September 6. 

It makes sense why the Cubs decided to promote Hartshorn to Double-A at this point in the year. The South Bend Cubs’ season just ended earlier this week, and the Double-A season will begin its playoffs next week. Hartshorn will be able to get some solid at-bats in a playoff atmosphere at the next level. 

The Cubs’ No. 1 prospect has exceeded all expectations in his first professional season. He has a current .289/.411/.528 slash line with 23 home runs, 26 doubles, five triples, 110 RBI, and 16 stolen bases across 122 combined games at Single-A and High-A this year. 

Hartshorn will end the 2026 campaign at Double-A Knoxville and will likely begin the 2027 season at that same level. If he continues to develop nicely at the plate, the switch-hitting outfielder could be called up to the big leagues as soon as late next season. 

The Cubs seemed to have hit a home run by selecting Hartshorn in last year’s draft. He is projected to be the team’s outfielder of the future.