Cubs Prospect Posted Unheard-Of Numbers in Second Season

All the talk around the Chicago Cubs farm system this past offseason focused on Josiah Hartshorn and Owen Ayers. 

And for good reason. 

Hartshorn and Ayers were the two biggest risers in the Cubs system in 2026. Hartshorn slashed .284/.407/.518 with 23 home runs, 26 doubles, five triples, 112 RBI, and 17 stolen bases across Single-A, High-A, and Double-A in his first professional season, while Ayers slashed .289/.403/.526 with 25 home runs, 29 doubles, 82 RBI, and 13 stolen bases across 125 games at High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A. 

After those impressive seasons, Hartshorn and Ayers now sit at No. 1 and No. 2 in the Cubs’ prospect rankings on MLB Pipeline. Hartshorn is ranked No. 35 overall, and Ayers comes in at No. 88 overall. 

While those two prospects get all the hype for their incredible 2026 seasons, there was another Cubs prospect who posted unheard-of numbers in his second professional season. 

The Cubs’ No. 5 prospect Kane Kepley posted numbers that fans don’t see every day. The 22-year-old outfielder slashed .243/.422/.401 with 10 home runs, 22 doubles, nine triples, 70 RBI, 120 walks, 127 runs scored, and 70 stolen bases in 125 games at High-A and Double-A. 

Those numbers might not seem special, but a deeper look shows Kepley accomplished some things that haven’t been done in quite some time. MLB Pipeline recently highlighted his season in an article that looked at one eye-opening stat from each farm system in 2026. 

Kepley’s 127 runs scored were the most in a Minor League season since 2019, and his 120 walks were the most in a Minor League season since 2015. The young prospect also led all Minor Leaguers in stolen bases this past year. 

The Cubs selected Kepley in the second round of the 2025 MLB Draft. He quickly made his professional debut shortly after being drafted and batted .299 wth two home runs, one double, three triples, 15 RBI, and 16 stolen bases in the final 28 games of the 2025 season. 

Kepley then put together a solid 2026 campaign. At the Double-A level, the lefty-swinging outfielder had an elite 16% strikeout rate, 16.7% walk rate, 16.6% chase rate, 12.3% whiff rate, 9.51 speed, 91.1% zone-contact rate, and a 4.1% swinging strike rate. 

The 22-year-old will likely begin the 2027 season with Double-A Knoxville. If he continues to progress as a hitter, he could be promoted to Triple-A by early summer.