Moises Ballesteros – Pic by Todd Johnson

I am a little stunned, to be honest.

When MLB Pipeline releases their top 100 list in early March, I am expecting the Cubs to have 6 or 7 players on that list. That’s well within the realm of possibility.

Today, though, that realm was obliterated as Baseball Prospectus placed nine Cubs on their top 101 Prospect List! Nine!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here’s who is on there:

PCA is first at 20 followed by Matt Shaw at 21. Cade Horton is not too far behind at 27. Those three look like they are going to be a tier unto themselves until they reach Chicago. By all accounts, that should be this summer.

Then the second wave of players pops up in the sixties.

Owen Caissie kicks it off at 65 closely followed by Michael Busch at 71. Kevin Alcantara is back on at 80 while Moises Ballesteros debuts at 84. James Triantos gets some love at 91 and Jordan Wicks rounds it out at 94. While Wicks will likely graduate this spring at some point, this tier of guys is going to be the second wave of players to Chicago. Busch could be there opening day, but Caissie, Alcantara, Ballesteros, and Triantos are still possibilities to arrive in the next year or so.

That my friends is some serious depth!

All this list does is make me curious to see how others at ESPN, The Athletic, and Pipeline rank the Cubs this winter and whether those publications will follow suit or be a little conservative. Then again, depending on the current talent acquisition cycle, some of these players might be used to go out and acquire MLB talent. We shall see what happens.

It’s going to be an exciting winter and spring to follow Cub prospects! Stay tuned!