Wrigleyville Prospect Weekly: Ayers, Hartshorn & Rojas Stay Hot and Rising Pitchers in the Organization

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Wrigleyville Prospect Weekly: Ayers, Hartshorn & Rojas Stay Hot and Rising Pitchers in the Organization

Owen Ayers Is Hitting His Way Out Of “Org Catcher” Labels

Owen Ayers (AA, C, Rank: 21) just ran one of those weeks that makes a front office re-open the catching depth chart file. Over seven games he went 15-for-28 with seven doubles, a homer, eight RBIs, four walks and a hit-by-pitch, good for a .536/.606/.893 line and a 1.499 OPS. That is not a random hot streak layered on top of a light track record; it stacks on a season-long body of work where he is now at .326/.438/.679 with 17 home runs and 50 RBIs in 235 plate appearances across South Bend and Knoxville, walking 36 times against 58 strikeouts while carrying a .383 BABIP that is high but not screaming unsustainable for a switch-hitting catcher lifting the ball and living in the gaps.

The interesting part is how closely this looks like the optimistic end of his 80Grade report playing out in real time. Ayers came in as a bat-forward, up-down catcher whose path depended on whether the hit tool could inch toward average while the emerging power held. This year the swing decisions have tightened just enough that the natural loft and average raw strength show up as real game damage: he is lifting from both sides, punishing mistakes rather than selling out every swing, and the week’s seven doubles plus homer read like the box-score version of that description. The strikeout rate is still non-trivial and there are going to be stretches where upper-level velocity and sequencing test the bat-to-ball, but at this point you are looking at a 25-year-old switch hitter with legitimate thump, on-base skill, and playable defense carving out something more than “organizational depth” in the internal catching queue.

Hartshorn Keeps Treating South Bend Like A Layover, Not A Destination

It feels like every seven-day slice of Josiah Hartshorn’s (A+, OF, Rank: 5) season has a “wait, he did what?” line, and this week was no exception. He logged six games and turned 24 plate appearances into eight hits, four of them home runs, along with two walks, two hit-by-pitches, a sac fly and 11 RBIs, finishing the week at .421/.500/1.053 with a 1.553 OPS. For the year he is now at .316/.436/.578 with 13 homers, 13 doubles and 53 RBIs in 259 plate appearances between Myrtle Beach and South Bend, with 42 walks, 43 strikeouts.

The narrative shift here has happened faster than you usually see for a 19-year-old corner bat. Hartshorn’s file always read like “if the bat maxes, he hits in the middle of a lineup somewhere,” but there was real skepticism about whether the swing from both sides would hold up as the pitching got nastier. Right now he is answering that with a mix of selective aggression and lift: he is hunting pitches he can drive, getting the ball in the air with intent, and still carrying a walk rate that says he is not just ambushing the first strike he sees. There is still plenty to prove against upper-minors arms, and his body and defensive fit are going to keep the margin for error tight, but weeks like this push him more firmly into “future everyday or strong-side platoon bat” territory than “fun lower-level line you squint at.”

Jefferson Rojas Quietly Builds An Everyday Shortstop Resume

While the corner bats were loud, Jefferson Rojas (AA, Shortstop, Rank: 2) spent the week doing what gets infield coordinators and analysts equally happy: steady, high-contact damage without noise. In seven games, he went 14-for-30 with a homer, a double, eight RBIs, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch, achieving a .467/.500/.600 line and a 1.100 OPS while striking out just four times in 32 trips. For the season at Tennessee, he is now at .299/.366/.507 over 227 plate appearances with 10 homers, 11 extra-base hits, nine steals, and a strikeout rate that aligns with what you see in his 80Grade summary.

Rojas’s path was always about stacking competent offensive years while keeping the glove on the left side, and this run nudges the projection from a strong utility player toward someone you can leave at shortstop without worry. He is using the whole field, not selling out for power, and still finding enough pull-side lift to make pitchers respect him. Combined with above-average actions, arm, and range at short, this profile does not need eye-popping exit velocities to matter in a big-league lineup. At 21 in Double-A, a week like this is more about confirming that the underlying approach is translating as the opposition quality climbs.

Another 2025 Draft Pick on the Rise

Pierce Coppola (A, LHP, Rank: 45) is part of a stellar 2025 draft class for the Cubs, and this season he is proving his worth. Last Sunday, he delivered another impressive performance, pitching 4 innings with 1 earned run and 9 strikeouts. So far this season, he has made 7 starts, posting a 2.79 ERA with 41 strikeouts and 15 walks over 29 innings.

What contributes to his success? Coppola's towering 6-foot-8 frame and high three-quarters arm slot make his fastball intimidating. The pitch consistently reaches the low to mid-90s, and his height gives it the appearance of even greater speed, making it his most reliable offering despite lacking exceptional velocity or movement. This leads to significant swing-and-miss rates at lower levels, with a 35.3% strikeout rate that may not translate to higher levels.His fastball-slider combination is particularly effective, and he occasionally mixes in a curveball. His imposing frame further enhances this pitch mix.

Another factor contributing to his success is his limited innings; he averages about four innings per start, giving hitters minimal time to adjust, which plays to his advantage. This approach aligns with the Cubs' strategy to gradually introduce him to his first professional season.

However, given his injury history, Coppola's chances of becoming a full-time starter appear slim. While his outings are short, he is dominant. If he can refine his pitch arsenal and extend his outings beyond 4 innings, he holds strong starter potential. Nonetheless, whether as a reliever or a starter, his future looks promising.

AA Pitcher Quietly Excelling This Season

Brooks Caple (AA, RHP, Rank: 12) is having an impressive season across High-A and AA. He currently holds a 2.58 ERA, with 57 strikeouts and only 13 walks over 52.1 innings. This marks a significant improvement from last year's 4.48 ERA, 74 strikeouts, and 43 walks in 98.1 innings. In his latest outing on Sunday, he pitched five innings, allowing no earned runs on two hits.

His success can be attributed to an increase in strikeout rate and a decrease in walk rate. His strikeout rate has risen by over 10%, while his walk rate has decreased by just under 4%. This improvement likely stems from enhanced control and confidence in his fastball, which he effectively places in the zone. While his fastball gets him strikes, it's his slider, a plus pitch since college, that generates chases and whiffs. He's using it more confidently as he gains more opportunities to employ it.

Though his primary pitches are the fastball and slider, Caple is developing three other notable pitches. The most important is the changeup, which, if thrown consistently, could be crucial to his future success. He also has a cutter and a curveball, which, though not yet fully developed or frequently used, could enhance his arsenal later. These pitches will take a backseat to the changeup, which remains his top development priority.

Despite the lower walk rates, the Cubs organization needs to monitor his command to prevent it from becoming problematic as it was before. Additionally, his inability to pitch deep into games is likely due to his reliance on just two pitches, allowing experienced hitters to exploit this.

Brooks Caple has a promising future with the Cubs organization and is enjoying a strong season. However, the next step involves making sure his command stays in check and focusing on developing his changeup into a reliable offering.

MLB Draft

Logan Reddemann stands out as one of the more polished and promising pitchers in this draft. His fastball-changeup combination is a formidable weapon at the Major League level. In addition, he possesses a cutter, slider, and curveball, each showing potential.

His strikeout ability is exceptional. Despite pitching only 59.2 innings, he recorded 84 strikeouts, resulting in a remarkable 12.7 K/9 at UCLA this season before experiencing arm fatigue in April. He even matched the single-game strikeout record at UCLA with 18 strikeouts over 8 innings against Rutgers.

Reddemann also demonstrates excellent command, maintaining a career walk rate of just 2 BB/9 over three college seasons. While this is promising alongside his strikeout numbers, it raises some concerns. His low walk rate and high strikeouts suggest he frequently challenges hitters in the zone. He often uses a high fastball followed by his changeup, a strategy that may not be as effective against seasoned hitters in the minors.

Additionally, he needs to focus on refining one of his two breaking balls. If one becomes an above-average pitch, he could have mid-rotation potential. If they remain average or below, he might settle into a back-end rotation role or even a relief position.

I would be thrilled with this pick. Reddemann needs minimal development and is already a highly skilled pitcher. Even if his breaking ball doesn't fully develop, he has the potential to advance quickly through the minors. He could potentially reach the majors by 2029, with 2027 as his first full season and 2028 as pivotal years in AAA or AA. This timeline assumes he remains injury-free, which is a significant concern since he has been out for two months due to what is reported as arm fatigue. There's some skepticism regarding his health, but when he's fit, he is an outstanding pitcher. Overall, he's an exciting prospect, and there's much to look forward to if the Cubs select him in this year's draft, assuming they aren't overly concerned about his injury history.

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