Wrigleyville Prospect Weekly: Rojas Turns Up The Heat In Tennessee, Cubs Welcome Some New Prospects To The Organization
By Reed Kubiak ·
Jefferson Rojas Is Making Tennessee Feel Like A Launchpad
Jefferson Rojas (AA, SS, Rank: 2) spent this week doing the thing that pushes shortstops out of the “future guy” bucket and into real depth-chart conversations. Multi-hit nights have become routine, with a stack of games featuring loud contact to both gaps, fewer empty swings, and a line that now looks comfortably like an above-average Double-A bat instead of a teenager hanging on. The box lines match the visual: more balls squared in the air, fewer emergency swings, and enough impact that pitchers are starting to work him like a middle-of-the-order piece instead of a curiosity.
The story here is not a single blow-up series, it is the way the at-bats have settled. Rojas is seeing velocity without flinching, staying on spin deep in counts, and trimming chase in the zones that used to bother him, especially glove-side breaking stuff and fastballs elevated off the plate. The swing remains geared for line drives, but he is getting to damage more often because the swing decisions have tightened; there is less early-count roll-over and more patient hunting for pitches he can drive. That shift is what nudges a 2027 arrival into a real, not hypothetical, discussion.
MLB Draft
The MLB Draft has concluded, and the Cubs have welcomed some new prospects into the organization. I will highlight the Cubs' first four picks and provide insights on each player.
Pick #23 Cade Townsend
Heading into the draft, my primary focus was on the Cubs' need for college pitchers. I am pleased they addressed this by selecting someone with promising potential. Townsend offers a five-pitch mix with impressive breaking balls. Both his slider and curveball are graded at 60, and he has a cutter also graded at 60, alongside a fastball graded at 55 that sits between 94 and 97 mph. While his fastball is effective, it is occasionally hit hard, so improving its placement will be crucial. His changeup is an average pitch with a 50 grade. Townsend experienced some control issues in college, but his command has improved each year. Overall, I am excited about the potential of this pick. Townsend will require some development, but this selection indicates the Cubs are moving in a positive direction.
Pick #62 Caden Sorrell
Ultimately, the Cubs secured a college bat with their second-round pick. Sorrell is known for his power, often aiming to launch balls to his pull side. However, this aggressive approach can lead to issues, as he frequently gets under pitches, chases too often, and misses fastballs in the zone. Despite these challenges, when he makes contact, the impact is significant. The Cubs' development team will need to refine his approach without diminishing his power, but his offensive potential is promising. Defensively, he is reliable, with a strong arm being his standout attribute. He fits well in right field. Overall, this is a solid pick, especially at #62, with considerable upside given his draft position.
Pick #75 Myles Bailey
Myles Bailey, with his imposing 6'4", 250-pound frame, is another promising addition to the Cubs' organization who crushes the baseball. A formidable hitter, Bailey requires a refined approach at the plate. Although he strikes out frequently, he offsets this somewhat with a decent walk rate. However, his strikeouts significantly exceed his walks. Primarily projected as a first baseman, Bailey is an athletic player who has also covered the corner outfield and third base in college. His standout tool is his 65-grade power, making him a high-ceiling, low-floor pick. If Bailey can reduce his strikeouts while maintaining his power, he could become an exceptional hitter, though achieving this balance will be challenging.
Pick #98 Carson Jasa
Jasa, like Townsend, possesses impressive breaking pitches but needs to develop his fastball. His slider and curveball were heavily utilized this year, with opponents managing only 6 hits in 111 at-bats and striking out 81 times against his curveball, showcasing its dominance. However, Jasa's fastball was frequently hit and resulted in significant hard contact. Additionally, his changeup requires considerable improvement, as he struggles to consistently locate it in the strike zone. Overall, this is a promising pick, with Jasa having the necessary talent; the focus now should be on refining his fastball and enhancing his changeup.
I like the selections the Cubs made in this draft. They chose college hitters with significant potential who require some refinement, along with pitchers possessing strong secondary offerings needing fastball development. This strategy is commendable, as the fastball is the easiest pitch to refine and master. Overall, I view this draft as a success; the next step is for the development teams to cultivate these players' talents.
Quick Hits
James Triantos (AAA, 2B, Rank: 10) stacked a .500/.591/.778 line across five games, going 9-for-18 with two doubles, one homer, four walks, and just one strikeout. That run fits his profile: a contact bat with a 55–60 hit tool who gets on base, adds some gap impact, and keeps the ball in play against upper-level arms.
Jonathon Long (AAA, 1B, Rank: 6) put up a .375/.500/.688 week with three doubles and a homer, showing the familiar power-contact blend that underpins his projection as a potential second-division regular at first. The swing remained on time, and the extra-base damage is exactly what he needs to keep nudging for a look beyond organizational depth.
Brett Bateman (AAA, OF, Rank: 28) leaned into his table-setter skill set, posting a .444 average and .524 OBP over four games with three walks, a triple, and a steal. It was another reminder that his value comes from elite speed, disciplined swing decisions, and steady on-base ability rather than traditional corner-outfield power.
Will Sanders (AAA, RHP, Rank: 21) quietly posted three innings with one hit, three strikeouts, and two walks. The fastball-splitter combo did the work again, and outings like this support the view that he could settle into back-of-the-rotation or bulk relief duties if the command ticks up half a grade.
Grant Kipp (AAA, RHP, Rank: 12) gave Iowa three innings of one-run ball with a single hit allowed, one walk, and one strikeout, leaning on his deep mix rather than overpowering stuff. The performance fits his path as a pitchability right-hander whose slider, curve, and change shape a potential #5 starter or long-relief look if the fastball and command hold.
Jostin Florentino (A+, RHP, Rank: 23) showed the usual slider-driven profile in four innings of one-run ball, striking out six and walking one while giving up a solo homer among two hits. The fastball stayed modest, but the breaking ball once again looked like a carrying pitch for future swingman or long-relief work.
Ethan Flanagan (A+, LHP, Rank: 20) matched Florentino’s length with four scoreless innings, seven strikeouts, and two hits allowed. For a left-handed arm with below-average fastball characteristics but steady command, a K-heavy line like that is exactly the sort of signal that keeps the back-end starter or long-man outcome on the table.
Jaims Martinez (R, SS, Rank: 40) delivered a breakout three-game stretch, going 6-for-10 with a homer, five RBIs, three walks, and no strikeouts for a 1.592 OPS. That performance overlays neatly with his scouting file as a switch-hitting shortstop: plus speed, contact ability, and a mature approach that lets him live on base while the power slowly catches up.