Under the Radar Prospects: Cubs

The Chicago Cubs are the subjects of this week's installment of under the radar prospects

It’s been nearly a decade since the Cubs won their first World Series championship in over 100 years. A team that was led by a core group of players developed within their farm system. Long gone are the days of Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, but Cubs fans are hoping the next wave of prospects can bring back postseason glory. The five players listed below aren’t considered the top prospects in the Cubs system (for now), but they could very well develop into key pieces that contribute at the major league level.

Brett Bateman, OF - Chicago Cubs

With a 5’10”, 170 pound frame, Brett Bateman doesn’t put up dazzling slugging numbers, but he knows how to get on base — making him an ideal player at the top of the lineup. Once he gets on base, he has the speed to make swiping bases routine. His speed and good instincts in the outfield also help him to be a plus defender. In addition to his athleticism and speed, what allows Bateman to standout as a prospect is an incredible contact ability. He rarely swings and misses, and draws a high percentage of walks. During his brief first season as a professional in which he accumulated 141 plate appearances, he whiffed on just 3.7% of the pitches that he saw; easily the lowest rate in the Cubs system and 6th lowest in all of the minor leagues (min. 130 PA). Overall, over the course of the season, Bateman hit .283 / .418 / .310; his .418 OBP was the 4th best in the Cubs system. Despite his ability to get on base, just 3 of his 32 hits went for extra bases. Of course, for Bateman to succeed, he is going to have to showcase that his ability to get on-base continues as he reaches higher levels and faces stiffer competition.

Pedro Ramirez, 2B/3B - Chicago Cubs

An international signee from 2021 class, Pedro Ramirez is a switch hitting middle infielder that has excellent speed and an excellent ability to make contact at the plate. Ramirez torched the Dominican Summer League and then obliterated the Complex League before finally stumbling once he reached Single-A in 2022.