MLB Pipeline announces their Top 30 Cubs prospects

Can you handle yet another Cubs prospects ranking? Because MLB Pipeline, the official prospect site of MLB.com, released their list of the Top 30 Cubs Prospects for 2021 (and every other team, for that matter).

Their list is as follows:

1. Brailyn Marquez LHP
2. Brennen Davis OF
3. Miguel Amaya C
4. Christian Hernandez SS
5. Ed Howard SS
6. Kohl Franklin RHP
7. Adbert Alzolay RHP
8. Christopher Morel 3B
9. Ryan Jensen RHP
10. Chase Strumpf 2B
11. Reginald Preciado SS
12. Owen Caissie OF
13. Cole Roederer OF
14. Yohendrick Pinango OF
15. Keegan Thompson RHP
16. Corey Abbott RHP
17. Riley Thompson RHP
18. Burl Carraway LHP
19. Kevin Made SS
20. Yeison Santana SS
21. Rafael Morel SS
22. Chris Clarke RHP
23. Ethan Hearn C
24. Ronnier Quintero C
25. Ismael Mena OF
26. Luis Robert Verdugo SS
27. Michael McAvene RHP
28. Jordan Nwogu OF
29. D.J. Herz LHP
30. Brendon Little LHP

Probably every name on that list should be familiar to you already if you’ve been following the previous prospect lists. MLB Pipeline included the recently-signed Cristian Hernandez out of the Dominican Republic in their top five. Also included are all four prospects the Cubs received in the Yu Darvish trade, with Preciado as the highest-ranked prospect at number eleven and Mena as the lowest ranked of the four at twenty-five.

Both Morel brothers were ranked.

MLB Pipeline also included a roundup of the Cubs Top 30 list in which they discussed the state of the system and which players had the top tools in the system.

A few highlights from that article include:

• An “80” ranking for Brailyn Marquez’s fastball, the highest rating possible.
• The rise of Yohendrick Pinango, who at 55 whose left-handed bat was rated as having the best hit tool in the system. (Several others were given 55 as well, but Pinango was ranked as the best of those given that grade.) Pinango was also the fastest riser in the system after having been unranked before last season.
• Howard was ranked as the best glove in the system with a grade of 60, despite not having played an official professional game yet.
• The newly-acquired Mena has the top speed grade of 70.

So check out the list and the accompanying article. As the piece notes, most of this talent is a few years away from Wrigley, but there are several potential impact players on this list that should keep the Cubs’ future bright throughout the twenties and beyond.