In this episode with Greg Huss and Greg Zumach, the guys run through nine prospects that might get added to the 40-man roster and protected from the Rule 5 Draft.

Riley Martin
James Triantos
JP Wheat
Brandon Birdsell
Erian Rodriguez
Connor Noland
Cristian Hernandez
Pedro Ramirez
Grant Kipp

They end the show by making their predictions for who will be protected.

Welcome into another edition of the Chicago Cubs Prospects Award Show! This year, Greg Huss, Greg Zumach, and Bryan Smith hand out 20 awards and superlatives. Whether you are looking for the Hitter of the Year or the best fastball in the system, you can find it in this episode!

Greg Huss and Bryan Smith recap the seasons of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Knoxville Smokies, and Iowa Cubs by handing out an MVP, Cy Young, and Most Improved Player award at each of the affiliates that wrapped up or are wrapping up their seasons. Like last week with South Bend, the guys dig into plenty of players, with multiple guys making their case to bring home some hardware.

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss:

• Running through the 7 players reportedly being assigned to the Arizona Fall League
• Recapping the South Bend Cubs season by handing out MVP, Cy Young, and Most Improved Player awards (and the runners-up)
• Now that he has made it to Triple-A, how likely is it we see Jaxon Wiggins in Chicago this season?

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss and Greg Zumach:

• Kane Kepley's outrageously hot stretch
• Just how impressive is Myrtle Beach's 2nd half?
• Cristian Hernandez stolen bases compared to John Andreoli and Tony Campana
• Brandon Birdsell's elbow surgery
• Who are the prospects we are glad the Cubs didn't trade?
• Comparing Cubs prospect rankings from preseason 2024 to now to explain why the system is down so much

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss and Iowa Cubs broadcaster Jason Kempf:

• Iowa having a dedicated beat writer
• Biggest differences between working in Single-A vs. Triple-A
• The vibes in the Iowa clubhouse during the trade deadline
• This season's progression of James Triantos and Kevin Alcantara
• Who should win this year's Cubs minor league hitter of the year award? Moises Ballesteros, Owen Caissie, or Jonathon Long?
• The revolving door that is a Triple-A pitching staff
• Similarities between Connor Noland and Will Sanders
• Impact of veteran guys in the clubhouse like Carlos Perez, Dixon Machado, and Caleb Knight

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss and Bryan Smith:

• Owen Caissie made his MLB debut. What does this stint in the bigs look like?
• Prospects that are most likely to be next up on an MLB Top 100 list
• Listener questions about the pitchers that could help the MLB team next year, lower level pitching prospects, and hitters that could jump up multiple levels in the next year.

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss and Bryan Smith:

• Ariel Armas is hotter than any hitter in affiliated baseball
• First impressions of Kade Snell in South Bend and Kane Kepley in Myrtle Beach
• Five hot Birds: Ty Southisene, Angel Cepeda, Matt Halbach, Alexey Lumpuy, and Christian Olivo
• What prospects should be promoted to end the season?
• A three-way battle between Owen Caissie, Jonathon Long, and Moises Ballesteros for Cubs minor league hitter of the year

Greg Huss goes solo immediately following the conclusion of the MLB Trade Deadline to react to the Cubs moves from a prospect perspective. He breaks down the four Cubs trades and analyzes the state of the system now that they are complete.

• Christian Franklin and Ronny Cruz for Mike Soroka
• Wilfri de la Cruz for Andrew Kittredge
• Ivan Brethowr for Taylor Rogers
• Ryan Gallagher and Sam Armstrong for Willi Castro

Greg Huss recently updated his Cubs Top 30 Prospects List, and Brendan Miller joins him on this episode to walk through the rankings, starting with Owen Caissie and Moises Ballesteros at the top.

Find the full rankings here: https://outofthevines.wordpress.com/2025/07/17/updating-my-prospect-list-ahead-of-the-mlb-trade-deadline/

Join Greg Huss, Greg Zumach, and Bryan Smith as they run through each and every one of the Cubs' 20 draft picks from the 2025 MLB Draft and what they liked and disliked about the team's draft strategy.

Join Greg Huss and Greg Zumach as they preview the 2025 MLB Draft by first taking a look back on recent drafts the Cubs have completed under Dan Kantrovitz's team. The guys then detail 9 different players the Cubs could select in the first round and a few additional deep cuts for later rounds.

Greg Huss and Bryan Smith walk through 17 players on a midseason all-star team of Cubs prospects and tack on some honorable mentions for good measure. Lots of big names in this episode including Jaxon Wiggins, Owen Caissie, Cristian Hernandez, and Moises Ballesteros.

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss and South Bend Cubs broadcaster Brendan King:

• Ryan Gallagher's breakout to Top 20 prospect
• Tyler Schlaffer's impressive run
• Erian Rodriguez's return from injury
• Jaxon Wiggins' utter dominance
• Nick Dean's under-the-radar ascension
• Jefferson Rojas as the organization's top prospect?
• Cristian Hernandez's steady defense
• Carter Trice's do-it-all performance

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss and Bryan Smith:

• Jaxon Wiggins dominance and timeline to Chicago
• Now that both Matt Shaw and Cade Horton have graduated from prospect status, who is the Cubs new #1 prospect between Wiggins, Moises Ballesteros, Owen Caissie, and Jefferson Rojas?
• Why people are experiencing prospect fatigue with Owen Caissie
• Shoutout to lower level prospects Cameron Sisneros, Edgar Alvarez, Jackson Kirkpatrick, and Cole Reynolds

Greg Huss answers listener questions including:

• Who are the next best pitching prospects after Cade Horton?
• How does Jonny Long stack up against his draft mates?
• How high can Jefferson Rojas fly up rankings?
• Which Cubs pitching prospect could be a Top 30 Prospect in baseball?
• Lower-level breakout prospect
• Impact of no Short-Season ball?
• Which prospects could be traded?

NCAA Regionals are wrapped up and the MLB Draft is right around the corner.

Greg Zumach answers listener questions and drops a five round Cubs mock draft.

Topic on this week's episode with Greg Huss and Bryan Smith:

• Moises Ballesteros' role as catcher in Chicago
• Jonny Long is mashing so when will he be called up to Chicago
• Breakout pitchers from last year's draft class: Ryan Gallagher and Brooks Caple
• Movement in the battle for the third best pitching prospect in the system behind Cade Horton and Jaxon Wiggins: Brandon Birdsell, Will Sanders, and Erian Rodriguez

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss:

• Will Sanders performance this week and this season
• Owen Caissie's strikeout rate
• Kevin Alcantara against breaking balls
• Moises Ballesteros' power
• Top offensive performers including Lovich, Sisneros, Rojas, Murray, and Long
• Ivan Brethowr, Jaxon Wiggins, Owen Ayers, and James Triantos

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss and Bryan Smith:

• Cade Horton's MLB debut
• Jaxon Wiggins strong (and unique) performance and why he's ready for a promotion
• James Triantos positional versatility
• Jefferson Rojas and why he's a Top 100 prospect
• Who else is ready for a promotion throughout the system?