As confirmed and announced by ESPN after the head coach and also the club website announced it on their official website 4 minutes ago, after a $98.6 million 4-year contract deal that was reported to have failed the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates for the franchise right fielder, it was confirmed and announced 10 minutes ago by the Chicago Cubs legendary manager that the franchise has formally terminated his just-signed contract extension for $92.7 million over 3 years with the Chicago Cubs, as per ESPN. It confirmed that the franchise right fielder officially terminated his contract in favor of him to join the Pittsburgh Pirates due to…
Here’s where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise.
Now it’s time for the rest of the organizations to finalize their 26-man rosters ahead of Opening Day. Top 10 prospects Dylan Crews (No. 4), Jackson Jobe (No. 5) and Kristian Campbell (No. 7) — along with Sasaki — lead the 10 players on the Top 100 prospects list who will be in big league clubhouses on Thursday.
Another player in that group will be Cam Smith (No. 58), who surpassed the Rangers’ Wyatt Langford as the third-quickest hitter to make an Opening Day roster after being drafted. Smith has played just 32 professional games; Langford had played 44 by this time last year.
Looking at the Minor League season — which kicks off on March 28 with Triple-A games — Roman Anthony (No. 2), Jordan Lawlar (No. 11), Marcelo Mayer (No. 12), Samuel Basallo (No. 13), Coby Mayo (No. 14) and Bubba Chandler (No. 15) headline the 30 Top 100 prospects starting at Triple-A while 23 will begin at Double-A, 15 at High-A and 11 at Single-A. Eleven players will begin the season on the Injured List or at extended spring training.
The Double-A, High-A and Single-A seasons will begin on Friday, April 4.
