Cubs Minor League Update: 1 Prospect Makes Debut, 1 Promoted to Triple-A

· Yahoo Sports

The Chicago Cubs are making moves down in their Minor League system. 

This is usually the point in the season when teams promote prospects to higher levels. There are only about two months left in the Minor League season, and teams likely want to see how younger prospects handle a tougher level down the stretch. 

Visit mchezo.life for more information.

In this Minor League update, we look at two significant things that have happened recently down on the farm. Cubs’ No. 4 prospect Ethan Conrad recently made his professional debut, and Cubs’ No. 8 prospect Owen Ayers was promoted to Triple-A.  

Ethan Conrad 

After almost one year to the day that the Cubs drafted him 17th overall, outfielder Ethan Conrad finally made his professional debut. He made his first Minor League appearance with the ACL Cubs on June 30. 

Conrad hit the ball well in his first five professional games at rookie ball before being promoted to Single-A Myrtle Beach on July 9. The 22-year-old went 7-for-17 with one home run, two RBI, and one stolen base in those five contests. 

The Cubs’ No. 4 prospect is now looking to do damage with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. He hit a towering home run off a lefty in just his third career game at Single-A. 

It has no doubt been a rough start to Conrad's professional career. He was recovering from a torn labrum last year and injured his back before the 2026 season began. But it’s nice to see him finally healthy.  

Conrad will likely spend the rest of this season in Single-A. However, we shouldn’t put it past the Cubs to promote him to High-A in September if all goes well. 

Owen Ayers

There has been no better hitter in the Cubs’ farm system this season than Owen Ayers. The switch-hitting catcher is slashing .315/.427/.634 with 22 home runs, 19 doubles, 62 RBI, and six stolen bases across 76 combined games at High-A and Double-A in 2026. 

Ayers has looked like a completely different hitter at the plate this season and is finally breaking out in his third Minor League campaign. These strong numbers come after the 25-year-old hit only .238 with six home runs and 47 RBI in 65 games at Single-A a season ago. 

Considering Ayers is on the older side, the Cubs have wasted no time in fast-tracking his promotion. The organization promoted him from High-A to Double-A on April 21 and just recently promoted him to Triple-A on July 13. 

If Ayers posts elite numbers with the Iowa Cubs over the next seven weeks, there’s a chance he could be a September call-up. He had a 167 wRC+, 25.7% pull air rate, and a .287 ISO at Double-A this season.

Read full story at source