This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian's Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. Subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CHICAGO -- The Cubs believe their farm system is reaching a place where it can offer real depth for the Major League roster, while developing key pieces to the long-term vision for the organization. That process is underway with all four full-season affiliates opening their respective seasons.

With that in mind, Pipeline expert Jim Callis and I decided to highlight some players to watch at each level. Now, everyone knows to watch Pipeline’s top-ranked trio of Pete Crow-Armstrong, Kevin Alcántara and Brennen Davis. Names like Matt Mervis, Cade Horton and Jordan Wicks also feel like obvious picks.

Callis and I opted to peer a bit farther down the Top 30 list for the Cubs (and off the board in a few spots). Here are our picks for some prospects to keep a close eye on as the Minor League season gets rolling.

TRIPLE-A IOWA

Callis’ pick: RHP Caleb Kilian
Top 30 ranking: No. 18

Will the real Caleb Kilian please stand up? Is he the guy who led the Minors in K/BB ratio (8.6) and dominated the Arizona Fall League in 2021 -- when he was part of the Kris Bryant trade with the Giants -- or the guy whose stuff and control regressed significantly last year? When he's right, he pounds the strike zone and his fastball, curveball and cutter are all solid or better offerings.

Bastian’s pick: RHP Cam Sanders
Top 30 ranking: Not ranked

True, Sanders is outside Pipeline’s Top 30 list for the North Siders, but the righty could position himself to crack the MLB bullpen this summer. Sanders – son of former Cubs pitcher Scott Sanders – went back to relief work last year and has been opening eyes. In spring, he was up to 98-99 mph with his heater, and racked up 10 strikeouts in seven innings. If Sanders can keep his command in order, Chicago could come calling.

DOUBLE-A TENNESSEE

Callis’ pick: OF Owen Caissie
Top 30 ranking: No. 13

Easily the top prospect in the 2020 Yu Darvish deal with the Padres, Caissie offers some of the best raw power in the system and a solid arm that fits nicely in right field. Already in Double-A at 20, he comes with plenty of upside, but also needs to make more contact, solve left-handed pitching and learn to pull and lift more pitches.

Bastian’s pick: RHP Ben Brown
Top 30 ranking: No. 8

Acquired from the Phillies last summer for veteran reliever David Robertson, the 23-year-old Brown opened his ’23 campaign with four no-hit innings. The 6-foot-6 righty is on the 40-man roster for Chicago and made two appearances (four strikeouts, one walk in four innings) before heading to the Minors. Brown leans heavily on a fastball-curve mix, but is working to add a changeup to continue to enhance his profile as a starter.

HIGH-A SOUTH BEND

Callis’ pick: INF James Triantos
Top 30 ranking: No. 12

Triantos' bat-to-ball skills garnered comparisons to Alex Bregman and David Wright when he was an amateur, though there are questions about his power and his defensive ability after his first full pro season in 2022. He produced a lot of ground-ball contact and pedestrian exit velocities at the plate while lacking range and throwing accuracy at third base. The Cubs think he could be better at second base, but his 2023 season won't begin until May after he tore the meniscus in his right knee during Spring Training and required surgery.

Bastian’s pick: 1B Haydn McGeary
Top 30 ranking: Not ranked

In the 15th round of the ’22 Draft, the Cubs took a big swing on McGeary, who put up video game numbers for Colorado Mesa University. The 6-foot-4 slugger had a .481/.579/1.061 slash line with 35 homers in 57 games in his last collegiate campaign. No, there are no typos there. It will be fun to see what the 23-year-old McGeary can do in his first full pro season as the Cubs work to develop some homegrown power bats.

SINGLE-A MYRTLE BEACH

Callis’ pick: INF Pedro Ramirez
Top 30 ranking: No. 22

Ramirez has flown under the radar since signing for $75,000 out of Venezuela in 2021, but that may change when he spends his first full year in full-season ball. He's a switch-hitter with advanced bat-to-ball skills for a teenager, plus speed and solid defense at second base.

Bastian’s pick: SS Cristian Hernández
Top 30 ranking: No. 10

Signed out of the Dominican Republic for a bonus of $3 million prior to the ‘21 season, Hernández is with his first full-season affiliate after stops in the Arizona Complex League (’22) and Dominican Summer League (’21). When he was signed, the shortstop drew comparisons to a young Manny Machado and Alex Rodriguez, and Hernández ranked as high as No. 3 on Pipeline’s Cubs list.