SAN DIEGO – Standing inside the visitors’ dugout at Petco Park on Monday afternoon, Matt Shaw expressed confidence that he was on the cusp of turning a corner. He believed he had identified a flaw in his offseason training and knew what it would take to get back to being

With the Minor League season opening this week, here's where the Cubs' Top 30 Prospects are projected to start:

1. Matt Shaw (MLB No. 18), INF -- Chicago (MLB)
2. Cade Horton (MLB No. 50), RHP -- Iowa (Triple-A)
3. Owen Caissie (MLB No. 52), OF -- Iowa (Triple-A) 4.

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

TOKYO -- Matt Shaw has been waiting his entire baseball life to hear his name announced on Opening Day. The Cubs rookie had to wait a little longer on Tuesday night, as the Tokyo Series pregame celebration energized the Tokyo Dome crowd. Lights flashed from the wrists of the fans

The last time a rookie claimed the Cubs’ third-base job, he was a first-round pick who reached Wrigley Field after just one full season in the Minors. Kris Bryant worked out pretty well, winning National League Rookie of the Year honors in 2015 followed by the NL MVP Award and

TOKYO -- Stepping foot inside the historic Tokyo Dome was a new experience for most of the Cubs’ players this weekend. That was not the case for Matt Shaw, who arrived at the famous ballpark already having witnessed the passionate fans who fill the place and spike the decibel level.

MESA, Ariz. -- The thing about jaguars is, you don’t want to see one when it’s hungry. So when Cubs legend Sammy Sosa spoke to the organization’s No. 6 prospect per MLB Pipeline -- and the No. 89 prospect overall -- the former slugger gave him some apt advice. “His

MESA, Ariz. -- An unfortunately-timed storm washed away the Cubs’ Spring Breakout showcase a year ago, leading to a group of prospects heading to the Sloan Park concourse to sign autographs for fans. This spring, the North Siders looked forward to showing off one of baseball’s top farm systems with

MESA, Ariz. – It’s a testament to where a farm system is when a Top 100-caliber hitter gets traded away and there’s still a desire to tout the bats. The Cubs traded Cam Smith to the Astros in the Kyle Tucker deal, but they still have seven players on the

MESA, Ariz. -- On Monday, Cubs infielder Matt Shaw packed for Tokyo … even though he did not know if he would be going.

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

MESA, Ariz. -- Gage Workman was monitoring the Rule 5 Draft in December and was excited to see that one of his friends, Liam Hicks, had been selected second overall by the Marlins. Workman was crafting a congratulatory text when another friend sent one his way, too. “I must’ve been

MESA, Ariz. -- Moises Ballesteros has enjoyed the in-game conversations he has experienced with Cubs Minor League hitting coach Rachel Folden. They will go over what the pitcher that day is featuring and discuss what she saw in his swing or approach. That is how Ballesteros likes to operate.

The Cubs have seven Top 100 prospects, tied with the Mariners for the most in baseball, which is obviously desirable. But it also presents something of a dilemma. Their six best prospects -- third baseman Matt Shaw, right-hander Cade Horton, corner outfielder Owen Caissie, catcher Moises Ballesteros, second baseman James

MESA, Ariz. -- Rule 5 addition Gage Workman has handled the Chicago Cubs’ intense spring scrutiny with flair. It showed again Monday. Workman, who can play multiple infield and outfield positions and is contending for a roster spot, continued his strong -- and busy -- spring with a two-hit day

Mesa, Ariz. -- In his second big league camp, Matt Shaw has continued to impress the Cubs with his strong work ethic and demeanor, even while recovering from left oblique soreness that he sustained at the outset of Spring Training. And it’s a big reason why Shaw has the opportunity

This is an exciting time of year at MLB Pipeline. The new Top 100 prospects list is out, Spring Breakout is right around the corner, and prospects across baseball are making their presence felt in big league camps. The smell of the new season hangs in the air. And that

This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian’s Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox. MESA, Ariz. -- As part of a five-run outburst by the Cubs’ offense in the second inning on Saturday afternoon, Kevin Alcántara ripped a

MESA, Ariz. -- During a rehab stint with Double-A Tennessee last April, Cubs starter Jameson Taillon invited the club's No. 3 prospect Cade Horton out to a dinner. Taillon then kept tabs on Horton throughout the year, checking in with the young pitcher as he navigated a tough season. The

As the sounds of bats cracking and gloves popping echo across the diamonds of Florida and Arizona, baseball's top prospects will be digging in to push for spots on Major League Opening Day rosters. Although most of these prospects will begin the season in the Minors, there are a handful

MESA, Ariz. -- Matt Shaw has a lot of friends back home in his native Massachusetts who pull for the Red Sox. So it was no surprise that it was one of his buddies who fired off a text on Wednesday night, alerting the Cubs’ top prospect of Alex Bregman’s