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.
CHICAGO -- The Cubs have enjoyed a strong start to the season in the big leagues, piling up runs at a high rate and seizing the top spot in the National League Central. While the big league club has been garnering plenty of attention, the season’s first month also had plenty of standouts down on the farm for the North Siders.
Here are the picks for the top position player and pitcher at each full-time affiliate before the calendar flipped to May:
TRIPLE-A IOWA
Player: C Moisés Ballesteros
The 21-year-old Ballesteros -- Pipeline’s No. 4 Cubs prospect and No. 64 on the Top 100 list -- had an eye-popping opening month. In 24 games, the catcher hit at a .402 (39-for-97) clip with four homers, seven doubles, one triple, 16 RBIs, 16 runs and nearly as many walks (10) as strikeouts (12). Ballesteros posted a .459 on-base percentage and .619 slugging percentage.
Pitcher: RHP Cade Horton
Coming off an injury-shortened 2024 season, the 23-year-old Horton (Pipeline’s No. 2 Cubs prospect and No. 47 on the Top 100) enjoyed a stellar start to this season. In the opening month, the right-hander spun a 1.17 ERA with 28 strikeouts against 10 walks in 23 innings. Horton limited batters to a .135 average (.486 OPS), with just 10 hits allowed in five starts.
DOUBLE-A KNOXVILLE
Player: 1B/3B B.J. Murray Jr.
The 25-year-old Murray only hit .222 in the first month of the season, but he also put up a solid .360 OBP to go along with a .486 SLG. Along with the .846 OPS, the corner infielder collected six homers, 13 RBIs, 12 runs scored and 15 walks in 21 games. Murray, who is from the Bahamas, was a 15th-round pick in the 2021 Draft.
Pitcher: RHP Grant Kipp
Signed as an undrafted free agent out of Yale in August 2022, the 25-year-old Kipp was a standout for the Smokies in the first month. In four starts, the right-hander turned in a 3.12 ERA with 21 strikeouts and six walks in 17 1/3 innings. Kipp held opposing batters to a .200 average in the process.
HIGH-A SOUTH BEND
Player: OF Ivan Brethowr
The Cubs picked Brethowr, 22, in the seventh round of the ‘22 Draft out of UC Santa Barbara. Out of the gates this season, the 6-foot-6 outfielder pieced together a .300/.488/.417 slash line (.905 OPS) with two homers, one double, eight RBIs, 12 runs and 18 walks (compared to 19 strikeouts) in 20 games.
Pitcher: RHP Jaxon Wiggins
The 23-year-old Wiggins -- ranked No. 10 on Pipeline’s Top 30 list for the Cubs -- continues to make strides since last season’s return from Tommy John surgery. In his first four appearances this year, the righty logged a 1.10 ERA with 22 strikeouts and 10 walks in 16 1/3 innings. Wiggins (picked in the second round of the 2023 Draft) held batters to a .140 average.
SINGLE-A MYRTLE BEACH
Player: 1B Cameron Sisneros
Sisneros -- selected in the 14th round of the 2024 Draft -- posted a .268/.388/.393 slash in the season’s first month. In 17 games for the Pelicans, the 23-year-old first baseman notched one homer, four doubles, seven RBIs and had more walks (nine) than strikeouts (eight). Then on the first day of May, Sisneros kept things rolling with a 4-for-5 showing.
Pitcher: RHP Brayden Risedorph
Risedorph, 21, was a 20th-round pick by the Cubs in the 2024 Draft. The righty reliever enjoyed a strong start to this season, spinning a 0.00 ERA in his seven outings in the opening month. Risedorph racked up 16 strikeouts, issued only two walks and scattered three hits with three unearned runs on his line. He held batters to a .077 average with a 0.42 WHIP.