Newest Top-100 Chicago Cubs Prospect Could Make MLB Debut Soon

Owen Ayers is a 25-year-old catcher and the newest top-100 prospect in the Cubs organization, ranked No. 93 overall by MLB Pipeline. What makes his rise so remarkable is that he was a 19th-round draft pick in 2024 who signed for just $50,000, and now he looks like a legit piece of the Cubs' future.

The Athletic's Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney discussed the possibility of the Cubs calling Ayers up in September 2026, at least to get him acclimated to being a big leaguer. At minimum, he could be in the mix as a backup catcher for the 2027 roster.

In 43 games with the Iowa Cubs, Ayers is slashing .283/.398/.454 with six home runs. He's just one phone call away from reaching the majors.

Ayers slashed .379/.539/.591 with three home runs and 16 RBI in the Arizona Fall League, earning him the AFL Breakout Player of the Year award. That performance is what really put him on the prospect map heading into the 2026 season.

Ayers was heavily involved in trade rumors in July, with the Los Angeles Angels reportedly very interested in him. The Cubs did make a trade with the Angels involving a catcher, but it was Moises Ballesteros who was dealt, signaling the Cubs view Ayers as a core piece of their future.