Not gonna lie, about a month ago I made a statement about possibly viewing Owen Caissie as a better prospect than Pete Crow-Armstrong. What an idiot. That was during another hot burst of power from Caissie, while PCA was experiencing his first notable slump in a while down in the minors. Well, heading into July, Pete Crow-Armstrong hasn’t just remained the clear-cut best prospect for the Cubs, the 21-year-old center fielder is now a top-10 prospect in all of baseball.

Pete Crow-Armstrong 10th in Latest MLB Pipeline Top-100

MLB Pipeline updated its top-100 prospects list a few weeks ahead of this year’s All-Star break that includes the upcoming draft. The latest re-rank has Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong at no. 10 in the top-100. Heading into the 2023 season, Crow-Armstrong was ranked 28th on MLB Pipeline’s top-100 prospects list.

It's halfway through the MiLB season, so we refreshed the Top 100 Prospects list!

And there's a new No. 1: https://t.co/aHjoOEJbD4 pic.twitter.com/0lRQucvgI8
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 26, 2023

Updated MLB Pipeline Rankings (June 25)
Top-15

1. Jackson Holliday, SS, Orioles
2. Elly De La Cruz, SS/3B, Reds
3. Jackson Chourio, OF, Brewers
4. Eury Pérez, RHP, Marlins
5. Marcelo Mayer, SS, Red Sox
6. James Wood, OF, Nationals
7. Jordan Lawlar, SS, D-backs
8. Evan Carter, OF, Rangers
9. Bobby Miller, RHP, Dodgers
10. Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF, Cubs
11. Andrew Painter, RHP, Phillies
12. Jackson Merrill, SS, Padres
13. Gavin Williams, RHP, Guardians
14. Kyle Harrison, LHP, Giants
15. Colton Cowser, OF, Orioles

Pete Crow-Armstrong’s Re-Adjusting in Double-A

PCA got off to a hot start this season, posting an .881 OPS in his first 14 games at Double-A with the Tennessee Smokies. His numbers dipped in May, although he did begin to show much better plate discipline as his walk percentage has soared since the middle of last month. Now in June, Crow-Armstrong is as hot as he’s ever been, displaying all his tools at the plate.

Pete Crow-Armstrong 2023
April: 14 Games, .316/.355/.526, 133 wRC+, 22.6 K%, 3.2 BB%
May: 18 Games, .247/.322/.416, 99 wRC+, 20.7 K%, 8 BB%
June: 21 Games, .288/.406/.538, 155 wRC+, 27.1 K%, 11.5 BB%

Overall in 2023, PCA is slashing .280/.363/.491, with 9 home runs, 44 runs scored, 45 RBI, 19 stolen bases, an 8.2 BB% and a 130 wRC+. Oh and then add world-class defense in center field on top of that.

I’d be willing to bet that Pete Crow-Armstrong gets bumped up to Triple-A following the All-Star break.

Cubs Pitchers in Top-100

The Cubs have a total of three players in the updated top-100 prospects list from MLB Pipeline. Besides PCA, a pair of right-handed starting pitchers are among the best up and coming players.

Cade Horton: No. 50 (pre-season: unranked)
Ben Brown: No. 77 (pre-season: unranked)

Cade Horton, who was drafted seventh overall in the 2022 draft, made his pro debut with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans this year and his stock as a prospect has sky-rocketed ever since. The 20-year-old made four starts at A-Ball before he was promoted to advanced A-Ball with the South Bend Cubs. After a rough debut at the higher level, Horton has been a strikeout machine.

Cade Horton Overall Stats (Through June 25)
11 Starts, 43 IP, 2.93 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 67 K, 12 BB

Ben Brown has actually struggled in his last two outings, but the 23-year-old righty has been nasty all season. His first four starts were at Double-A, where he was almost un-hittable, and then he made the jump up to Triple-A. Brown has had a few issues with the Iowa Cubs, as his walk rate increased, but the stuff is still legit.

Ben Brown Overall Stats Through June 25)
14 Starts, 63.2 IP, 3.53 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 95 K, 34 BB