Do the Chicago Cubs have their catcher of the future? That’s the hope, and honestly, it is a bit of a surprise, as Owen Ayers has broken out to become a legit prospect for the Cubs in 2026, and now he’s one step closer to the big leagues after his promotion to Triple-A.
The organization’s top catching prospect will begin the second half of the 2026 season with the Iowa Cubs, his third minor league level this year. The 25-year-old was drafted in 2024, selected in the 19th round with the 572nd overall pick out of Marshall. The switch-hitter wasn’t on the radar of the casual fans keeping an eye on the minor leagues heading into the 2025 season, and it’s not like Ayers was getting much national attention either. He wasn’t ranked in the Cubs’ top-30 prospects list at the start of last year, but by the end of 2025, Ayers was turning heads in the Arizona Fall League.
Now, after beginning this season at South Bend in A+ Ball, Ayers is one phone call away from reaching the majors.
Owen Ayers Breakout 2026 Season
Ayers had a pedestrian debut in the minor leagues, posting a .573 OPS in 18 games fresh out of college in 2024. He remained with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans in 2025, ending the year with a solid 124 wRC+ in 65 games. However, Ayers was forced to miss the final months of the year after suffering a broken right hand. So, the Cubs sent him to the Arizona Fall League to get more playing time, and that’s when Ayers began to gain momentum.
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The catcher hit three home runs and collected 16 RBI, slashing .379/.539/.591, which earned Ayers the Arizona Fall League Breakout Player of the Year.
It was just the beginning for Ayers, who dominated the competition to the tune of a 1.341 OPS with six home runs, that the Cubs had no choice but to promote him from the South Bend Cubs up to the Double-A Knoxville Smokies after only 11 games to start the 2026 season.
Since his first promotion, Ayers has been the best hitter in Double-A, posting a league-leading 167 wRC+ with a slash line of .304/.417/.591. He’s hit 16 home runs in 65 games with the Smokies, while boasting a 15.1 BB%.
Now, he’s ranked as the Cubs’ No. 8 prospect according to MLB Pipeline’s rankings. Ayers could very well be in the mix for the MLB roster in 2027 as the backup catcher. Not so bad for a 19th-round draft pick.
