He wasn’t a first-round pick, and he didn’t play in the minors in 2025 after he was drafted, so it’s understandable why there wasn’t too much hype around 19-year-old Josiah Hartshorn entering 2026. However, the kid has certainly changed that, as Hartshorn is beginning to emerge as a star prospect.
Hartshorn started the 2026 season at Myrtle Beach in Low-A Ball, but he was promoted after outclassing the competition in 39 games. Now, after a month playing for the South Bend Cubs in High A-Ball, Hartshorn is on more people’s radar, officially cracking MLB’s top-100 prospects list on Friday.
Hartshorn had an incredible first couple of games after his promotion to South Bend, and he hasn’t exactly slowed down. In 21 games at High-A Ball, the switch-hitter has posted a slash line of .365/.427/.743 with eight home runs, 28 RBI, and 21 runs scored. Hartshorn had a stretch of hitting four home runs in five games and five home runs over seven games.
So, ranked at No. 100 on MLB’s rankings, Hartshorn is the fourth Cubs prospect to make the list in 2026, joining Jefferson Rojas (79), Pedro Ramirez (81), and Jaxon Wiggins (84).
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In early May, Hartshorn was ranked No. 98 in Baseball America’s top-100 prospects list.
Josiah Hartshorn Promoted
The Chicago Cubs drafted switch-hitting power hitter Josiah Hartshorn in the sixth round out of high school in 2025, giving the teenager a record-breaking $2 million signing bonus in his slot. That was more than enough sway Hartshorn, who was committed to playing college baseball at Texas A&M. Now, in his pro debut year in the Cubs’ minor league system, the 19-year-old slugger is gunning for the No. 1 prospect slot in the organization.
Hartshorn began the 2026 season in Low A-Ball with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. He was on a ridiculous pace through the first eight games of the year, going 11-for-30 with a home run, while walking 10 times to only one strikeout in 42 plate appearances.
After 39 games in Myrtle Beach, Hartshorn settled in and was still the top hitter on the team despite being the youngest player on the roster for the Pelicans. He posted a 149 wRC+, slashing .273/.424/.460. The first baseman/corner outfielder hit five home runs, walked more times than he struck out, and proved that he needed a new challenge. So, earlier this week, the Cubs promoted Hartshorn to the South Bend Cubs at High A-Ball.
You could not have a better debut at a new level than Hartshorn.
Josiah Hartshorn’s first 13 Plate Appearances at A+ Ball:
1. Sac fly line drive to RF track
2. Fly out to LF track
3. Oppo 2B to LF track
4. Walk
5. Line drive single to right
6. Sac fly to LF track
7. Two-run single b/w 1st and 2nd
8. 3-run HR
9. K
10. Line drive single to right
11. Walk
12. Walk
13. K
So, that’s 5-for-8, HR, 8 RBI, 3 BB, 2 K, 2 SF for Hartshorn in his first three games with South Bend. Not bad for a 19-year-old in his first season in pro ball.
Hartshorn is currently playing against competition that, on average, is 3.3 years older than he is at A+ Ball.
