Cubs farm momentum shows up again as two prospects earn Pipeline’s Team of the Week nod

MLB Pipeline’s Prospect Team of the Week once again put two members of the Chicago Cubs system in the spotlight, a sign that the organization’s recent prospect wave is translating into repeatable performance. In the latest edition, both Owen Ayers and Jefferson Rojas returned to the weekly honor, joining another Cubs name, Lazaro Montes, among the list of familiar faces included across the league’s minor-league landscape.

Pipeline’s weekly awards draw from players who meet a specific eligibility bar: Minor League Baseball players must be ranked among their organization’s Top 30 prospects on Pipeline’s lists. That matters because it frames the selection as more than a one-week hot streak. It is a weekly snapshot of players who are already regarded as core future pieces for their organizations, then backed up by results at the plate and in-game impact.

For Ayers, the Cubs’ catcher and the centerpiece of the award’s repeat appearances, the recent work has been tied to a clear upswing at the Double-A level with the Knoxville Smokies. MLB Pipeline reported that Ayers collected hits in all six games last week and backed it up with back-to-back performances that each included three hits and a home run. The catcher’s line in that same burst included 11 hits in his week (11-for-21), with power (two homers) and extra-base output (three doubles), helping him build momentum into early June.

Ayers also comes with context from his prior form. MLB Pipeline characterized him as the reigning Arizona Fall League Breakout Player of the Year and noted that he previously appeared on a Prospect Team of the Week in April. On the most recent edition, the report added that he stole a base and went a perfect 5-for-5 in pro ball this season. The overall picture is that the Cubs are not just seeing an uptick, they are seeing a player sustain multiple facets of the game that scouts often want to develop at catcher, including the ability to string hits together and create baserunner value.

Rojas, the Cubs infield prospect named to the Top 100 Prospects list, also returned to the Pipeline weekly team. MLB Pipeline’s write-up identified Rojas as making a second career appearance on the Prospect Team of the Week. While the detailed statistical portion of the article covers multiple players across levels and organizations, the key point for Chicago is that Rojas’ inclusion reflects consistent standing among the league’s more closely watched young players, not merely a one-off selection.

The Cubs’ inclusion is especially notable because the newest Prospect Team of the Week also features other returning honorees from around MLB. Pipeline reported that six players are returning to the weekly honor, including three who had already appeared on an edition (or two) earlier this season. For Chicago, it underscores that at least two of its developing prospects are maintaining that “impact week” profile across time, a distinction that can matter when teams evaluate whether a prospect is catching up to his competition or simply spiking during a short stretch.

What to watch next is whether Ayers and Rojas continue to stack production as the summer progresses and moves between levels become more common. A catcher’s development often has multiple phases, so consistency at the plate and in baserunning can be early indicators of readiness. For Rojas, repeat recognition suggests the Cubs have a player whose bat and overall profile are holding up against the kind of pitching that gets tougher as prospects advance. If the repeat trend continues, it gives Chicago another data point for how quickly its pipeline is closing the gap to the major-league roster.