Cubs Prospect Profile: Jonathon Long |
Getting away from all of the free agent chatter (rumors) for a bit, it's time to dive into the part of the Cubs organization that they value the most: the prospects. Jed Hoyer has a firm belief that many of these guys are difference makers. While that could be the case, there is a high likelihood that most of these prospects could be floated around in trade conversations as the Cubs continue to search for ways to improve this roster.
Trading away prospects is part of the game, but for some reason, Hoyer doesn't think like that and chooses to hold on to the prospects as long as he possibly can, even if that means hurting their overall trade value. While the top half of the Cubs prospect list is loaded with top-100 guys, the bottom half remains a question mark as that area has seen the biggest changes in the past six months. That's not to say that some of these guys aren't good, but it is part of the baseball norm when guys get traded or slide up and down the prospect rankings based on a team's moves. We are going to start diving into the Cubs prospects with their 30th player, and what better way to start than by talking about Jonathon Long? Drafted in the ninth round of the 2023 MLB draft, the Former Long Beach State 1B/3B has made quite an impression on the Cubs organization thus far and is already knocking on AAA. Long was a massive threat in the Long Beach lineup, connecting for 26 career homers, which put him four shy of the program record. He then made his debut with the Cubs in 2023, where he held his own with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, hitting .274 across 26 games with seven homers and 14 RBIs. Then came his 2024 season, where he not only started the season in South Bend but got better as the season went on, wounding up in AA Tennessee. Across his 114 games this season, Long continued to hold his own against pro-level pitching, hitting .283 and connecting for 17 homers and 70 RBIs. That included his .340 average in 46 games with the Smokies while hitting seven homers and driving in 29. His season alone earned him some time in the Arizona Fall League, where he continued to go about his business, hitting .336 for the season with six homers and 19 RBIs. All in all, Long's performance this season was impressive, and now the next question is where he will start in 2025. Although he has shown plenty of power so far, many scouts feel there is more power to come, as he is a fairly complete offensive player at this point in his career. He does a nice job working counts and uses his quick right-handed stroke to generate plenty of raw power in all fields. His ability to work counts is what stands out the most. Long very seldom chases pitches, which is why he had one of the better walk rates and lower strikeout rates in the system. His eye also helps him see more pitches to his liking, as he does equal damage against both righties and lefties while making consistent contact across the board. As is the case with many young prospects, Long's bat is what will get him to the majors, as that is better than his defense at this point. That isn't to say he can't turn himself into a solid fielder, but right now, he is average at best defensively. His below-average arm limits him defensively, as does his below-average speed, but given that right-handed hitting first-base prospects are tough to project, the Cubs have moved him around to play third base and left field. With all the trade chatter surrounding the Cubs this offseason, it's hard to believe that no one has inquired about Long. That could be a good thing for the Cubs, as they may be a diamond in the rough, but you have to think that at some point, someone will try to pull Long from this team. When that happens, you hope it's for a superstar-caliber player, as Long is just getting started as a player.
