3 up 3 Down: I'll Take a Big Mac Kids Meal.

Rankings notes

Dasan Hill (279->201) 32 K's, 8 BB, 4 ER in last 18.2 IP.

Ethan Frey (159->225) More strikeouts and less power than last year's 26 game sample.

Lisbel Diaz (not ranked ->423) The power gains from last year are still here. So is the chase rate but he's capable of a 20-20 season.

Sterlin Thompson (248-190) He gets the MLB promotion bump in the ranks.

Yohandy Morales (248-200) .353/.432/.593 - pulling the ball more this year but 56% GB% and 35% HR/FB leads me to believe the approach still needs work

Jacob Gonzalez (217-172) He is doing it all. Could get the call up any day.

Nolan Perry (209-151) 34% CSW on the year. 36% K-BB

3 Up 3 Down - Prospects LiveProspects LiveTom Gates

3 Up

Mason McGwire, (Single-A) RHP CHC

Photo Credit: milb.com

2026 stats: 26 IP, 38 K, 9 BB, 2 HRA, 1.73 ERA

April rank: not ranked

New rank: 296

The easy nickname for Mason, the son of Mark McGwire, would be “Little Mac.” But that nickname already belongs to the guy throwing body blows against Bald Bull and everyone else stepping into the ring.

Besides, McGwire is listed at 6-foot-4, so there’s nothing little about him. Let’s put the nickname on hold for now. As a Cubs fan, I really want to overreact to his hot start and shove him way up the rankings, but that would be my heart making the ranking and not my brain. It's a small sample so far, and nothing recently has led us to think this will all stick. He missed all of 2025 with an injury and, prior to that, struggled mightily with his command. There is still plenty of room for him to keep climbing if these numbers continue.

He has a 16% swinging strike rate, a 66% contact rate, and is getting ahead in the count more often than not. The numbers are good, but does it pass the eye test? McGwire’s fastball at times looks like it has high IVB along with a little arm-side run when he elevates it. I like how he attacks righties inside with it and can use it there against lefties, too. It can touch the upper 90s, but he has mostly been sitting in the low-to-mid 90s. Along with the fastball, he throws a slider, curveball, and splitter. The slider reminds me at times of Kerry Wood. That’s high praise, I know. It doesn’t have quite as much movement, but it has that same sweeping shape.

Some of my questions or concerns are that he has not really been allowed to go deep into games. Even though his ability to navigate the lineup multiple times is unproven right now, with his stuff, I think he’ll be fine; this still hasn’t been tested. He also has a 37% groundball rate. Being a flyball pitcher, you tend to get hit with the home run ball more, and his HR/FB is at 8%. The Cubs might make him a reliever. He started the year in relief, then got a four-game stretch as a starter, and is back to relieving. I currently have McGwire ranked right behind by organizational teammate Brandon Birdsell. Birdsell is technically closer to the majors, although Tommy John surgery will keep him out this year. Birdsell also has a longer track record of command. At the moment, though, McGwire might have the higher upside.

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