Cubs Prospect Profile: Ty Southisene |
Over the past three or four years, we have constantly seen the Cubs miss the playoffs and forced to draft players lower in the first round than they would like. Although none of those resulted in top-10 or even top-five picks, should you consistently pick in the top 15, you'll eventually land plenty of talented players capable of helping your team?
That has been the case the past two seasons, as several of the Cubs' early-round selections have already reached AAA and will soon be challenging for a spot on the MLB roster. You also have some non-first-round players getting some love, and Ty Southisene is one of those players, as he checks in at No. 20 on the Cubs' top prospect list. At just 19 years old, Southisene was one of the better prep stars in his class. He initially committed to the University of Tennessee before being drafted in the fourth round of the 2024 MLB draft. Knowing that it would take a lot to get him to commit, the Cubs offered him a one-million-dollar contract, which was all that was needed, as he indeed pulled out of his college commitment to join the Cubs. At 5-9 and 170 pounds, Southisene gives you a Nick Madrigal vibe when you look at his body, but he is far more toolsy than Madrigal could've dreamed of. Now, it becomes a constant battle to use those tools to your advantage and become the best player you can be. As was the case for many High School players, Southisene was drafted for his potential more than anything, as he has yet to make his professional debut. After taking some time to sign his contract with the Cubs, the organization had to consider where the best fit for him would be. You could've argued that sending him to Myrtle Beach or even Rookie Ball would've been a good idea, as the only way to improve as a player is to see real game reps. Instead, the Cubs sent him to their alternate site in Mesa, where he spent three months working out with the team to strengthen his preparations for the 2025 season. Next up for him will be his professional debut, as he is expected to start the year with the ACL Cubs, but he could be one of those players to advance to Myrtle Beach or beyond quickly. When you watch Southisene play, which most fans still need to have the opportunity to do, you will notice his approach at the plate. Most high schoolers tend to be very aggressive early on in their career, but Southisene is far more patient and has an advanced approach for such a young age. Not only does he use the strike zone extremely well, but he also has no issues using all fields, as he can drive the ball pole to pole. Although he is a very sound hitter who tends to make hard contact, he does try to sell out for power at times, and when that happens, he has more swing-and-miss as a result. Given his quick swing, Southisene does have some pop from the pull side, but power isn't going to be a part of his game as he will be a 12-15 homer guy. Depending on how much strength he adds, there could be 20 homers in that bat, but Southisene is an average first guy who could care less about the power that comes with it. Not only is he a very good hitter for his age, but he also has above-average athleticism and good speed. Mix that with a high baseball IQ, a quick first step, and a strong arm, and you can see why he is considered an SS first, with the potential to shift to third if needed. Expected to be a long-term project, Southisene can turn some heads in 2025, as that will be the first time he will face professional pitching. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOouQxQG3sw
