​PHILADELPHIA — Two days before what would have marked the first anniversary of his selection by the Chicago Cubs, Josiah Hartshorn still felt the weight of the moment as he stepped onto the field for Sunday’s All-Star Futures Game at Citizens Bank Park. Drafted in the Cubs’ 2025 sixth round, the 19-year-old first baseman/outfielder signed a deal that far exceeded slot value—$2 million—to convince him to bypass college. The organization had big plans for him from the start, and those plans felt tangible as he played in the Futures Game, sharing the diamond with some of the sport’s brightest young talents.
Hartshorn and right-hander Mason McGwire carried the Cubs’ banner in Sunday’s showcase, both getting into action as the National League fell 6-1 to the American League. Hartshorn came into the game in the top of the fourth inning, finishing 0-for-2 with a groundout and a flyout. McGwire appeared in the final inning, forcing a batter, hitting another, and recording a strikeout. The moment was meaningful for Hartshorn, who, just a year earlier, was a high school player looking to carve out a path to the professional ranks. Now he stood in a big-league ballpark during All-Star Week, something he described as “special,” even noting the hustle and bustle of the hotel entrance and the traffic that preceded the game as part of a truly blessed experience.
Hartshorn’s ascent has been rapid and impressive. Ranked as the Cubs’ No. 29 prospect by Baseball America, he has made a strong impression in his first full professional season. He showed he could handle more advanced competition with ease, arriving at Myrtle Beach with a disciplined approach that helped him post more walks than strikeouts at Single-A. That patience at the plate translated into power as he advanced to High-A South Bend, where he has logged 10 home runs, five doubles, and two triples in 40 games, posting a .279 batting average with a .371 on-base percentage and a .544 slugging percentage. The combination of power, contact ability, and plate discipline has underscored the Cubs’ confidence in his ability to adapt and grow as he climbs through the system.
“Something I’ve been pretty proud of is being consistent,” Hartshorn said, reflecting on his season. “There’s been a bit of a struggle recently, but I’ve focused on staying steady, not riding every wave the season throws at me. It’s a long year, and this is the most baseball I’ve played in my life. I’ve worked to stay on the field, stay healthy, and take care of what I need to do off the field. I think I’ve done a good job of that, and I’m pretty happy with it.”
Hartshorn and McGwire’s paths to the Futures Game arc similarly: both began the year at Myrtle Beach and progressed to South Bend, all while sharing a roommate dynamic at both levels. “I’ve never seen him play, and I didn’t really know much about him,” McGwire said of Hartshorn to the Tribune. “He’s got a great approach at the plate. He’s never out of it, and he’s always battling. It’s great to see.”
McGwire, the Cubs’ No. 29 prospect per MLB Pipeline, faced an extended layoff in 2025 due to a partial elbow tear that sidelined him for all of the season. Although surgery was avoided, preserving his ability to contribute on the mound, the setback nevertheless limited crucial development time. The early return to action this season has given McGwire a chance to demonstrate his resilience and to contribute alongside Hartshorn as the Cubs’ next generation of talents.
As the Futures Game showcased the Cubs’ youngsters, it was a snapshot of the franchise’s ongoing development plan: two players who began the year in the lower minors, who have earned opportunities at higher levels through a mix of disciplined hitting, power, and the ability to stay healthy and focused over a demanding schedule. For Hartshorn, Sunday’s appearance was a memorable milestone on the road to becoming a major-league contributor. For McGwire, it was part of a comeback story—one that could help him regain the mound presence that had him labeled as a top pitching prospect before his injury.
The Futures Game is more than a one-day event. It’s a statement about where the Cubs see their young talent and how they plan to integrate these players into the big-league picture in the coming years. For Hartshorn, the experience at a marquee ballpark during All-Star Week underscored a simple truth he’s echoed throughout his early career: consistency, preparation, and the willingness to put in the work off the field are paying dividends as he moves up through a professional system that believes in his potential.