​Cubs could spark offense with red-hot Triple-A catcher promotion originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Chicago Cubs are doing their best to make it a race in the National League Central. They currently hold second place with their 74-54 record, five games behind the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers. However, even if they cannot catch their division foes, they have set themselves up nicely for the rest of the way out. They hold the top spot for the NL Wild Card, and something drastic would have to happen for them to miss the postseason entirely. So, how do the Cubs tackle the rest of the season? Like many front offices, their internal brass is likely thinking of ways the team could receive a boost by calling up one of their top prospects, but who?MORE: Why Cubs ‘X-factor’ for MLB postseason hunt is injured 1.85 ERA righty pitcherCubs could spark offense with red-hot Triple-A catcher promotionMany teams call up pitchers to get a taste of big-league action, and that could certainly happen for the Cubs. However, they have one red-hot prospect who has been tearing it up in the minors and deserves a shot. According to the crew over at MLB.com, they would love to see the team’s No. 2 prospect, C/1B Owen Ayers, even if the backstop is a bit crowded. “The Cubs have a quality catching tandem with Carson Kelly and Miguel Amaya, and they may not have a lot of at-bats to give a newcomer. But Ayers’ right-handed power and ability to catch while also handling first base and perhaps the outfield corners could make him useful down the stretch. He has gone from 19-rounder out of Marshall in 2024 to a Top 100 Prospect two years later, and he’s batting .301/.416/.573 with 24 homers and 11 steals in 101 games while advancing from High-A to Triple-A.”Ayers isn’t tied down just to be a catcher and a DH. He also has experience at first base and could be a legit option to eat some innings in either of the corner outfield spots. The switch-hitting slugger could be a spark plug for this team down the stretch if the front office sees fit for a promotion. More MLB news:Rangers have an elite power-hitting prospect ready to ignite the lineupAaron Boone provides Yankees fans with hopeful Max Fried injury updateWhite Sox Triple-A standout could provide crucial arm for division title runMLB analyst urges the Yankees to promote their No. 3 prospect