The Chicago Cubs are evaluating their catching plans for the future, with the front office prepared to rely on a tandem of Miguel Amaya and rookie prospect Owen Ayers, according to a report by Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic highlighted by sports.yahoo.com. While the club has not ruled out re-signing veteran backstop Carson Kelly, Chicago is considering giving Ayers an immediate role on the major league roster.
Ayers’ Development and Minor League Production
Ayers was brought up to Chicago following the conclusion of Triple-A Iowa’s season to observe major league operations firsthand. Although he did not make his official major league debut, the organization had him attend coaching sessions and sit in on strategic meetings with Amaya and Kelly to prepare him for future catching responsibilities.
Baseball America recently ranked Ayers as the number-two prospect in the Cubs’ farm system, trailing only Josiah Hartshorn. Known for a strong throwing arm and notable defensive improvements, Ayers delivered impressive overall numbers in the minors, hitting 25 home runs and posting a .403 on-base percentage across multiple levels.
However, much of that offensive output occurred in High-A South Bend and Double-A Knoxville during a season that featured higher offensive totals across minor league baseball. After moving up to Triple-A Iowa, where standard major league baseballs were utilized, Ayers hit .247/.365/.356 with three home runs over 49 games. Early Steamer projections from Fangraphs project him to hit .224/.299/.370 at the major league level, though his defensive capabilities still project him for a positive Wins Above Replacement rating.
Roster Options Behind the Plate
The Cubs face three potential directions for managing their catching group. The first path involves sticking with the status quo by sharing catching duties directly between Amaya and Ayers. A second option would be re-signing Kelly, which would allow Ayers to continue developing at Triple-A Iowa until an opportunity or injury arises.
Alternatively, Chicago could target a bridge veteran in free agency or via trade—such as Austin Hedges or Kyle Higashioka—to partner with Amaya until Ayers demonstrates he is fully ready for major league pitching.
In addition to catching updates, The Athletic reported that free-agent left-hander Adrián Morejón intends to remain a relief pitcher rather than transition into a starting role, narrowing the options for teams evaluating his free agency.
