Cubs: 2 prospects to call up and replace Joc Pederson

Of the Cubs Top-30 prospects, there isn’t a single outfielder at the Triple-A level. The only outfielder in that list at Double-A is Davis, and the other five are either playing in Single-A or Rookie Ball, most of whom are still teenagers.

This brings us to a player who isn’t considered a top prospect, but he deserves to get his shot in the big leagues with his recent play: Ian Miller.

Miller, 29, is a former 14th-round pick by the Mariners out of Wagner College from the 2013 MLB Amateur Draft. Miller reached the big leagues with the Twins in 2019, where he went 3-for-17 with one RBI and one double in 17 plate appearances. He also made a pinch-run appearance for the Cubs last summer but doesn’t have MLB experience outside of that.

What Miller lacks in power he makes up for with his speed. He fared well in limited at bats in spring training for the Cubs, going 5-for-14 with four walks and three strikeouts along with four stolen bases in five attempts.

It’s been a decent season for Miller for Triple-A Iowa this season after he got off to a slow start in May. He’s slashing .275/.321/.339 with 13 RBIs in 187 plate appearances. In his last 18 games, Miller has posted a .339 batting average and .713 OPS in 62 at-bats.

Miller has held his own defensively and has yet to commit an error in 382.2 innings in the outfield this season.

He’s definitely not the sole answer the Cubs need to fix their offensive woes, but Miller should get his shot on the big-league roster sooner rather than later. He wouldn’t be any worse than Happ and Heyward at the plate right now.