Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 45 | Overall: 50

Originally part of the Class of 2022, Triantos reclassified to join the 2021 Draft class, leading to scouts flocking to Virginia to check him out as he gained traction as a serious pop-up prospect. A two-way standout at James Madison High School, his future as a professional lies in his ability in the batter’s box, and he had so much helium that it looked possible he’d be the first player at Madison to get taken in the first few rounds since Jay Franklin was a first-round pick in 1971.

There are some polarizing opinions about Triantos and his upside, with scouts who like him really believing in the bat. Some see a future plus hitter with a feel for the barrel and good bat speed. There’s some surprising power given he’s not the biggest guy in the world, though he’s very physical. Detractors feel he can get stuck with a predetermined approach from the right side of the plate and can guess wrong.

Even fans of Triantos feel he won’t be a shortstop at the next level. He has the arm for the left side of the infield, with those who dream seeing a little Alex Bregman or fellow Virginia high school product David Wright, albeit a bit less athletic. The University of North Carolina recruit gets high marks for his baseball IQ and work ethic, another reason why he could hear his name called in the top five rounds.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 50 | Run: 45 | Arm: 55 | Field: 45 | Overall: 55 

Triantos reclassified from the 2022 to the 2021 Draft because he wanted to enroll ahead of schedule at North Carolina, but he played so well that the Cubs diverted him from college by selecting him in the second round and signing him for an over-slot $2.1 million. He struggled defensively as a third baseman in his first full pro season and missed the first month of his second following surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. He finished strong in 2023, batting .318 in the final month before winning Arizona Fall League offensive player of the year honors by slashing .417/.495/.679. 

Triantos' best attribute remains his bat-to-ball skills from the right side of the plate, which earned him comparisons to Alex Bregman and David Wright as an amateur. He has a discerning eye with advanced feel for the barrel, rarely swinging and missing while employing the entire field. He has yet to produce much power but his combination of hitting ability and bat speed should lead to average pop once he adds more strength, and he did improve his quality of contact last season. 

After displaying subpar range and throwing accuracy at third base in 2022, Triantos looked more comfortable at second last summer. His reliable hands and solid arm strength are assets at the keystone, though his speed and quickness are fringy. He could become an adequate defender at second, but Chicago's middle-infield depth may eventually push him to an outfield corner. 

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 45 | Arm: 55 | Field: 45 | Overall: 50 

Triantos reclassified into the 2021 Draft with the intention of attending North Carolina but instead played so well that spring that the Cubs signed him for an over-slot $2.1 million in the second round. He led Madison HS (Vienna, Va.) to the state Class 6 title, homering while spinning a complete-game shutout with 12 strikeouts in the championship game. After posting a .970 OPS in his pro debut, he slid to .721 last year amid defensive struggles as a 19-year-old in Single-A. 

Triantos' bat-to-ball skills from the right side of the plate have prompted comparisons to Alex Bregman and David Wright, and he continued to show good feel for the barrel and made good swing decisions in tough hitting conditions at Myrtle Beach last year. He has a compact stroke with a direct bat path and should hit for average, though there are questions about his power upside. His hitting ability, bat speed and strength should lead to average pop, and he has improved his quality of contact in 2023. 

More uncertainty surrounds Triantos' home after he lacked range and had issues with his throwing accuracy after moving from shortstop in high school to third base last season. He has a thick lower half and projects to have fringy speed once he's fully developed, though he does have good hands and solid arm strength. He got leaner in anticipation of seeing more action at second base this year, and he has looked more athletic and instinctive there than he did at the hot corner. 

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50 

A two-way star who reclassified into the 2021 Draft, Triantos led Madison High (Vienna) to the Virginia state Class 6 title last spring, homering while pitching a complete-game one-hitter with 12 strikeouts in the championship game. Though he wasn't as heavily scouted as other top prepsters because he moved from the 2022 Draft after the previous summer's showcase circuit, he rode late helium into the second round, where the Cubs signed him for an over-slot $2.1 million. He batted .327/.376/.594 in his pro debut, leading some teams to express regret that they let him last 56 picks in the Draft. 

Triantos' prowess from the right side of the plate has earned him some comparisons to Alex Bregman and David Wright. With a compact stroke and a direct bat path, he exhibits tremendous feel for the barrel, makes good swing decisions and produces a lot of hard contact. While he doesn't have a lot of projection remaining in his 6-foot-1 frame, his hitting ability, bat speed and present strength should create at least average power. 

Triantos possesses average speed and plus arm strength that generated fastballs up to 96 mph when he pitched as an amateur. He split time between second base and shortstop in his pro debut but lacks the quickness for the middle infield, so he has focused on third base in his first full pro season. His high baseball IQ and strong work ethic should allow him to get the most out of his tools.

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 60 | Field: 45 | Overall: 50

Originally scheduled to graduate from high school in 2022, Triantos reclassified last fall and entered the 2021 Draft. A two-way star, he led Madison High (Vienna) to the Virginia state Class 6 title this spring, homering and pitching a complete-game one-hitter with 12 strikeouts in the championship game. He had as much late helium as any prepster in the class and went in the second round to the Cubs, who signed him for an over-slot $2.1 million.

Triantos wasn't as heavily scouted as other top prep players in this year's Draft because he reclassified after the summer showcase circuit, but evaluators who fell in love with him dropped offensive comparisons to Alex Bregman and David Wright. That may be a bit much, but he's a right-handed hitter with a compact swing, good feel for the barrel and a penchant for making hard contact. Though he may not have much projection remaining in his 6-foot-1 frame, he already has enough bat speed and strength for at least average power.

While Triantos played shortstop in high school and broke into pro ball at that position, even his biggest backers think he's destined to move to second or third base. He's an average runner with a plus arm that produced fastballs as hot as 96 mph on the mound. His high baseball IQ and strong work ethic enhance his physical tools.

Awards

SOU Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2024

Futures Game Selection

Year	Team
2024

SOU Player of the Month

Month	Team
06/2024

AFL Hitter of the Year

Year	Team
2023

AFL Rising Stars

Year	Team
2023

ACL Player of the Month

Month	Team
09/2021

ACL Player of the Week

Week	Team
09/19/2021

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	08/06/2024	3B James Triantos assigned to Iowa Cubs from Tennessee Smokies.
	07/12/2024	3B James Triantos assigned to National League Futures.
	03/07/2024	Chicago Cubs Prospects activated 3B James Triantos.
	02/27/2024	3B James Triantos roster status changed by Chicago Cubs.
	02/27/2024	3B James Triantos assigned to Chicago Cubs.
	11/03/2023	3B James Triantos assigned to National League Fall Stars.
	09/22/2023	Mesa Solar Sox activated 3B James Triantos.
	09/12/2023	3B James Triantos assigned to Tennessee Smokies from South Bend Cubs.
	09/12/2023	Tennessee Smokies activated 3B James Triantos.
	05/09/2023	South Bend Cubs activated 3B James Triantos from the 7-day injured list.
	04/06/2023	South Bend Cubs placed 3B James Triantos on the 7-day injured list.
	04/05/2023	3B James Triantos assigned to South Bend Cubs from Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
	02/28/2023	3B James Triantos assigned to Chicago Cubs.
	02/28/2023	3B James Triantos roster status changed by Chicago Cubs.
	04/08/2022	Myrtle Beach Pelicans activated 3B James Triantos.
	04/08/2022	3B James Triantos assigned to Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
	04/08/2022	Myrtle Beach Pelicans activated 3B James Triantos.
	03/24/2022	3B James Triantos assigned to Chicago Cubs.
	03/24/2022	3B James Triantos roster status changed by Chicago Cubs.
	08/09/2021	3B James Triantos assigned to ACL Cubs.
	07/24/2021	Chicago Cubs signed 3B James Triantos.
	07/05/2021	3B James Triantos and assigned to College Workout.