Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Arm: 45 | Field: 45 | Overall: 50

Long Beach State is a hitter's graveyard, but Long managed to hit 26 homers in three seasons there, four shy of Jeff Liefer's school record. His profile as a righty-hitting first baseman worked against him in the 2023 Draft, when he lasted until the ninth round, but he has boosted his stock by consistently raking in pro ball. He earned All-Star honors in the International League last year after leading the Triple-A circuit in hits (157) and ranking second in runs (86) and total bases (246) plus third in walks (79) and RBIs (91).

Long employs a patient approach at the plate, drawing a healthy amount of walks while making regular contact to all fields. His bat speed and strength allow him to hit the ball hard, but he won't fully tap into his plus raw power until he learns to drive balls in air more often to his pull side. He produces too many groundballs and can get passive at times, though that hasn't stopped him from being productive against lefties and righties.

While the Cubs have tried Long at third base and in left field, his below-average speed and fringy arm strength don't make him suited for either position. He's limited to first base, where he's a decent defender. He doesn't have much left to prove in the Minors but Chicago doesn't have an obvious opening for him in its lineup.

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 30 | Arm: 45 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50

Long smashed 26 homers in three seasons at Long Beach State, four short of Jeff Liefer's school record. A ninth-round pick in 2023, Long found another gear when he advanced to Double-A last July and slashed .340/.455/.528 with seven homers in 46 games. He continued his hot hitting in the Arizona Fall League, where he ranked second in homers (six in 18 games) and fourth in slugging (.662).

Long's quick right-handed swing and strength generate plus raw power, and he works counts well while looking for pitches to drive. He's selectively aggressive, hitting balls hard and in the air without selling out for home runs. He uses the entire field well and shows opposite-field pop while making reasonable contact.

With well-below-average speed and fringy arm strength, Long doesn't have many positional options. He gets the job done at first base, but righty-hitting first baseman is an undesirable profile. The Cubs tried him in left field and third base in 2024 but he's a below-average defender at both spots.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 30 | Arm: 45 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40

Long hit 26 homers in three years at Long Beach State, four shy of school's career record held by Jeff Liefer. He has exceeded expectations since turning pro as a 2023 ninth-round pick, slashing .282/.393/.480 in his first two seasons and posting his best numbers yet after reaching Double-A in July.

Long is a fairly complete offensive player who creates solid raw power with his quick right-handed swing and strength. He does a nice job of working counts and using the entire field, and he can drive the ball out of the park to right field on occasion. He rarely chases pitches, makes consistent contact and does damage against both lefties and righties.

As a well-below-average runner with fringy arm strength, Long provides most of his value at the plate. Because right-handed-hitting first baseman is a tough prospect profile, the Cubs also tried him in left field and at third base in 2024. He's an average defender at first but substandard elsewhere.

Awards

INT Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2025

Baseball America Triple-A All-Star

Year	Team
2025

AFL Player of the Week

Week	Team
11/10/2024

AFL Rising Stars

Year	Team
2024

SOU Player of the Month

Month	Team
08/2024

SOU Player of the Week

Week	Team
07/28/2024

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	02/09/2026	Chicago Cubs invited non-roster 1B Jonathon Long to spring training.
	02/05/2026	Chinese Taipei activated 1B Jonathon Long.
	03/28/2025	1B Jonathon Long assigned to Iowa Cubs from Knoxville Smokies.
	03/06/2025	activated 3B Jonathon Long.
	02/07/2025	Chicago Cubs invited non-roster 3B Jonathon Long to spring training.
	11/08/2024	National League Fall Stars activated 3B Jonathon Long.
	09/25/2024	3B Jonathon Long assigned to Mesa Solar Sox.
	07/19/2024	1B Jonathon Long assigned to Tennessee Smokies from South Bend Cubs.
	04/04/2024	1B Jonathon Long assigned to South Bend Cubs from Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
	02/24/2024	1B Jonathon Long assigned to Chicago Cubs.
	08/08/2023	1B Jonathon Long assigned to Myrtle Beach Pelicans from ACL Cubs.
	08/02/2023	1B Jonathon Long assigned to ACL Cubs.
	07/16/2023	Chicago Cubs signed 1B Jonathon Long.
	06/14/2023	1B Jonathon Long assigned to College Workout.
	04/25/2023	Long Beach State Dirtbags activated 1B Jonathon Long.
	04/25/2023	1B Jonathan Long assigned to Long Beach State Dirtbags.
	04/19/2017	1B Jonathan Long assigned to Orange HS Panthers.