Scouting Report

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

California's Orange Lutheran High School has had three first-round picks over the years, most recently Mikey Romero in 2022. OLu’s best player in the 2025 class is Hartshorn, who isn’t in first-round conversations yet, but certainly raised his profile by showing off some serious offensive upside on the summer showcase circuit and continuing to post during his senior season.

When healthy, Hartshorn is a talented switch-hitter with ability from both sides of the plate. A left-handed thrower, he actually hit only right-handed for nearly all of his first three years in high school because an issue in his left elbow made it hard for him to swing lefty. But then a back issue made hitting right-handed, a more consistent and easier swing, too difficult near the end of his junior season, so he brought the lefty swing back. It was clunky at first, but while you don’t want to put too much stock in a home run derby, the fact he found his lefty swing enough to share in the MLB High School Derby win was impressive. He’s back to hitting from both sides now, with a solid overall approach and some feel for it, an understanding of the zone and raw power he can get to from either side.

It will largely be the run-producing potential of Hartshorn’s bat that will get him drafted, though he was moving around better than expected in the outfield during his senior season. He moves well for someone his size with a little sneaky speed, with more conviction he can handle an outfield corner, even though his arm that used to throw up to 94 mph off the mound is still coming back from that elbow issue. The good news is his offensive profile could be impressive enough for the Texas A&M recruit to go in the first three rounds.

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

Hartshorn offered some of the best power potential in the 2025 prep class, and he showed it off by sharing the title at the All-Star High School Home Run Derby in Arlington, Texas, the summer before. He hit almost exclusively right-handed for most of his first three years at baseball power Orange (Calif.) Lutheran HS because a left elbow injury made it too painful to swing from that side, but he reincorporated his lefty stroke late in his junior season when a back ailment hampered his righty swing. The Cubs drafted him 181st overall in July and gave him a sixth-round-record $2 million to give up a commitment to Texas A&M.

Hartshorn draws comparisons to Mets first base/outfield prospect Ryan Clifford from some evaluators, both for his upside at the plate and the fact that most of his value comes from his offensive game. His lefty swing isn't as polished as his righty stroke but features more bat speed. While his power is his main attraction, he has a disciplined approach and feel for hitting as well.

As with Clifford, there's some question as to whether Hartshorn will wind up on an outfield corner vs. first base in the long run. He moves well for a 6-foot-2, 220-pounder, especially in terms of straight-line speed, but he'll have to maintain his conditioning to retain his fringy quickness. As his left arm returns to full health, he's regaining the arm strength that produced fastballs up to 94 mph earlier in his high school career, so he should throw well enough for right field.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	02/25/2026	OF Josiah Hartshorn assigned to Chicago Cubs.
	08/04/2025	ACL Cubs activated OF Josiah Hartshorn.
	07/25/2025	OF Josiah Hartshorn assigned to ACL Cubs.
	07/24/2025	Chicago Cubs signed OF Josiah Hartshorn.
	05/23/2025	College Workout activated OF Josiah Hartshorn.
	08/16/2024	OF Josiah Hartshorn assigned to High School Workout.
	08/12/2024	OF Josiah Hartshorn assigned to High School Workout.
	06/30/2024	High School Workout activated OF Josiah Hartshorn.
	09/19/2023	States Play - West activated OF Josiah Hartshorn.
	09/19/2023	States Play - West activated OF Josiah Hartshorn.
	08/16/2023	OF Josiah Hartshorn assigned to High School Workout.