2026 Season Preview
DES MOINES, IA — The Iowa Cubs begin their 2026 season at home with a three-game homestand against the Columbus Clippers, Triple-A Affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. As we finally ditch the cold weather and winter clothes (sort of, one can only hope), it's time to get excited for sunshine, warm weather, and another fun year of baseball at Principal Park.
The club is led by Manager Marty Pevey, who returns for his 14th season at the helm of the Iowa Cubs, standing as the longest-tenured manager in franchise history and entering 2026 with the fifth-most career wins among active MiLB skippers.
The I-Cubs are spearheaded by the Cubs No. 2 ranked prospect and No. 58 prospect in all of baseball according to MLB.com prospect rankings, pitcher Jaxon Wiggins. Wiggins began his 2025 season dominating at Advanced-A South Bend and Double-A Knoxville, going a combined 3-2 with a 1.82 ERA. After receiving a September promotion to Iowa and making three starts to finish the season, Wiggins is looking to build off his strong start to the 2025 season and find his footing at the Triple-A level in 2026.
In the field and on the offensive side of the ball, Jonathon Long looks to build off his stellar 2025 campaign and continue the momentum in 2026. Long, ranked the No. 7 prospect in the Chicago Cubs system according to MLB.com, racked up the end of year accolades in 2025, including being named the Chicago Cubs Minor League Player of the Year, Baseball America Triple-A All-Star, and International League Post-Season All-Star. After leading Iowa last season in multiple statistical categories, including hits (157), total bases (246) and RBI (91), look for Long to continue to excite in 2026.
Other names to look out for include Kevin Alcantara, James Triantos, and Will Sanders. Alcantara, who spent the majority of the 2025 season with Iowa batting .266 with 17 home runs, and 69 RBI, enters the 2026 campaign as the No. 4 prospect in the Cubs’ organization. Triantos, spent 2025 in Iowa, ranking second on the team in stolen bases (28). Sanders made 17 appearances (14 starts) with Iowa last year and went 7-4 (56 ER in 79.0 IP) with 79 strikeouts.
Want to see a pair of World Series Champion outfielders? Look out for Chas McCormick and Justin Dean. McCormick won a World Series title with Houston in 2022, making a spectacular catch to help preserve a decisive Game 5 victory for the Astros. Dean was on the Dodgers World Series winning roster in 2025. Playing center field in Game 6 when the ball got wedged in the outfield wall in the ninth inning, Dean signaled a dead ball that kept Toronto’s rally at bay. This helped the Dodgers force Game 7, where they went on to win the title.
It is certain to be a fun year at Principal Park. Stay tuned for all the storylines and come on out for another exciting season of I-Cubs baseball.