A look into the new South Bend Cubs 2026 roster

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Baseball season has arrived, bringing fresh energy and new faces to the South Bend Cubs as they begin the 2026 minor league season at Four Winds Field.

Nearly all MLB players develop through the minors, with only a small fraction bypassing that path. Even then, just about 10 percent of minor league players ever appear in a major league game, highlighting the significance of stops like South Bend as a proving ground for future talent.

This year’s roster features a mix of returning experience and new additions, led by first-year manager Daniel Wasinger. Wasinger takes over after serving as the team’s bench coach in 2025. He began his coaching career with Myrtle Beach in 2024 and played a key role last season in developing the team’s catchers. Under that group, Ariel Armas led all affiliated baseball in runners caught stealing.

“I was really excited when I got that phone call saying they wanted me to manage,” Wasinger said. “I didn’t know it was going to be the South Bend Cubs and then when they told me it was South Bend, I was really ecstatic to come out here and I felt like I’m prepared and ready for it.”

In the lineup, outfielder Kade Snell stands out as a top intriguing prospect. Drafted in the fifth round in 2025 out of Alabama, Snell posted 77 hits, 10 home runs and 52 RBIs during his collegiate career. He also earned first-team All-SEC and second-team All-American honors.

Although Snell struggled in his first 27 games at the High-A level last season, he remains ranked among the Cubs’ top 30 prospects by MLB Pipeline.

“I think we have the best team hands down, but I’m biased,” Snell said. “I feel way more comfortable being around everyone. I know everyone, they know me. They know what I bring to the table, I know what they bring to the table and it’s a blessing to be here.”

On the mound, right-hander Kenten Egbert returns as one of the team’s most experienced pitchers. The 24-year-old made 25 appearances last season, recording a 4.26 ERA across 101 1/3 innings.

“I would love to continue where I left last year,” Egbert said. “I think last year I started off pretty rough and a little slow but at the end of the year I was catching strides, so I’d like to catch that early this year and maintain that for a whole season.”

While Wasinger, Snell and Egbert headline the early storylines, additional prospects are expected to emerge throughout the season. Outfielder Kane Kepley and catcher Owen Ayers are among the top names to watch as the year unfolds.