Minor League Baseball player Owen Ayers was so interested in getting better prior to the 2026 season that he adjusted his approach at the plate, switched bats and even changed the size of cleat he wore.
“I’m just trying to find out what works for me and allows me to kind of show up and be the same guy every day and be consistent and just kind of learning myself and the approach I want to have at the plate and things I’ve got to do to become a better defender,” Ayers said.
It’s all worked. Ayers, a 25-year-old catcher for the Iowa Cubs, has become one of the top prospects in the entire Chicago Cubs organization and is enjoying the best professional season of his career while moving one step away from a promotion to the major leagues.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Ayers said.
It certainly looks that way for Ayers, a 19th-round pick by the Cubs in 2024, who has rapidly and surprisingly risen through the minors.
He struggled in just 18 games at Myrtle Beach in 2024 and saw some improvement there a year later. The 2026 season has been a different story for Ayers, who has torn apart opposing pitching at three different levels.
Through his first 93 games of this campaign, Ayers has hit .318/.431/.603 with a 1.034 OPS to go along with 23 doubles and 23 home runs. Those totals are already career highs for the catcher.
The key to his success?
“Just a lot of small things,” Ayers said.
Super small things. Ayers, who previously used a 34-inch bat, switched to a torpedo model with the same handle model used by Cubs first baseman Michael Busch. He also went down half a cleat size and used insole grips that keep his feet from sliding around. Then, there’s the approach.
“Approach was just trying to use the whole field and not overly just pull-side home runs all the time,” Ayers said.
It’s all paid off for him. Ayers has hit everywhere he’s been this season. He hit .372 with a 1.341 OPS in 11 games at High-A before earning a promotion to Double-A. While there, he smashed 16 homers.
His first stint in Triple-A hasn’t been any different. In his first 17 games with Iowa, Ayers hit .333 with a .905 OPS along with four doubles and a home run.
The success has made Ayers one of the biggest names in Minor League Baseball. He’s risen to No. 2 in the Cubs organizational prospect rankings, according to MLB Pipeline.
ESPN insider Jeff Passan even name-dropped him as a possible trade target at the deadline. But Ayers stayed put and now looks like he could be a big part of the organization’s future.
“I’m super grateful I’m still here,” Ayers said. “I love this organization. This is where I want to play. And I want to play at Wrigley Field, so I’m very happy to still be here.”
In the meantime, Ayers is enjoying the success, fame and accolades he’s receiving.
“It’s been great,” he said. “It’s been fun having some success, but also been a lot of fun just playing with so many different players and coaches.”
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Cubs’ Owen Ayers changed his bat, cleats and approach to improve
Reporting by Tommy Birch, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Tommy Birch, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
