The year was 2021.

At the July trade deadline, the Cubs had done the heart-wrenchingly unthinkable of offloading their World Series core in Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Javier Baez. When the dust settled on the season, Baseball America offered up a prediction of what the Cubs would look like four years in the future. It’s quite interesting to look back on:

Evidently, Baseball America didn’t have a crystal ball – and with the Cubs’ 2025 season already underway, the future is now.

Here’s what happened to that squad of both familiar and bygone faces. In bold are Cubs starters in 2025:

Hitters

• C Miguel Amaya
  • This was a bold prediction and a great one at that. Willson Contreras was still the Cubs’ catcher in 2021, and wouldn’t leave until his free agency after the 2022 season.
• 1B Frank Schwindel
  • Released in 2022. Signed with the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna of the Mexican League on March 1, 2025.
• 2B Nick Madrigal
  • Released in 2024. Signed a free agent contract with the New York Mets on Jan. 31, 2025.
• 3B Patrick Wisdom
  • Released in 2024. Signed with the Kia Tigers of the South Korea’s KBO on Dec. 15.
• SS Nico Hoerner
  • The Cubs signed Dansby Swanson to a seven-year deal in 2022, moving Hoerner to second base permanently.
• LF Owen Caissie
  • As the Cubs’ No. 2 prospect, Caissie is on the brink of making his MLB debut but a crowded outfield depth chart stands in his way of getting regular reps.
• CF Pete Crow-Armstrong
  • PCA was coming off shoulder surgery in 2021, and was named the Cubs’ No. 6 prospect for 2022.
• RF Brennan Davis
  • Released in 2024. Signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees on Dec. 28.
• DH Ian Happ
  • Happ has gone on to win three Gold Gloves since 2022 and is not giving up his left field post any time soon.

Pitchers

• Brailyn Marquez
  • The Cubs released their former top prospect in 2023. He then signed a minor league deal with the Astros, but was subsequently released a year later and remains a free agent.
• Adbert Alzolay
  • Granted free agency in 2024 and signed a minor league deal with the Mets on Jan. 24, 2025. He is currently rehabbing from elbow surgery.
• Jordan Wicks
  • Wicks was on the Cubs’ Tokyo Series roster but was optioned to Iowa on March 20.
• Caleb Kilian
  • Kilian has pitched six innings in spring training this year but has struggled (9.22 ERA in 27.1 IP) in his three-year Cubs career.
• DJ Herz
  • Traded to the Washington Nationals for Jeimer Candelario in 2023, Herz made his MLB debut in 2024 and pitched 88.2 innings in the Nationals’ rotation.
• Codi Heuer
  • Released by the Cubs in November 2023 and signed a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers in 2024.

Baseball America clearly got a few things right, but this goes to show how much things can change in just a few short years – and how difficult it is to predict the future in baseball.