Jonathon Long Stats & Scouting Report

AB	514
AVG	.305
OBP	.404
SLG	.479
HR	20

Full name Jonathon Long
Born 01/20/2002 in
Profile Bats: R / Throws: R
School Orange
Drafted in the 9th round (266th overall) by the Chicago Cubs in 2023 (signed for $179,400).

View Draft Report

School: Long Beach State Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.5
A three-year starter and consistent offensive performer for Long Beach State, Long had a career-year in 2023 when he slashed .310/.402/.597 and hit 15 home runs and 17 doubles with a 17.2% strikeout rate and 11.4% walk rate. Long earned second team All-Big West honors for his season, which was significantly more powerful than his 2021 and 2022 campaigns. A 6-foot, 210-pound first baseman, Long has a slightly closed off setup with quick hands and a fairly direct path to the ball. He hits the ball hard and managed a 92 mph average exit velocity this spring, with home run power to both gaps. Long’s uptick in game power this spring is important for his profile at the next level, as he’s a below-average runner and likely limited to first base. He’s always hit for average and gotten on base at a strong clip, though Long did struggle in 40 games in the Cape Cod League in 2022, when he slashed .210/.320/.381 with 41 strikeouts and 14 walks. His performance this spring could make him a late day two draft target.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 45/Mild

Adjusted Grade: 40

Track Record: After a strong three-year career at Long Beach State, Long was drafted by the Cubs in the ninth round in 2023. Assigned to High-A South Bend in 2024, he .hit his way to Double-A Tennessee in the second half, where he caught fire by hitting .340/.455/.528 over the final 46 games of the season. Long spent all of 2025 with Triple-A Iowa and hit .305/.404/.479 with 20 home runs, production that was 31% better than International League competition. He led the IL with 157 hits and was recognized as the league’s all-star first baseman.

Scouting Report: While not blessed with plus athleticism or size, Long has continued to outperform his pedigree because of a nice blend of contact and power. His bat-to-ball skills are above-average and he limits whiffs with a passive approach. His lack of aggressiveness leads to lots of walks, but he’s prone to taking hittable pitches for called strikes too often. Long shows a good blend of on-base skills and contact hitting and should project to hit for higher batting averages with good walk rates. His underlying raw power is plus and he’s shown an ability to get to it in games consistently. Flatter launch angles have led to a higher groundball rate. Long’s struggles to make contact in the air to his pull side likely cap his home run output. His exit velocity data and angles are likely enough to produce 18-24 home runs over a full season. If he’s able to add loft to swing in the coming years, it’s possible he gets into the mid 20s for home runs. Long is a below-average runner and is likely a primary first baseman. He’s a fringe-average defender at first base and can fill in at third base on occasion.

The Future: Long might have the prerequisite contact and power combination to carve out a niche as a second-division regular.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Field: 45 | Arm: 45.
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.

Track Record: A three-year starter at Long Beach State, Long’s career year in 2023 earned him second team All-Big West honors. The Cubs drafted him in the ninth round that year and signed him for $179,400. Long opened 2024 with High-A South Bend before a July 20 promotion to Double-A Tennessee. Long took off after reaching the Southern League, hitting .340/.455/.528 with seven home runs over 46 games to end his season. He participated in the Arizona Fall league following the season.

Scouting Report: Long is a bat-first corner prospect who will likely end up at first base. He has the requisite plate skills and power to profile long-term at the position, and showed off his advanced hitting acumen in 2024. Long’s swing path is conducive for power, with a natural loft and uppercut finish. Despite a power-hitter’s stroke, Long shows above-average bat-to-ball skills against all pitch types. He’s an aggressive swinger against fastballs but rarely chases breaking balls out of the zone. In 2024, Long had a 16% chase rate against spin of all types. Long is a fringe-average runner who can handle an outfield corner when called upon. Ideally, he’s an everyday starter at first base where he is an average defender. Long played eight games at third base in 2024 and is unlikely to see much time there moving forward.

The Future: Long broke out showing the combination of plate skills and power that can profile at first base. He should spend a majority of 2025 with Triple-A Iowa.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Field: 50 | Arm: 45.

Draft Prospects

School: Long Beach State Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.5
A three-year starter and consistent offensive performer for Long Beach State, Long had a career-year in 2023 when he slashed .310/.402/.597 and hit 15 home runs and 17 doubles with a 17.2% strikeout rate and 11.4% walk rate. Long earned second team All-Big West honors for his season, which was significantly more powerful than his 2021 and 2022 campaigns. A 6-foot, 210-pound first baseman, Long has a slightly closed off setup with quick hands and a fairly direct path to the ball. He hits the ball hard and managed a 92 mph average exit velocity this spring, with home run power to both gaps. Long’s uptick in game power this spring is important for his profile at the next level, as he’s a below-average runner and likely limited to first base. He’s always hit for average and gotten on base at a strong clip, though Long did struggle in 40 games in the Cape Cod League in 2022, when he slashed .210/.320/.381 with 41 strikeouts and 14 walks. His performance this spring could make him a late day two draft target.