“We’re going to win the N.L. [National League] Central, and you can quote me on that,” said Anthony Rizzo, the Chicago Cubs first baseman, as he demonstrated extreme confidence back in January when the team had’nt even started spring training. However, Rizzo had all the reasons to be confident. The team had just added an elite new manager, their new ace Jon Lester, and a brand new presence behind the plate with Miguel Montero (Not to mention the powerhouse of prospects that rest in their farm system or minor league system).

Jump ahead to present day and the Cubbies have begun their hopeful N.L. Central title season with a lot to prove. To the city of Chicago, these high expectations do not seem out of the question. Chicago Cub fans have been waiting year after year as the organization promised a bright future. Well, the future is now and it truly is the start of something new in the windy city.

It certainly wasn’t easy arriving to this point in time. The Cubs had to push through many painful seasons, but the city knew it was a process and hung in there through every pitch. The Chicago Cubs organization was not looking to set up a “win now” team but rather a team that will be in the running for many years to come.

The young talent and the emerging stars in the Chicago Cubs organization is what will carry this team to success in the near future. The team already has two all-stars in first baseman Anthony Rizzo and short-stop Starlin Castro, so with the additions of young prospects like Addison Russell, Javier Baez, Jorge Soler and of course Kris Bryant, this team could turn out to be one of the most elite groups in MLB.

When talking with Vernon Hills High School Baseball Coach Kurt Erickson, he touched on how the Cubs have gone about their business. “When you take a look at your better MLB organizations like the Yankees, the Rays, the Cardinals and the Giants, those are all teams that are in the races every year and that is because they have the strongest farm systems and they develop those players instead of relying on the free agent market,” said Erickson. He continued to say, “When you approve with that direction and through your farm system I think that you put yourself in a better position to have sustained success.” This is key; sustained success is exactly what the organization and the city of Chicago wants.

One can only imagine how greatly excited fans are for this newly predicted era of success. “They will make the playoffs this year, they have the hitting and pitching to make a serious run,” said VHHS student and long-time Cub fan Ben Geren(12). When asked if people should believe all the hype, Ben replied with a confident, “Yes, the hype is real. The Cubs will be competing for a World Series for the next 10 years. Hopefully they will bring one to Chicago this year.”

Even non-Cubs fans have to admire what the organization has managed to accomplish. Pulling together several of the top prospects around the league is not an easy task and making the right free-agent finds to complement them can be even harder. “I think the Cubs are making it their priority to produce a winner, although I am not a Cubs fan I am jealous of what they have going on,” said Erickson. The team is growing respect and those who love the game cannot deny that they will be in the hunt for a World Series ring.

When exactly that ring and trophy will come home to Wrigley Field, however, remains unknown. Coach Erickson took a stab at predicting when the team could lift the curse: “I’d probably say 2018.” Whereas, in Back to the Future II, they made the prediction of the team winning it all in 2015. It is impossible to call it, but if one thing’s for sure the new and improved Chicago Cubs are hungry for success and it truly is the start of a new era.