The Blackhawks were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs last week, signaling a depressing time of year for many Chicago sports fans.

Especially for Cubs fans like myself.

With Bears training camp still over a month away, my undivided sports attention is forced to turn to the baseball team on the North Side. Fellow Cubs fans, I know you feel my pain. Our beloved Wrigley Field tenants are in last place yet again, and, as I write this, are on pace for a 97-loss season. The Cubs haven’t been good since 2008 and have been absolutely terrible since 2011.

But despite all the doom and gloom, the stalled ballpark renovations and the front office’s repeated attempts to distract fans with mascots, promotions and anniversary celebrations, I’m finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Better days are ahead for the Chicago Cubs, and I think they’re right around the corner.

I know, we’ve been serenaded with promises of “wait ‘til next year” for what seems like forever. But there are reasons to be optimistic.

First of all, the Cubs pitching this year has been better than expected, and that includes both the starting rotation and the bullpen. Though starters Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel will likely be traded, they’ve both had outstanding seasons on the mound and will net a nice return if they are indeed dealt. Through last Thursday, Samardzija and Hammel had ERAs of 2.54 and 2.78, respectively. Personally, I’d like to see them signed to contract extensions.

After a slow start to the season, the bullpen has come around and looks to be shaping up nicely for years to come. The Cubs dumped their dead-weight former closer Jose Veras on June 3, and it looks like President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein has assembled a solid core of young relievers for the future. Right-handers Neil Ramirez, Pedro Strop and Justin Grimm have shown promise, while Hector Rondon has locked up the closer role with seven saves in eight tries and a 1.46 ERA. The Cubs’ bullpen ERA of 3.13 is good for fifth-best in the National League.

Another reason the 2014 season hasn’t been a total waste is the redemption (so far) of Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro. The two faces of the franchise struggled in 2013 but have bounced back into decent form offensively under first-year manager Rick Renteria. It’s an encouraging sign that Rizzo and Castro are producing solid numbers with little protection in the lineup, especially since they both figure to be important pieces for the Cubs when and if they contend. Luis Valbuena and Junior Lake have also been pleasant surprises and at minimum could be decent utility players for years to come.

But since the big league club’s signs of improvement aren’t enough to translate to a significant amount of wins, the real excitement for me lies in the Cubs’ second-ranked minor league system. Several prospects that were once a distant mirage are now close to arriving and hopefully making an impact at the major league level.

Kris Bryant, the Cubs’ fourth overall draft pick in 2013, looks to be the most major league-ready. Bryant is destroying minor league pitching, batting .346 with 19 home runs and 51 RBI through his first 59 games at Double A Tennessee. If he keeps up his torrid pace, I’d like to see Epstein promote Bryant to Triple A Iowa sometime in the next month. If all goes well, there’s no reason Bryant shouldn’t be up with the Cubs in September.

Though Bryant is the hottest Cubs prospect right now, shortstop Javier Baez is still considered their top minor league talent. After an awful start to the season at Triple A Iowa that left many fans questioning his ability, Baez went on a hitting streak that earned him PCL Player of the Week Honors for May 19-25. I have faith in Baez to continue to rebound for his slow start and am holding out hope for a September call-up for him as well.

The Cubs also have switch-hitting second baseman Arismendy Alcantara and reliever Arodys Vizcaino waiting in the wings in the minor leagues. A potential 2015 Opening Day lineup that includes Bryant, Baez, Rizzo, Castro, Alcantara, Lake, catcher Welington Castillo and a well-placed free agent or two could be very dangerous, provided the prospects live up to the hype.

So yes, 2014 looks like another lost season. But to me, this one feels different. For the first time in a long time, I can see some semblance of a real team with real talent being constructed, even if half of it is currently below the surface.

Just hold on a little longer, Cubs fans. The Dark Ages are almost over.

Alex is a junior in AHS. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @aroux94.