Cub prospects in the news

[Guest]

let's say you have the option of one of baez/bryant turning out to be a perennial all-star type (.900+ OPS, good infield defense), while the other guy completely flames out and is useless. would you take that right now, or would you hold out and hope both are great?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

let's say you have the option of one of baez/bryant turning out to be a perennial all-star type (.900+ OPS, good infield defense), while the other guy completely flames out and is useless. would you take that right now, or would you hold out and hope both are great?

 

Take it.

[Sammy Sofa]

let's say you have the option of one of baez/bryant turning out to be a perennial all-star type (.900+ OPS, good infield defense), while the other guy completely flames out and is useless. would you take that right now, or would you hold out and hope both are great?

 

Take it.

 

Without hesitation.

[StarlinOnYou]

I have a very hard time seeing Bryant flame out. His bat seems destined to play whether it's at 3B or LF.

 

And I get overly giddy about Baez. I think we are going to be laughing two years from now at how lucky we got.

[craig]

I actually think Bryant has a very substantial chance to flame out. Guys with contact problems always do. With his K profile thus far, how could it be a shock if that gets worse and is a prohibitive problem?

[rawaction]

I actually think Bryant has a very substantial chance to flame out. Guys with contact problems always do. With his K profile thus far, how could it be a shock if that gets worse and is a prohibitive problem?

 

Agreed. He's kinda like Javy in that he does start disasterously at each level (5Ks in 1st 5 ABs in Boise, 5 in first 9 at Daytona, 11 in 18 this spring). But he has adjusted to put the ball in play. It will be very interesting to see how much he's able to put the ball in play at the upper levels, when pitchers start to have more control/command and attack him either inside hard or low and away with offspeed stuff (typical way to get a tall, long-armed hitter out). Plus, I have almost 0 hope for him at 3B. Doesn't look bad there, but he's just so freaking tall and long.

[Guest]

I've mentioned it before, but given his ability to make contact so far and his approach (and his power), I almost feel better about Soler than Bryant. The only reason I don't is because of what everyone else says.

 

I get the track record of those types of college hitters but everything else makes me feel like Soler is a safer while still having impact upside in his own right. That is...if he stays on the field.

[Guest]

Parks had a chat yesterday:

 

Scott (Lincolnshire): Outside of the big 4 + Alcantara, who impressed you the most from the Cubs back field scouting?

 

Jason Parks: Jen-Ho Tseng. I really liked the profile. The FB showed plus velocity and life; the CB was tight and thrown for strikes. Advanced pitchability. Based on what I saw in camp, I would put him in the Cubs top ten.

 

Number27 (The Good Land): Who finishes with more MLB HRs? Javier Baez or Kris Bryant?

 

Jason Parks: Career? Baez.

 

SenatorsGuy (Minnesota): With the recent decision by the Cubs to try Javier Baez out at second base, does this open up third for Kris Bryant for the next few years?

 

Jason Parks: I think its about having options. You could try Baez out at third, but you already have Olt and Villanueva ahead in the queue--which should be considered a strength in the upper minors/majors, not to mention Bryant; although I think his long-term home will be in a corner OF spot. As an org, if you can fill a weakness from a position of strength, you explore those options. Baez needs more time in the minors, but there is going to come a time when he is ready to attack the major league level, and when that time comes, you have to play him somewhere. You might as well prepare for that outcome by getting him reps at a position of weakness in the short-term regardless of your long-term plans or projections for the player. It's smart baseball.

 

brentdaily (boulder): Any new thoughts on Vogelbach after catching him in Mesa? Enough stick to warrant owning a glove?

 

Jason Parks: Sure. Maybe. But the profile is still bat first, no matter how much better the body looks. He is going to have to hit a ton to have value, and even though I think he will hit, I doubt it achieves a Prince Fielder-level of production, so its hard to get too excited about it. Right or wrong, I find it difficult to get too excited about 1B/DH prospects until they crush in the upper minors and look projectable to do so against major league pitching.

 

Super Buff Guy (Super Buff Village): Over or under 700 career HRs for Baez and Bryant combined

 

Jason Parks: Over.

 

Steve (Peoria, IL): Is C.J. Edwards still the Cubs best pitching prospect or is Jen-Ho Tseng higher now?

 

Jason Parks: Edwards is the better prospect

 

JSappington (IL): I see a lot of people ask you about Eloy, what about Gleyber Torres?

 

Jason Parks: I liked him a lot more than Eloy. Moves very naturally on the field, and I liked how he put his bat to the ball. I would rank him higher than Jimenez.

 

 

racehorse1 (siesta key): Always enjoy your no bs style Jason. Kyle Hendricks been doing nothing but get guys out for 2 years. His velocity gonna play against the big kids? And call me crazy, to me Soler could be the best of the bunch in 5 years. Plate discipline, bat speed and 65 power is not a bad combo, no?

 

Jason Parks: Hendricks can pitch and keep hitters off-balance with his stuff, but I don't see a lot of sustainable success at the major league level. As for Soler, he's my least favorite of the CUbs thumpers. He has 80 grade raw power, but I dislike his approach and his ability (inability) to make adjustments could end up [expletive] him against better arms. I wouldn't be surprised if he is the one that fails to reach his potential.

 

Joe (Minny): What hitter has the highest upside in the minors? Buxton? Sano?

 

Jason Parks: Baez

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/chat/chat.php?chatId=1138

 

 

Think I managed to get all of the Cubs stuff.

[Tyrant]

racehorse1 (siesta key): Always enjoy your no bs style Jason.

 

That has to be a joke

[SouthSideRyan]

racehorse1 (siesta key): Always enjoy your no bs style Jason.

 

That has to be a joke

 

It got his question answered.

[sneakypower]

let's say you have the option of one of baez/bryant turning out to be a perennial all-star type (.900+ OPS, good infield defense), while the other guy completely flames out and is useless. would you take that right now, or would you hold out and hope both are great?

i don't have very high hopes for Bryant, so yeah, i definitely take it

 

racehorse1 (siesta key): Always enjoy your no bs style Jason.

 

That has to be a joke

half of his responses were plotlines to Big Trouble in Little China

[Guest]

also, .900 OPS with good infield defense (which bryant won't have...adequate is a possibility) is more like sure-fire first ballot hall of famer than just perennial all star.

[Guest]

@BenBadler: No chance. Cubs say he's starting in DSL, chance for AZL RT @alcavol Do you think Eloy Jimenez could get the nod to Low A Kane co this year?

[Guest]

also, .900 OPS with good infield defense (which bryant won't have...adequate is a possibility) is more like sure-fire first ballot hall of famer than just perennial all star.

 

i meant .900 in his peak years, but yeah.. i made the question too easy.

[TruffleShuffle]

Super Buff Guy (Super Buff Village): Over or under 700 career HRs for Baez and Bryant combined

 

Jason Parks: Over.

 

http://s.mlkshk.com/r/1WIZ

[TruffleShuffle]

 

RHP Dae-Eun Rhee (Cubs): 2007 FA sign from Seoul, South Korea; FB: 91-94; CB: 74-77; CH: 77-80; SP: 81-84. Loose arm; slim, lean build; durability to hold up over a full season’s workload a concern; easy looking, repeatable delivery; showed good feel to use his mix to keep hitters off balance; at times spotted FB down to both sides of the plate, flashing late sink; confident in command of above-average changeup; doubled it up often; same slot as FB, but can see it some out of hand; soft fade/tumble as it crosses the plate; mostly kept it around knees and below. Splitter was used effectively and most often as two-strike chase pitch below zone to both RHH+LHH; harder velo and more late bite than CH. CB used more as show-me pitch; inconsistent control; soft, 11/5 break with average depth; looks deceptive out of hand when he commands the pitch.

 

Rhee was in control early in his start, commanding his FB to both sides of the plate for quality strikes. Used both his changeup and split effectively for K’s and in keeping hitters off balance. On the flip side, Rhee failed to get out of his final inning, frequently falling behind hitters early in the count. Hitters had no problem squaring up his FB when he made a mistake over the plate.

 

Despite solid control/command of above average FB-CH-SP repertoire, Rhee has little margin for error. Lacks the build and durability to profile as a starter who can consistently turn over a lineup. I see him more as having the potential to fill the long-reliever/mop-up/spot starter role on a major-league staff. –Austin Diamond

 

RHP Felix Pena (Cubs): On the older side for a prospect (24 in 2014) advancing to the Florida State League; average height; physical, compact, mature, and durable build; attacks zone with aggressive approach; FB sat 90-94 through five easy innings; FB was mostly straight, but heavy; showed good control and decent command. Low-80s slider is an out pitch; often looked plus with sharp ¾ tilt; able to throw for strikes and induce chases out of the zone; changeup was presently below average, but usable; 87-89 MPH; lacked ideal velo separation from FB; flashed some late sink; didn’t see many, but showed some feel.

 

Some good aspects to delivery; uses legs well to maximize velo; stays balanced driving from the rubber into landing; ¾ release; loose and quick arm action; path is little long in back; soft front side on release causes finish to be rotational over land leg; throwing arm finishes with a high recoil to compensate for balance as a result.

 

In what was a brief first viewing, my impression of Pena is that he has a chance to continue starting through the upper minors, but profiles best as an aggressive, strike-throwing set-up man, using his hard FB and plus SL to get outs in shorter stints. –Austin Diamond

 

CF Jake Hannemann (Cubs): Drafted in 2013 by the Cubs in the third round out of BYU; went on a mission while in school, but still the same age as other players from his class (22 this April); athletic; average height; fully developed, lean, muscular, build; straight-on set-up at plate; medium width base; simple, short hand load and stride; has bat speed, but swing gets a little long and loopy; some swing/miss in the zone; seems to lack natural rhythm; used the whole field; hit some balls hard with line-drive approach; I would project to hit less than 10 HR in full season of ABs based on swing and approach;

 

Didn’t see a lot of opportunities in the field, but movements were very fluid; easy running style; covered ground easily; above-average speed; on the only challenging opportunity I saw, he got to his spot well going back for a deep fly ball, but lost his balance upon seeing that the storm level winds that day took the ball in a new direction. The ball dropped, but a minor-league pitcher watching the game told me that type of error was an aberration. I question if Hannemann will hit enough to become an everyday major-league CF, but he appears to have the athleticism and glove to profile as a 4th or 5th OF. –Austin Diamond

[Guest]

Well this is sort of out of nowhere. Trib with a piece on Blackburn.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-minors-cubs-pirates-spt-0411-20140411,0,353916.story

 

Friends of Paul Blackburn didn't notice the 50 pounds that he gained since high school until they watched videotapes of his performances at Heritage High School in Brentwood, Calif.

 

"My body feels a lot better," said the 6-foot-2 Blackburn, who says he now weighs 205 pounds. "I feel like I have more strength now than I did when I got drafted (in 2012) and in my first two years of pro ball.''

 

The Cubs hope the added weight will help Blackburn's development as a starting pitcher. Baseball America rates Blackburn as the 12th best prospect in the organization and he showed signs of promise at the end of last season when he pitched seven innings of two-hit ball while striking out eight and walking none in short-season Class A Boise's Game 1 victory in the Northwest League playoffs.

 

Blackburn, 20, has benefited from gaining weight properly rather than from patronizing fast food restaurants.

 

"We have (strength) camps out here in November and January," Blackburn said last month at the Cubs' spring training facility in Arizona. "They put you on programs dealing with strength and weight. (They tell) how much you need to eat to gain weight and make sure it's good weight and not bad weight."

 

The added weight forced Blackburn, a sandwich pick taken 56th overall in the 2012 draft who signed for a $911,700 bonus, to buy some bigger pairs of jeans, but he's not complaining.

 

The Cubs have been very patient in letting Blackburn fill out. He started 2013 in extended spring training before joining Boise last June.

 

"I learned to get into a routine," Blackburn said. "They didn't rush me and instead set me up for success, no matter where I am. It has been a big help.

 

The Cubs also were mindful that Blackburn started his professional career directly out of high school.

 

"I'm seeing bigger guys," Blackburn said. "There are a lot of people here, and it's a job now. I don't know how else to put it."

 

After a rocky first start, Blackburn threw five innings of two-hit ball Wednesday for Class A Kane County against Fort Wayne.

 

 

Have there been any reports on his stuff at KC?

[craig]

Well this is sort of out of nowhere. Trib with a piece on Blackburn.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-minors-cubs-pirates-spt-0411-20140411,0,353916.story

Have there been any reports on his stuff at KC?

 

There was another piece a couple days ago, largely similiar. But with some comments from him and his manager. http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/sports/26718815-419/cougars-insider-extra-pounds-pay-off-for-pitcher-paul-blackburn.html

 

“He’s pretty special,” Cougars manager Mark Johnson said. “He has unbelievable pitchability. He throws strikes with all of his pitches. He’s not afraid to pitch in with his fastball.

 

“He can throw any pitch at any time, any side of the plate, and he handles the running game like he’s 30 years old and has been in the big leagues for years. He has all the intangibles, plus he has the stuff, plus he has composure. He’s got the complete package. He’s fun to watch pitch.”

 

Blackburn admits that he’s not going to light up the radar gun in the upper 90s, working more in the low 90s. He says that his best pitch in high school was his curveball, which is still a solid offering. But when he reached the professional ranks, he had trouble getting the correct grip on his curveball. That forced him to refine an underused pitch in his arsenal, the changeup. The result is a third plus offering.

 

“When I got to Boise, I didn’t feel comfortable with the balls, so I couldn’t throw my curveball anywhere,” Blackburn said. “It made me work on my change, so now I feel like my change is a lot better.”

[ctcf]

Rotoworld of all places giving some love to Pineyro

 

Cubs right-handed pitching prospect Ivan Pineyro struck out four en route to allowing one run in five innings for Double-A Tennessee.

Pineyro has seven strikeouts in nine innings while allowing only three runs (two earned) in his introduction to Double-A. He only made 11 starts in High-A after 13 starts in Low-A in 2013, so his early success could be the harbinger of things to come. Pineyro has an average fastball, but has shown a disappearing change-up and an improving curve ball, so he could turn into a mid-rotation starter who could provide value to the Cubs relatively soon.

[jersey cubs fan]

Javier Báez ‏@javy23baez 8m

I'll be back soon people. Promise.

[Guest]

 

RHP Dae-Eun Rhee (Cubs): 2007 FA sign from Seoul, South Korea; FB: 91-94; CB: 74-77; CH: 77-80; SP: 81-84. Loose arm; slim, lean build; durability to hold up over a full season’s workload a concern; easy looking, repeatable delivery; showed good feel to use his mix to keep hitters off balance; at times spotted FB down to both sides of the plate, flashing late sink; confident in command of above-average changeup; doubled it up often; same slot as FB, but can see it some out of hand; soft fade/tumble as it crosses the plate; mostly kept it around knees and below. Splitter was used effectively and most often as two-strike chase pitch below zone to both RHH+LHH; harder velo and more late bite than CH. CB used more as show-me pitch; inconsistent control; soft, 11/5 break with average depth; looks deceptive out of hand when he commands the pitch.

 

Rhee was in control early in his start, commanding his FB to both sides of the plate for quality strikes. Used both his changeup and split effectively for K’s and in keeping hitters off balance. On the flip side, Rhee failed to get out of his final inning, frequently falling behind hitters early in the count. Hitters had no problem squaring up his FB when he made a mistake over the plate.

 

Despite solid control/command of above average FB-CH-SP repertoire, Rhee has little margin for error. Lacks the build and durability to profile as a starter who can consistently turn over a lineup. I see him more as having the potential to fill the long-reliever/mop-up/spot starter role on a major-league staff. –Austin Diamond

 

RHP Felix Pena (Cubs): On the older side for a prospect (24 in 2014) advancing to the Florida State League; average height; physical, compact, mature, and durable build; attacks zone with aggressive approach; FB sat 90-94 through five easy innings; FB was mostly straight, but heavy; showed good control and decent command. Low-80s slider is an out pitch; often looked plus with sharp ¾ tilt; able to throw for strikes and induce chases out of the zone; changeup was presently below average, but usable; 87-89 MPH; lacked ideal velo separation from FB; flashed some late sink; didn’t see many, but showed some feel.

 

Some good aspects to delivery; uses legs well to maximize velo; stays balanced driving from the rubber into landing; ¾ release; loose and quick arm action; path is little long in back; soft front side on release causes finish to be rotational over land leg; throwing arm finishes with a high recoil to compensate for balance as a result.

 

In what was a brief first viewing, my impression of Pena is that he has a chance to continue starting through the upper minors, but profiles best as an aggressive, strike-throwing set-up man, using his hard FB and plus SL to get outs in shorter stints. –Austin Diamond

 

CF Jake Hannemann (Cubs): Drafted in 2013 by the Cubs in the third round out of BYU; went on a mission while in school, but still the same age as other players from his class (22 this April); athletic; average height; fully developed, lean, muscular, build; straight-on set-up at plate; medium width base; simple, short hand load and stride; has bat speed, but swing gets a little long and loopy; some swing/miss in the zone; seems to lack natural rhythm; used the whole field; hit some balls hard with line-drive approach; I would project to hit less than 10 HR in full season of ABs based on swing and approach;

 

Didn’t see a lot of opportunities in the field, but movements were very fluid; easy running style; covered ground easily; above-average speed; on the only challenging opportunity I saw, he got to his spot well going back for a deep fly ball, but lost his balance upon seeing that the storm level winds that day took the ball in a new direction. The ball dropped, but a minor-league pitcher watching the game told me that type of error was an aberration. I question if Hannemann will hit enough to become an everyday major-league CF, but he appears to have the athleticism and glove to profile as a 4th or 5th OF. –Austin Diamond

 

That's the best report on Rhee I've seen in a few years.

[mul21]

 

That's the best report on Rhee I've seen in a few years.

 

Is this his 2nd or 3rd year post TJS?

[Guest]

 

That's the best report on Rhee I've seen in a few years.

 

Is this his 2nd or 3rd year post TJS?

 

It's been longer than that, actually. He had the surgery in July 2008 and made it back to pitch in August 2009. He did miss about half of last season with a different injury.

[KingCubsFan]

Theo on Corey Black:

 

Black, who is starting to open some eyes at Double-A this season, went 4-0 at Single-A Daytona after the trade, while helping them to a Florida State League championship. Epstein just saw him pitch five innings of no-hit ball for Tennessee recently.

 

"He was 94-96 with really good life," he said. "We're happy with his development so far."

 

Black, 22, might end up being in the bullpen, although he's starting now.

 

http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/10785209/theo-epstein-says-alfonso-soriano-trade-benefited-chicago-cubs-new-york-yankees

[A New Era]

The one thing trade wise they've been outstanding with is acquiring young pitching. Black, Pinyero for guys you didn't think you'd get much value for.