Cub prospects in the news

[Guest]

Official BP top 50 comes out tomorrow (Monday).

[Guancous]

BP midseason

 

1. Byron Buxton

2. Carlos Correa

3. Kris Bryant

4. Francisco Lindor

5. Javier Baez

6. Addison Russell

18. Arismendy Alcantara

37. Albert Almora

 

Recently drafted not eligible. They said Schwarber would fit on around 44.

[Guest]

Number of games played this season: Buxton - 6, Soler - 15 (8 at AA).

 

One falls out of the top 50 due to injury concerns, the other stays at #1, despite multiple wrist injuries.

[Guest]

It took BP a while, but put them on the list with the others.

[Guest]

Number of games played this season: Buxton - 6, Soler - 15 (8 at AA).

 

One falls out of the top 50 due to injury concerns, the other stays at #1, despite multiple wrist injuries.

For the life of me I can't understand the complete fascination with a guy who plays a premium position well and is a pretty good hitter. Put him in the top 20 if you like, but ranking him ahead of a guy who hits everything into outer space is stupid, and reeks of this esotericism that is still very prominent in baseball.

[abuck1220]

more like buston.

[Guest]

Getting a little abstract now

[bukie]

With Buxton's injury and depending on the flavor of SS prospect you prefer, there's a rational argument to be made that the Cubs have the top 3 prospects in baseball.

[abuck1220]

i mean for crying out loud, how long do i have to wait before someone posts the cubs info from BA's top 50?

[Guest]

With Buxton's injury and depending on the flavor of SS prospect you prefer, there's a rational argument to be made that the Cubs have the top 3 prospects in baseball.

 

1. The Hulk

2. The Gray Hulk that is smart

3. Sexy Wolverine

[sneakypower]

BA's midseason 50

 

2 Bryant

5 Russell

7 Baez

33 Al Contra

 

no Almora, Soler

[sneakypower]

BP midseason

 

1. Byron Buxton

2. Carlos Correa

3. Kris Bryant

4. Francisco Lindor

5. Javier Baez

6. Addison Russell

18. Arismendy Alcantara

37. Albert Almora

 

Recently drafted not eligible. They said Schwarber would fit on around 44.

Bryant:

• Developmental Update: Bryant continues to launch home runs, rack up strikeouts, rake at an eye-popping clip, and show a discerning eye at the plate. Through 371 plate appearances between Double A and Triple A, Bryant is slashing .357/.453/.717 and finds himself knocking on Wrigley’s door. He has proven himself without question to be the loudest bat in the minors and a potential impact mainstay in the middle of the Cubs order for the foreseeable future. –Nick Faleris

 

Baez:

• Developmental Update: Baez has the best bat speed in the minors, and it’s not even close for me; a lethal weapon that could make him the premium power bat in the game. But his approach is below average, and he routinely puts himself in bad hitter’s counts and conditions. With more refinement, the ceiling is cathedral but the risk is still quite high despite the fact that the 21-year-old is more than holding his own at the Triple-A level. –Jason Parks

 

Russell:

• Developmental Update: From a skill-set perspective, Addison Russell has the most well-rounded profile at the shortstop position in the minors, with above-average chops in the field (including double-plus hands), and impact potential with both the hit and power tools. Russell has lost half a season to injury, but could challenge for the top spot in the minors with a strong second half. The ultimate upside is a perennial all-star at a premium spot, and the future could start as early as 2015. –Jason Parks

 

Al Contra:

• Developmental Update: I’ve always liked Alcantara, but I was too low on him coming into the season, despite a skill set that has three-way impact potential at the highest level (hit/glove/run). Now that the 22-year-old has taken his talents to Triple-A, and exceeded expectations at the plate and on base, the future first-division player has jumped the list and emerged as a top 20 prospect in the game. --Jason Parks

 

Almora:

• Developmental Update: Almora’s had a rough start to his season. His lack of production in half a season at High-A as a 20-year-old shouldn’t obfuscate the tools he still has. Almora makes loud, consistent contact and plays a very good center field due to his ability to make early reads off the bat. The baseball IQ is high and it helps the other tools play up. He’s not the sexy name in the Cubs system, but don’t forget about him. –Mauricio Rubio

[Cubswin11]

"Double-Plus Hands"

[ScrubMD]

Lindor above Baez and Russell and a lot of other people is crazy to me. He wouldn't even be in my Cubs top 5. I'm very glad that trade didn't happen.

 

Buxton still being at #1 is a little silly. Soler has done nothing but destroy the ball when healthy, yet he plummets. Silly silly silly.

[jersey cubs fan]

Buxton still being at #1 is a little silly. Soler has done nothing but destroy the ball when healthy, yet he plummets. Silly silly silly.

 

It's not really fair to make this comparison. Buxton destroyed the ball and had 575 PA last season, while Soler had half that PA because he was hurt again. Their injury concerns differ in that Soler's have been chronic.

[ScrubMD]

As Raisin pointed out, it's multiple wrist injuries. If Soler's injuries take him down 30 spots or so (I think he was in the 20 range before), Buxton's should at least unseat him from #1.

[SouthSideRyan]

With Buxton's injury and depending on the flavor of SS prospect you prefer, there's a rational argument to be made that the Cubs have the top 3 prospects in baseball.

 

At least our guys can still play this season.

[TruffleShuffle]

soler went for .281/.343/.467/.810 last year as a 21 in the fsl. that's a nice line, but it's hardly destroying the ball. and he's played 104 games in 2.5 years, so while some of the injuries have been fluky (like the broken leg from the foul ball), they have to be a concern at this point.

[ScrubMD]

I'm not saying Buxton sucks, I'm not saying Soler's injuries are not a concern. I'm saying if Soler's injuries this year knock him down 30+ spots, you'd think Buxton's would move him from the #1 spot. I think Soler towards the back end of the top 50 and Buxton at 3 would be good.

[Guest]

I'm not saying Buxton sucks, I'm not saying Soler's injuries are not a concern. I'm saying if Soler's injuries this year knock him down 30+ spots, you'd think Buxton's would move him from the #1 spot. I think Soler towards the back end of the top 50 and Buxton at 3 would be good.

 

It's not just (or even primarily) his injuries. It's that Parks is down on Soler as a player compared to most other pundits. He has made these confusing judgments on his approach at the plate (very odd because he has one of the best in our system based on the results and plate appearances themselves) and he says he doesn't have the ability to make quick adjustments (based on what? - I have no freaking clue).

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm not saying Buxton sucks, I'm not saying Soler's injuries are not a concern. I'm saying if Soler's injuries this year knock him down 30+ spots, you'd think Buxton's would move him from the #1 spot. I think Soler towards the back end of the top 50 and Buxton at 3 would be good.

 

I do not think it is just the injuries, but it is also the fact that it is another year largely lost to injuries after missing much of last year.

 

Also, I doubt they put much value into what he did in Arizona this year.

[TruffleShuffle]

also from the bp midseason update:

 

Kyle Schwarber (C/OF, Cubs)

Where he fits: Somewhere after Hunter Renfroe (44th)

Schwarber was the most advanced collegiate bat in the draft class, with an ability to hit for plus in-game power without sacrificing average. He puts together professional at bats, shows well against top competition, and has a general knack for finding his pitch and driving it. At present he’s being permitted to feast upon heavily overmatched Low-A arms, and likely won’t face his first real professional challenge until Double-A (or perhaps the Arizona Fall League if he finds a spot on the taxi squad). The BP Prospect Team loves catchers, so his ranking on the Top 101 might be largely dictated by the position at which the Cubs elect to stick him. If it looks like he is destined for first base, he won’t debut on the Top 101 as high as organization mate Kris Bryant (17th last winter), but he could fit comfortably in the Top 60 or so with a solid 2014 pro showing.

[Guest]

I'm not saying Buxton sucks, I'm not saying Soler's injuries are not a concern. I'm saying if Soler's injuries this year knock him down 30+ spots, you'd think Buxton's would move him from the #1 spot. I think Soler towards the back end of the top 50 and Buxton at 3 would be good.

 

It's not just (or even primarily) his injuries. It's that Parks is down on Soler as a player compared to most other pundits. He has made these confusing judgments on his approach at the plate (very odd because he has one of the best in our system based on the results and plate appearances themselves) and he says he doesn't have the ability to make quick adjustments (based on what? - I have no freaking clue).

 

Well, that's ridiculous (Soler's approach is probably his best attribute) but at least that might mean BP isn't grading Buxton and Soler differently when they both have injury histories.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm not saying Buxton sucks, I'm not saying Soler's injuries are not a concern. I'm saying if Soler's injuries this year knock him down 30+ spots, you'd think Buxton's would move him from the #1 spot. I think Soler towards the back end of the top 50 and Buxton at 3 would be good.

 

It's not just (or even primarily) his injuries. It's that Parks is down on Soler as a player compared to most other pundits. He has made these confusing judgments on his approach at the plate (very odd because he has one of the best in our system based on the results and plate appearances themselves) and he says he doesn't have the ability to make quick adjustments (based on what? - I have no freaking clue).

 

Well, that's ridiculous (Soler's approach is probably his best attribute) but at least that might mean BP isn't grading Buxton and Soler differently when they both have injury histories.

 

The fact that they both have injuries does not mean they should be graded the same because of those injuries. Buxton is 2 years younger, plays CF and has almost twice as many professional PA as Soler, who has yet to play even a full half season.

[ScrubMD]

I'm not saying Buxton sucks, I'm not saying Soler's injuries are not a concern. I'm saying if Soler's injuries this year knock him down 30+ spots, you'd think Buxton's would move him from the #1 spot. I think Soler towards the back end of the top 50 and Buxton at 3 would be good.

 

It's not just (or even primarily) his injuries. It's that Parks is down on Soler as a player compared to most other pundits. He has made these confusing judgments on his approach at the plate (very odd because he has one of the best in our system based on the results and plate appearances themselves) and he says he doesn't have the ability to make quick adjustments (based on what? - I have no freaking clue).

 

Well, that's ridiculous (Soler's approach is probably his best attribute) but at least that might mean BP isn't grading Buxton and Soler differently when they both have injury histories.

 

The fact that they both have injuries does not mean they should be graded the same because of those injuries. Buxton is 2 years younger, plays CF and has almost twice as many professional PA as Soler, who has yet to play even a full half season.

 

Nobody is saying Soler is better than Buxton, but wrist injuries are a big deal.