Cub prospects in the news

[Gilby]

Russell is obviously the guy that the FO could take longer on. He's missed a good part of this year and I doubt they'd consider a position switch mid season for either him or Starlin. Nor do I think they switch Russell in the offseason if he's definitively a SS longterm.

 

No idea on Soler, but if he stays healthy and continues to rake, I hope they send him to Iowa by August 1st or so. Then all bets are off with him, in my mind.

 

I don't really understand how Russell's ETA is 2015. He will only be 21 all next year, and given the likelihood of them calling up more than 1 of the older batch, and starting their clocks in 2015, I would think they might want to spread that out and wait until 2016 after he gives them no choice but to call him up. This will also give them a chance to figure out what they want to do with Castro longterm.

 

That's exactly what I expect. But if he turns it on the rest of this year and starts to dominate AAA next year, it's going to be tough to keep him down there.

 

He's hitting under .200 for a guy who is suppose to have such an incredible hit tool he certainly hasn't shown it so far. I realize he got a late start because of the hamstring tear but he needs to start hitting at some point. He's certainly not knocking at majors door. He has quite a bit of work to do. He really has yet to dominate at the AA level yet for an extended period of time.

 

He was hitting really well for the A's double-A affiliate, so I think it's fair to cut him some slack being the centerpiece of a blockbuster trade and the pressure that comes with that. I also don't know that his hit tool is supposed to be "incredible"; it's just he's good at everything and does so playing SS.

Edited July 17, 2014 by Gilby

[Vinestal]

He's played 21 games at AA, good grief

Yet people in this thread are talking about him being ready for the majors already. He got plenty of time he's only 20. I get that he's new to the level. I'm guessing he takes a while to figure it out, maybe the rest of the year.

[Guest]

He's played 21 games at AA, good grief

Yet people in this thread are talking about him being ready for the majors already. He got plenty of time he's only 20. I get that he's new to the level. I'm guessing he takes a while to figure it out, maybe the rest of the year.

 

Pundits are the ones saying he's (nearly) ready for the majors already, not us.

[jersey cubs fan]

He's played 21 games at AA, good grief

Which would seem to me to indicate there is plenty of time before we can expect him to be in the majors.

[Guest]

He's played 21 games at AA, good grief

Yet people in this thread are talking about him being ready for the majors already. He got plenty of time he's only 20. I get that he's new to the level. I'm guessing he takes a while to figure it out, maybe the rest of the year.

 

That's going off more than one prospect evaluator's evaluation, and still yet most people are talking about Russell being ready IF he hits well to finish the year and IF he tears up Iowa to start 2015.

[Vinestal]

He's played 21 games at AA, good grief

Which would seem to me to indicate there is plenty of time before we can expect him to be in the majors.

That's all I'm trying to say. I think he's going to take a little more time at this level than Baez. How old was Castro when he started in AA?

[jersey cubs fan]

He's played 21 games at AA, good grief

Which would seem to me to indicate there is plenty of time before we can expect him to be in the majors.

That's all I'm trying to say. I think he's going to take a little more time at this level than Baez. How old was Castro when he started in AA?

Castro was 19 in AA.

[Vinestal]

He's played 21 games at AA, good grief

Which would seem to me to indicate there is plenty of time before we can expect him to be in the majors.

That's all I'm trying to say. I think he's going to take a little more time at this level than Baez. How old was Castro when he started in AA?

Castro was 19 in AA.

Wow, I guess I forgot how young he was. Russell is still pretty young for the league. I'm sure he's also pressing some.

[Gilby]

He's played 21 games at AA, good grief

Which would seem to me to indicate there is plenty of time before we can expect him to be in the majors.

That's all I'm trying to say. I think he's going to take a little more time at this level than Baez. How old was Castro when he started in AA?

 

You may be right, but if you're basing this off 8 games, then at least factor in the 13 he played at AA with the Athletics and put up a .939 OPS with as many walks as strikeouts. He has a very good approach which is why people think he'll be a fast mover.

[Vinestal]

He's played 21 games at AA, good grief

Which would seem to me to indicate there is plenty of time before we can expect him to be in the majors.

That's all I'm trying to say. I think he's going to take a little more time at this level than Baez. How old was Castro when he started in AA?

 

You may be right, but if you're basing this off 8 games, then at least factor in the 13 he played at AA with the Athletics and put up a .939 OPS with as many walks as strikeouts. He has a very good approach which is why people think he'll be a fast mover.

I'm sure he'll come around, the slow start with us is just kinda sad to see.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

you're sure he'll turn around and not hit .200 the rest of year? good grief, that's a load off my mind.

[Vinestal]

you're sure he'll turn around and not hit .200 the rest of year? good grief, that's a load off my mind.

Lol

God I hope so... :beg:

[davell]

He's played 21 games at AA, good grief

Which would seem to me to indicate there is plenty of time before we can expect him to be in the majors.

That's all I'm trying to say. I think he's going to take a little more time at this level than Baez. How old was Castro when he started in AA?

Castro was 19 in AA.

 

He was 20 as well. He got 31 games as a 19 year old, then another 26 when he was 20.

[weis21]

From FanGraphs "Fringe Five: Baseball's Most Compelling Fringe Prospects":

 

Billy McKinney, OF, Chicago NL (Profile)

Owing to the attention he’s received of late as a part of that recent trade which sent him (along with Addison Russell and Dan Straily) from Oakland to Chicago, one could reasonably make a reasonable argument to the effect that McKinney isn’ currently being ignored in the way that some prospects on this list are. And yet, according to the somewhat arbitrary criteria which dictate eligibility for this weekly column, McKinney remains a “fringe” prospect. And also, regardless of these absurd logistical matters, this edition of the Five at least provides an opportunity to note how excellent McKinney — who remains 19 years old for a month-plus — how excellent McKinney has been since joining Cubs’ High-A affiliate Daytona. Over nine game and 36 plate appearances, the outfielder has recorded a 6:4 walk-to-strikeout ratio and a home run — this, as currently the second-youngest player in all the Florida State League. He appears to be a legitimate prospect now after having mostly been regarded as a just pretty good one.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-fringe-five-baseballs-most-compelling-fringe-prospects-33/

[Guest]

BP's "What Scouts Are Saying" piece leads with a bit on Alcantara.

 

Cubs 2B Arismendy Alcantara: “You hear all about the guys like Bryant, Almora, Baez, and now Russell, and rightfully so, but Alcantara might be the most complete player in their system. He brings advanced hitability, plus-plus speed, and impact defense. He's an exciting guy to watch and reminds me a little of Jose Reyes. I saw they said they aren't going to send Alcantara down just yet, and I would be surprised if he ever made it back to Iowa.”

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

last year bonus baby Jefferson Mejia so far in the AZL: 14 innings, 16/3 K/BB, 2.82 FIP

[TruffleShuffle]

BP's "What Scouts Are Saying" piece leads with a bit on Alcantara.

 

Cubs 2B Arismendy Alcantara: “You hear all about the guys like Bryant, Almora, Baez, and now Russell, and rightfully so, but Alcantara might be the most complete player in their system. He brings advanced hitability, plus-plus speed, and impact defense. He's an exciting guy to watch and reminds me a little of Jose Reyes. I saw they said they aren't going to send Alcantara down just yet, and I would be surprised if he ever made it back to Iowa.”

 

alcantara always struck me as a guy who would be underrated because he didn't have a huge ceiling, but eventually people would wake up and he'd be posting jason kipnis or brandon phillips-type numbers from the middle infield, which is tremendously valuable on a min salary.

[Clem Fandango]

Now that he'll likely be doing it from center field, I'm curious... instead of Jose Reyes light, could we consider him Carlos Gomez light. Is that a fair comp?

[apete6]

Now that he'll likely be doing it from center field, I'm curious... instead of Jose Reyes light, could we consider him Carlos Gomez light. Is that a fair comp?

 

What about a Tony Philips comp? When he was strictly 2B, I was thinking Ray Durham with less power.

[EhDubya]

Now that he'll likely be doing it from center field, I'm curious... instead of Jose Reyes light, could we consider him Carlos Gomez light. Is that a fair comp?

 

What about a Tony Philips comp? When he was strictly 2B, I was thinking Ray Durham with less power.

 

Reyes or Rollins

[Guest]

Fan Graphs on Pierce Johnson: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/prospect-watch-cubs-marlins-go-fishing-for-pitching/

[Guest]

It seems particularly lazy to get 'last 2 starts' wrong statistically.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

marc hulet probably still has dillon maples in his top 5

[Guest]

From Law's Top 5 Midseason Farm Systems

1. Chicago Cubs

 

I know Cubs fans have heard this before, but just wait till next year, because this club is going to get good in a hurry, at least on the run-scoring side of the ledger. The system already had the minors' best collection of high-end bats, and they added several more over the past seven weeks, including the fourth-best prospect in the minors in shortstop Addison Russell, who came over with promising left fielder Billy McKinney in the Jeff Samardzija trade.

 

They also added catcher/left fielder Kyle Schwarber with the fourth overall pick in this year's draft, a pick I think was an overdraft in part due to doubts he'll stick at either position, but he has raked so far in limited at-bats, mostly against younger competition. They used the savings on Schwarber's bonus to grab several high-upside high school arms later in the draft, including right-hander Dylan Cease, whose elbow ligament injury might require Tommy John surgery but who was seen as a top-15 pick talent before his injury. Cease has a fastball that can touch 100 mph and at times a plus breaking ball. The Cubs also have some promising hitters on their AZL club (rookie league) from their Latin American spending spree in 2013, including bonus babies Gleyber Torres (from Venezuela) and Eloy Jimenez (from the Dominican Republic), both just 17 years old.

 

These infusions have helped balance out a few disappointments in the system of players I ranked highly coming out of last year. Albert Almora has been a disappointment (.306 OBP in high-)A, continuing his record of awful walk rates in pro ball to date. C.J. Edwards and Pierce Johnson, their top two arms coming into the year, both have missed substantial time with injuries; Edwards is still on the shelf, and Johnson hasn't been effective at Double-A when healthy. Jeimer Candelario, whose only tool was his bat, hasn't hit at two levels now and is about to be buried by the wave of infield prospects ahead of him. Scott Frazier, their sixth-round pick last year, appears to have the yips, with 12 walks and four hit batsmen in 22 batters faced.

 

Most of the successful arms in the system this year have been pitchers at low-A Kane County, particularly undersized Taiwanese right-hander Tseng Jen-Ho and 2012 draftee Paul Blackburn, which means the Cubs probably won't get the starting pitching help they need from their system in the next year or two. Fortunately for them and their fans, they have the bats to trade to acquire pitching from outside the organization.

 

This has to be the most loaded the Cubs' farm has been in at least 30 years.

[wekim81]

Pierce has a 2.08 ERA with almost 8K per 9 and a 2:1 K:BB ratio (which isn’t great, but tons better than before) since he’s come back from injury. But hey Keith, let’s not let that get in the way of a good story. Go write about board games and custard you buffoon.