Cub prospects in the news

[toonsterwu]

I can't really find fault with where we are placed, considering how spotty our pitching is. It's roughly where I expected, maybe a couple spots lower, but it's fair.

 

I also can't find a team that I think is grossly over-rated, like I felt with the Padres last year. Still think the Red Sox are a bit over-rated as a system, but they are deeper than last year and deserving of top 10 status. I don't get why the Yankees are ahead of us, in all honesty, but they are probably at a similar level so eh. I get why folks have the Twins system high, but I really have some doubts about some of those guys.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/visa-issue-delays-cubs-juan-carlos-paniagua/

 

That mystery finally explained, though this was the likely culprit all along.

[Guest]

Hey, BA joined the 21st century in web design. Nice!

[Guest]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/visa-issue-delays-cubs-juan-carlos-paniagua/

 

That mystery finally explained, though this was the likely culprit all along.

 

 

Once his penalty ended, he signed with the Cubs last year using the same date of birth (April 4, 1990) that he used to sign with the Diamondbacks, which would make him 22. MLB ruled Paniagua’s age was undetermined, the Cubs decided to proceed with the contract, and Paniagua moved forward with his career.

 

Did we know this?

[Guest]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/visa-issue-delays-cubs-juan-carlos-paniagua/

 

That mystery finally explained, though this was the likely culprit all along.

 

 

Once his penalty ended, he signed with the Cubs last year using the same date of birth (April 4, 1990) that he used to sign with the Diamondbacks, which would make him 22. MLB ruled Paniagua’s age was undetermined, the Cubs decided to proceed with the contract, and Paniagua moved forward with his career.

 

Did we know this?

 

Yeah. MLB basically said to teams you can proceed if you're comfortable but know the risks.

[Cubswin11]

@keithlaw: Yes, he's ...scrappy RT @JosephDelGrippo: Have you had a chance to see Tim Saunders, who should start at SS for Cubs High A team in Daytona?

[toonsterwu]

Uh ... I take that to be ... not exactly complementary ...

 

Whoever Joe DelGrippo is needs to realize that Saunders isn't going to push aside Baez at short.

[toonsterwu]

I'm too lazy to go find the former prospects thread (I think we had one), but found it interesting that Justin Sellers is the Dodgers starting shortstop for now. Granted, stopgap. We had him briefly as a result of the Wuertz deal, but cut him before the season (I believe he lost out to Barney for a starting gig in AA and they didn't think it made sense to push him back to A ball ... but I could be mistaken).

[woodchip2153]

I guess this is the best place for this. The prospect list compiled together.

 

http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2013/4/2/4170696/2013-consensus-top-190-prospects

[Rex Buckingham]

I guess this is the best place for this. The prospect list compiled together.

 

http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2013/4/2/4170696/2013-consensus-top-190-prospects

 

18. Baez

30. Almora

35. Soler

98. Vizcaino

129. Vogelbach

155. Brett Jackson

165. Candelario

 

44. Chris Archer

76. HJ Lee

[Guest]

Where does Hak-Ju Lee go after another sub-.700 OPS this year? Does he break the Top 50? Will he be used to headline a trade for a star player(not a catcher though, they have Chirinos)?

[KingCubsFan]

Where does Hak-Ju Lee go after another sub-.700 OPS this year? Does he break the Top 50? Will he be used to headline a trade for a star player(not a catcher though, they have Chirinos)?

Keith Law will rank him ahead of Baez due to the hitch in Baez's swing.

[SouthSideRyan]

Tranny's Chirinos hate is the best thing on this site this side of bukie's chiding WSR for talking.

[Guest]

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=20093

 

With Fernandez fresh on the brain, my curiosity expanded into candidates for similar advancement, keeping the organizational needs in the picture but focusing most of the thought on the physical and emotional requirements of the prospect at hand. In my head, I asked: Who could pull a Fernandez in 2014? That is, which prospect that will play the 2013 season at the A-ball level has the skill set to justify skipping the high minors and starting the 2014 season in the majors? I started making calls. I started asking friends. I might have asked a few strangers. In the end, I polled 20 front office members--people responsible for making developmental decisions of such magnitude—as well as sending the hypothetical to the prospect minds currently under the employ of Baseball Prospectus in the hopes of flushing out the top candidates. These are the findings in order of industry nominations*.

 

*Disclaimer: This is just a scouting exercise and not a suggestion or declaration of developmental intent. The likely candidates to pull a Fernandez aren’t likely to pull a Fernandez, nor are we proposing that they should pull a Fernandez. This is merely an industry poll of the prospects that possess the characteristics necessary to handle a Fernandez in the unlikely event of a Fernandez.

 

1. SS Javier Baez (Cubs)

Baez received the most votes, but could be disqualified from the discussion if he reaches the Double-A level this season (as is expected). Not that his approach is anywhere near ready for the big stage, but his elite bat speed and offensive potential give him the best chance to do some damage if pushed to that level. The defensive profile is better than people seem to think, as many in the industry view Baez as a legit option at shortstop for the foreseeable future. When the light goes on and he learns to tame the magnificent beast that is his swing, it won’t take long for Baez to not only emerge as one of the top prospects in the game, but to reach the major league level in short order.

[davell]

Yeah, if Baez learns any patience at all, he'll move quick. By the way, there's a Jason Parks chat at BP this morning. 11EST. Get your questions in, its evidently going to be a marathon.

[KingCubsFan]

Yeah, if Baez learns any patience at all, he'll move quick. By the way, there's a Jason Parks chat at BP this morning. 11EST. Get your questions in, its evidently going to be a marathon.

 

From that chat:

 

bmmolter (Mass.): Care to find the nearest crystal ball in your apt. and provide an early look at the top 10 next year?

 

Jason Parks: I can:

1. Addison Russell

2. Javier Baez

3. Taijuan Walker

4. Archie Bradley

5. Aaron Sanchez

6. Byron Buxton

7. Jameson Taillon

8. Robert Stephenson

9. Francisco Lindor

10. Austin Hedges

[Wilson A2000]

Is Vizcaino healthy, just not in the big leagues yet? He's the future closer, right?

[Guest]

Is Vizcaino healthy, just not in the big leagues yet? He's the future closer, right?

 

He's still rehabbing and not yet throwing in the minors.

 

The Cubs will rightfully give Vizcaino every chance to start before relegating him to the bullpen.

[Guest]

Baseball America[/url]"]Jorge Soler, of, Cubs: Three Cuban players have left the island in recent years and have generated widespread excitement among scouts. One was Aroldis Chapman and his explosive fastball from the left side. Second was Yoenis Cespedes, a standout performer in Serie Nacional and on Cuban national teams who captivated scouts with his athleticism, bat speed and power. Then there was Soler, who didn’t have the national team experience of Chapman or Cespedes but was one of the best young Cuban players in years. Now pro scouts are getting a glimpse at why international scouts were raving about Soler even before he left Cuba.

 

Soler, 21, hit his first home run of the season for high Class A Daytona on Saturday into a 20-mph wind. After another homer yesterday, Soler’s off to a 7-for-16 (.438) start. At 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, Soler has 70 raw power and is capable of producing 30-plus home run seasons, but what’s impressive about Soler is that he’s not just a rigid, all-or-nothing hacker. Scouts who have been the highest on Soler have always praised him for his strike-zone discipline and offensive approach.

 

“Players like Soler don’t come around very often,” said one scout. “He has a chance to be a perennial all-star.”

[Guest]

An early review of Pierce Johnson

[Guest]

Has anybody watched this yet? I plan to tonight. Haven't seen it talked about much (if at all) here.

 

http://csnchicago.nbcsports.acquia-ps.com/blog/cubs-talk/foundation-hope-drives-2013-kane-county-cougars

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

From Parks on Baez:

 

You can make the case that Baez has the highest offensive ceiling of any shortstop prospect in the game, thanks in large part to his elite bat speed. Baez generates silly amounts of torque in his setup and swing, which can make a baseball have a sad if he finds a way to put the barrel on it. The biggest hurdle has been an immature approach to hitting, which is a very see-ball, hit-ball mentality, and Baez often sees the ball and attempts to hit the ball when he shouldn’t. So far in 2013, the 20-year-old prospect is continuing to show an aggressive approach at the plate, expanding the zone and giving pitchers a roadmap for his exploitation. If he can work himself into better counts and not forecast the fastball timing in his swing, he should find more contact, which would let his near-elite raw power find its way into game action with more consistency. On the defensive side of things, Baez is better than people realize, with whispers of an eventual move to the hot corner but more than enough talent to handle the demands of shortstop; his arm is strong enough to play anywhere on the diamond and the hands are soft and the actions fluid. The range isn’t special, and as he continues to physically mature and add muscle mass, he is a good candidate to lose some lateral quickness and overall speed. He could emerge as a Gold Glove-caliber third baseman thanks to the arm and glove, but if the range holds, he can stick around at shortstop for the foreseeable future.

[jersey cubs fan]

Baez generates silly amounts of torque in his setup and swing, which can make a baseball have a sad

 

Oh shut the hell up. This person is awful.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Missed the Marco blurb the first time:

 

On paper, it looks like a utility profile, with left-side chops and an iffy bat, but it’s too early to put Hernandez in that box. The swing is contact oriented but not empty, as he can drive the ball when he puts good wood to it. The biggest problem at the full-season level is that he’s not putting the barrel on the ball with any consistency, and when he does happen upon contact, its weak. He can makes his bones on his glove, as it profiles in the solid-average to plus range, and he shouldn’t have a problem sticking on the left side of the infield. But he will have to hit if he wants to advance as a prospect, and early reports from the full-season level aren’t very promising.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

The reports on Baez make me excited. While I am concerned with his approach, I like that the talent is there for him to become an elite player.