Breakout prospects for 2010

[davell]

Obviously, it's early to be talking about this, but on the other hand, we saw Castro, Lee, and Carpenter break out over 2009 and I'm already wondering who can do it in 2010?

 

The first guy that comes to mind for me already broke out in 2009, but hasn't really gotten his due, since he's has plenty of time in A Ball already(although he was very young and is still age-appropriate). Of course, I'm talking about Kyler Burke, who if he has a big year in Daytona could become a top 100 guy, in my opinion rather easily.

 

Chris Archer could make some serious noise too, if he harnesses his control a bit more. If he puts it all together, I could see him climbing up lists bigtime.

 

Dae-Eun Rhee is another guy who should make a name for himself in 2010. He should be fully recovered from TJS and if he gets back to where he was before, he'll be challenging for a spot back in our top 10.....

 

DJ LeMahieu can make a big impact as well, he's just going to have to show a little power and considering his size, it could just be a matter of getting a little loft in his swing.

 

Finally, my 5th guy is Jeffry Antigua. The kid knows how to pitch already. He's very polished and while it was disappointing to not see him show up on any prospect lists through BA, hopefully once he gets a little higher in levels(I could see him spending most of 2010 in Daytona personally) scouts start to appreciate him more. He may not be a "stuff" guy, but the reports we've seen have been positive from what I can figure.

 

 

Here are 15 more guys that I figure have a chance to show us something in 2010 and really turn into true prospects.....

 

Ryan Flaherty

Logan Watkins

Chris Huseby

Ryan Searle

Brooks Raley

Austin Kirk

Casey Coleman

Trey McNutt

Dong-Yub Kim

Kyung-Min Na

Chris Rusin

Tzu-An Wang

Matt Cerda

Robert Wagner

Wes Darvill

[Rob]

Tyler Colvin - At one point or another, he's shown just about everything we could ever want from him. The ability to hit for average, hit for power, play CF, steal bases, and even the ability to take an adequate number of walks. He's still young (will be 24 until near the very end of next season) and is already on the fringe of our OF situation. I wouldn't be surprised to see him start the season at AAA and tear the cover off the ball in Iowa... especially with Von Joshua returning there.

 

Hak-ju Lee - Honestly, just maintaining his production from this season would be enough to catapult him up some prospect lists. He's also got more room to fill out his frame and add some more power.

 

And I've also got my eyes on Archer, McNutt, Burke, LeMahieu, Rhee, and Huseby this season.

[Guest]

Tyler Colvin - At one point or another, he's shown just about everything we could ever want from him. The ability to hit for average, hit for power, play CF, steal bases, and even the ability to take an adequate number of walks. He's still young (will be 24 until near the very end of next season) and is already on the fringe of our OF situation. I wouldn't be surprised to see him start the season at AAA and tear the cover off the ball in Iowa... especially with Von Joshua returning there.

 

Hak-ju Lee - Honestly, just maintaining his production from this season would be enough to catapult him up some prospect lists. He's also got more room to fill out his frame and add some more power.

 

And I've also got my eyes on Archer, McNutt, Burke, LeMahieu, Rhee, and Huseby this season.

I would be very surprised to see Colvin excel unless Joshua drastically changes his swing. He's got a lot of holes because of his long, loopy swing. He does play good to great defense with that strong arm of his, so if he get his swing and batter's eye fixed he could be a decent prospect. I don't hold much hope though.

[Serge]

For pitchers, I think it would have to be Archer or one of the 09 draftees, most likely Kirk or Raley. Although my money's really on Archer. His walk rate keeps improving, and if he can get it down to something like 4.5BB/9 then that along with the rest of the package would be very scary. I mean electric stuff, around a 9K/9, and a 4.5BB/9, with a crazy low homerun rate is a recipe for success.

 

For hitters, I think it'd have to be either an 09 draftee or one of the Koreans. Of the Koreans I could see Ha doing things, as hopefully a year getting acclimated in the U.S. did him a lot of good. I could see Darvill could doing something too, apparently his problems coming into the draft were that A) He's Raw, and B) He's weak. So a winter of focusing on baseball and more importantly beefing up so pitchers can't knock the bat out of his hands could lead to him making a big jump forward next year. And I'm a big Matt Cerda fan, I'd like to see him play a healthy season and see what he can do.

[KingCubsFan]

I also think Cerda will take a huge step forward. Hopefully he's getting more comfortable with catcher. I also would like to see what Logan Watkins can do in full season ball. If he can develop some doubles power, I think we're looking at a really good leadoff prospect.

[Post Count Padder]

I'd really like to see our guys from this draft come out big, like LeMahieu and Raley.

[Guest]

At full season, RHPs Trey McNutt, Jose Rosario and Justin Bristow. And I could see Junior Lake having a strong season if he repeats Peoria. The tools are there and he had success as an 18 year old in Mesa.

 

In Mesa or Boise, SS Arismendy Alcantara, C Sergio Burruel and OF Dong-Yub Kim.

[Vanilla Ice]

Junior Lake

[Rob]

I kept wanting to bring up Lake, but every time I do, he falls flat on his face.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Lake had like an 8/1 K/BB ratio. I know he was young for Peoria, but still, 8 to 1. And he still only slugged .365.

[JeffH]

Robert Whitenack.

[Shilzzz]

I think Lee, Carpenter and Huseby will separate themselves into the 4 star tier of Cub prospects. Vitters will be right on the line between 4 and 5, while Cashner and Castro maintain a 5 star status. Brett Jackson is someone I really like a lot, and hopefully JJax gets a chance to prove himself at higher levels. I think these guys, along with Archer, Castillo, and Berg, are the only ones we will see ML production from in the near future. Other guys are mostly fodder, no?

 

Edit: Forgot about Burke. Sorry, Burke

[Cubswin11]

I am going to stretch it a little bit, and say Tony Thomas takes a step forward. He wasn't awful this year, but he wasn't great either. I think he improves and gives us good depth at MI in the minors. I am also going to go with Hak Ju Lee becoming a big time prospect and Diamond recovering from surgery and regaining some of the promise he had in the Texas organization.

[toonsterwu]

This is more sleeper than breakout, but I wonder if James Russell will finally put it together. It's been two years in a row that I've wondered that, though.

 

I've got him ranked higher than most people, so he wouldn't be a break out for me, but I could see Welington Castillo have a good year and be considered a breakout by some.

 

I think Rebel Ridling is a guy who will put it together and be consistent year round .. or he will flame out. I'm not sure which way I lean, but could be a guy for consideration.

 

I am tremendously fascinated with Wesley Darvill, but I'm also not sure what to think of him. The good speed now, the power expectations, and the nice fluid swing. May be more of a breakout for 2011 than 2010, though, considering where he's likely to start 2010.

 

I had low expectations for Justin Bristow this year, so the fact that he came through with a decent year was nice. I wonder if he can break out next year.

 

As much as pen arms can break out, I wonder if Henry Williamson could fit into the mix.

 

Can an end of the rotation type arm really break out? If so, I wonder if Craig Muschko, who I think will get a rotation spot in Tennessee, puts together another solid season, despite average stuff, and force some attention his way.

 

I like some of the guys mentioned as well as 2010 breakouts, like Jeffry Antigua, Ryan Flaherty, Kyler Burke, Dong-Yub Kim, Trey McNutt (though I think Dan McDaniel has me a bit more wary of McNutt), Brooks Raley.

 

Oh, I wonder if Larry Suarez can take a step forward. I'm also still hopeful on Dan McDaniel.

 

KingCubsFan -Last I checked, Cerda had been moved to third base.

[tspain]

I want to add a few names to this impressive list of breakout prospects for 2010. Here are a few more I expect some good things from in the coming year:

 

Marwin Gongalez-good fielder, bat will tell the tail, and I think he can hit enough, and breakout next season. Hit only .241 at Daytona with 2 hrs and 43 rbi's.

 

D. J. Fitzgerald-struggled in Peoria, hit .267 at Boise, has to hit and I think he will.

 

David Cales-3-0 with 0.72 at Daytona, then 3-0 and 5.40 at Tennessee. Very good arm, can shine next season at AA.

 

Jonathan Nagel-always been one of my favorites since being drafted last season, just has to be healthy and Cubs knew that when they drafted him. 0-2 with 4.58 at Boise in 35 innings. Watch out for Nagel next season as he will be healthy. Can be as good as Carpenter and Jackson.

 

Jeff Believeau-5-4 with 3.54 at Peoria, really good arm, BB were 45 in 97 innings with 117 k's. If BB's don't kill him, he has a great arm, and I think it will shine next season, whether starting or relieving or doing both as he has been doing.

 

Robert Hernandez-I know, he has been around, but he can still breakout. 4-3 with 3.36 at Boise. I still like him and predict he will breakout next season. Anyone else on board???

 

Also, I want to add Bibens-Dirkx to this list as someone to watch next season. 7-2 with 2.04 at Peoria. What can he do for us? I do not know his stuff, but put him out there anyway as one to watch.

[Rob]

Tyler Colvin - At one point or another, he's shown just about everything we could ever want from him. The ability to hit for average, hit for power, play CF, steal bases, and even the ability to take an adequate number of walks. He's still young (will be 24 until near the very end of next season) and is already on the fringe of our OF situation. I wouldn't be surprised to see him start the season at AAA and tear the cover off the ball in Iowa... especially with Von Joshua returning there.

 

Hak-ju Lee - Honestly, just maintaining his production from this season would be enough to catapult him up some prospect lists. He's also got more room to fill out his frame and add some more power.

 

And I've also got my eyes on Archer, McNutt, Burke, LeMahieu, Rhee, and Huseby this season.

 

After the first two days of spring training, I'm willing to call my Colvin breakout prediction a complete success. Yup, I'm so freakin smart.

[Guest]

Tyler Colvin - At one point or another, he's shown just about everything we could ever want from him. The ability to hit for average, hit for power, play CF, steal bases, and even the ability to take an adequate number of walks. He's still young (will be 24 until near the very end of next season) and is already on the fringe of our OF situation. I wouldn't be surprised to see him start the season at AAA and tear the cover off the ball in Iowa... especially with Von Joshua returning there.

 

Hak-ju Lee - Honestly, just maintaining his production from this season would be enough to catapult him up some prospect lists. He's also got more room to fill out his frame and add some more power.

 

And I've also got my eyes on Archer, McNutt, Burke, LeMahieu, Rhee, and Huseby this season.

 

After the first two days of spring training, I'm willing to call my Colvin breakout prediction a complete success. Yup, I'm so freakin smart.

I'm quite pleased with myself for arguing him higher than all the other participants on the NSBB prospect team, too. :D

[imb]

whatever happened to cerda? the catcher thing not stick?

[Guest]

whatever happened to cerda? the catcher thing not stick?

 

They were considering moving him last season because he was struggling defensively but then he broke his hand so it really didn't matter.