Minor League Blog's Cubs Top 15 Prospects

[Little Slide Rooter]

Im not sure how official this list is, but its straight off the Iowa Cubs Twitter and is from RT @ MinorLeagueBlog

 

To qualify, a prospect must have fewer than 130 at-bats or 50 innings in MLB

 

#1 Javier Baez SS

Born: 12/1/1992

Highest Level Reached: Short-A Boise Hawks

2011 Combined Stats: .278, 2(2B), 1RBI (5-18 in 5 pro games; 2011 1st Round Pick)

 

#2 Brett Jackson OF

Born: 8/2/1988

Highest Level Reached: Triple-A Iowa Cubs

2011 Combined Stats: .274, 23(2B), 5(3B), 20HR, 58RBI, 21SB

 

#3 Matt Szczur OF

Born: 7/20/1989

Highest Level Reached: High-A Daytona Cubs

2011 Combined Stats: .293, 22(2B), 3(3B), 10HR, 46RBI

 

#4 Dillon Maples RHP

Born: 5/9/1992

Highest Level Reached: 1st Round Pick 2011 MLB Draft

2011 Combined Stats: Did Not Play In 2011

 

#5 Jeimer Candelario 3B

Born: 11/24/1993

Highest Level Reached: Rookie League Dominican Summer League Cubs

2011 Combined Stats: .337, 16(2B), 2(3B), 5HR, 53RBI

 

#6 Josh Vitters 3B

Born: 8/27/1989

Highest Level Reached: Double-A Tennessee Smokies

2011 Combined Stats: .283, 28(2B), 2(3B), 14HR, 81RBI

 

#7 Dan Vogelbach 1B

Born: 12/17/1992

Highest Level Reached: Rookie League AZL Cubs

2011 Combined Stats: .292, 3(2B), 1HR, 6RBI (7-24 in 6 pro games; 2011 2nd Round Pick)

 

#8 Pin-Chieh Chen 2B

Born: 7/23/1991

Highest Level Reached: Short-A Boise Hawks

2011 Combined Stats: .301, 14(2B), 4(3B), 2HR, 30RBI

 

#9 Tony Zych RHP

Born: 8/7/1990

Highest Level Reached: Short-A Boise Hawks

2011 Combined Stats: 0-0, 2.25ERA, 4IP, 2BB, 5K (2011 4th Round Pick)

 

#10 Ben Wells RHP

Born: 9/10/1992

Highest Level Reached: Short-A Boise Hawks

2011 Combined Stats: 4-4, 4.66ERA, 77.1IP, 19BB, 53K, .265BAA

 

#11 Trey McNutt RHP

Born: 8/2/1989

Highest Level Reached: Double-A Tennessee Smokies

2011 Combined Stats: 5-6, 4.55ERA, 95IP, 39BB, 65K, .319BAA

 

#12 Marco Hernandez SS

Born: 9/6/1992

Highest Level Reached: Rookie League AZL Cubs

2011 Combined Stats: .333, 16(2B), 5(3B), 2HR, 42RBI

 

#13 Ryan Flaherty 2B

Born: 7/27/1986

Highest Level Reached: Triple-A Iowa Cubs

2011 Combined Stats: .280, 34(2B), 3(3B), 19HR, 88RBI

 

#14 Chris Carpenter RHP

Born: 12/26/1985

Highest Level Reached: MLB Chicago Cubs

2011 Combined Stats: MINORS: 3-4, 5.91ERA, 42.2IP, 27BB, 34K, .269BAA

MAJORS: 0-0, 2.79ERA, 9.2IP, 7BB, 8K, .316BAA

 

#15 Junior Lake SS

Born: 3/27/1990

Highest Level Reached: Double-A Tennessee Smokies

2011 Combined Stats: .279, 21(2B), 6(3B), 12HR, 51RBI, 38SB

[SouthSideRyan]

This list...it's terrible list.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I've never heard of this guy or site before, but do to the fact that it came off the I Cubs twitter i thought it might have some cred.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Wow they went upside. I like the Chen love. He was moved to CF this year, where he played most of the season (44/60 games). I think he'll be a good D sub, pinch runner, get a bunt down guy if anything, but he's one of those guys who has good actions at a young age. Probably not really a top 10 prospect in the system, but an interesting sub-20 name.

 

I can dig Baez at #1 though in a BA upside type list. I don't know where I'll go if/when I do one.

Edited October 22, 2011 by KingKongvs.Godzilla

[davell]

I don't even think Chen makes my final top 30. Not sure if Zych does either for that matter.

[CUBZ99]

This list is not terrible. Although there is no Golden, McNutt is too low, Whitenack is not listed

 

I'm really starting to like Candelario. Here is hoping that he won't be available to be compensation for Theo.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

I don't even think Chen makes my final top 30. Not sure if Zych does either for that matter.

 

TBH I'm not likely to have most of these guys in my top 15.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I don't even think Chen makes my final top 30. Not sure if Zych does either for that matter.

 

I agree about those 2, but as a lot of people have said, or maybe just 1 or 2, as with many farm system, after the top 5-10, there are a lot of guys who could go anywhere from 11-30.

[illiniguy]

I'm irrationally very high on Candelario. Probably way too much, but I'm not sure why others aren't higher. Is it just about not showing enough yet? Or are there other concerns?

[Little Slide Rooter]

I'm irrationally very high on Candelario. Probably way too much, but I'm not sure why others aren't higher. Is it just about not showing enough yet? Or are there other concerns?

 

I'm very high on him. He plays 3B, which is becoming a premium position. Great OBP, nice SLG. He's only 17, so there's probably more to come, and he's only 17-18. I'd like to see him at Peoria some time next year.

[davell]

I think I may have been the only guy so far to post a list on here with him in my top 10. The very valid concern about him is age and how he'll do against better competition. By Instructs, it certainly looks like we have lots of reasons to be optimistic. But, even while I have him ranked where I do, I see why others will temper their expectations quite a bit. But, if you asked me who in our system has the ability to make biggest jump in other people's eyes, it's definitely him.

[toonsterwu]

ah, this looks like Jaypers site. Zych is way too high for my tastes - unless we know that the slider is consistently above average, I just don't see how a fastball guy deserves to be rated ahead of say, Carpenter and Dolis, amongst others.

[tmicmiller]

#1 B. Jackson

#2 J. Beaz

#3 Sczur

#4 McNutt

#5 Vitters

#6 Vogelbach

#7 Maples

#8 Flaherty

#9 Whitenack

#10 Castillo

#11 Beliveu

#12 Antigua

#13 Lake

#14 Dolis

#15 Carpenter

 

Also of note: Watkins, Rhee, Candelierio, Amaya, Kirk, Rusin, Ha

[Guest]

I feel like Maples is getting overrated in a lot of lists. The upside is there, but there are a lot of questions with him, too.

[toonsterwu]

I think Maples is in that mix from 5/6 to the early 20's. After the reports from AzPhil, I'll probably slide him down a couple slots.

 

Hey, do we need this as a separate thread? Not that I care too much, but seems like it could fit at the end of the rankings thread.

[Hrubes20]

I think Maples is in that mix from 5/6 to the early 20's. After the reports from AzPhil, I'll probably slide him down a couple slots.

 

Hey, do we need this as a separate thread? Not that I care too much, but seems like it could fit at the end of the rankings thread.

 

I agree with this as well. Maples would be in the 7-10 range for me. I didn't see anything from AZPhil's reports that made me think about Maples any differently. Mid 90's 4 seamer, low 90's 2 seamer with good movement, great breaking ball, concerns about wildness when he throws the heat, concerns about his delivery. I can't wait to see what the kid can do with a winter of professional training and a full season of pro ball under his belt next year.

 

But yeah, this list is pretty terrible, IMO. Zych doesn't belong anywhere near the top 10.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

I'm irrationally very high on Candelario. Probably way too much, but I'm not sure why others aren't higher. Is it just about not showing enough yet? Or are there other concerns?

 

I'm very high on him but I can't get irrational about it yet because of where he did it. There was a catcher with the White Sox a few years ago...Hernandez or something...who posted outstanding numbers in the DSL or GCL one of the two...great K:BB that was walk heavy...right around Candelario's age...I was like holy [expletive] I'm getting in on the ground floor on this guy...out of baseball by 2008.

[illiniguy]

I'm irrationally very high on Candelario. Probably way too much, but I'm not sure why others aren't higher. Is it just about not showing enough yet? Or are there other concerns?

 

I'm very high on him but I can't get irrational about it yet because of where he did it. There was a catcher with the White Sox a few years ago...Hernandez or something...who posted outstanding numbers in the DSL or GCL one of the two...great K:BB that was walk heavy...right around Candelario's age...I was like holy [expletive] I'm getting in on the ground floor on this guy...out of baseball by 2008.

Oh I'm aware but that's the same thing on anyone who isn't a first rounder to be honest.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Oh I'm aware but that's the same thing on anyone who isn't a first rounder to be honest.

 

True. He was good enough to get a 500K bonus, but there's not enough info about him out there for me to put him in the top 10. Then again, I haven't made my list yet.

 

Theo should magic touch this guy into the next Chipper Jones. Or possibly even more badass...a switch hitting Wade Boggs. I'm just going to throw out names of really good 3B.

 

The DSL Cub I'm irrationally high on is CF Jeffrey Baez. I wish that guy switch hit.

[illiniguy]

Oh I'm aware but that's the same thing on anyone who isn't a first rounder to be honest.

 

True. He was good enough to get a 500K bonus, but there's not enough info about him out there for me to put him in the top 10. Then again, I haven't made my list yet.

 

Theo should magic touch this guy into the next Chipper Jones. Or possibly even more badass...a switch hitting Wade Boggs. I'm just going to throw out names of really good 3B.

 

The DSL Cub I'm irrationally high on is CF Jeffrey Baez. I wish that guy switch hit.

I'd love for him to do well just for the confusion it would cause with two J. Baezs in the same system.