Who is the #25 Prospect for the Cubs?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

There is a run-off for #23 and #24 between Barrett Loux and Ben Wells.

 

Please vote for the Cubs #25 prospect (serious votes only, please!). Please post your rationale below.

 

If someone convinces you that someone else should be higher, please feel free to change your vote anytime between now and Wednesday.

 

For this vote, you should select the players you feel should be #25, #26 and #27. If we end up with multiple players having similar vote totals at the end of the voting period, there will be a run-off with just those players.

 

Results so far:

 

#1: Javier Baez

#2: Jorge Soler

#3: Albert Almora

#4: Arodys Vizcaino

#5: Dan Vogelbach

#6: Brett Jackson

#7: Juan Paniagua

#8: Christian Villanueva

#9: Dillon Maples

#10: Josh Vitters

#11: Pierce Johnson

#12: Junior Lake

#13: Jeimer Candelario

#14: Duane Underwood

#15: Matt Szczur

#16: Arismendy Alcantara

#17: Ronald Torreyes

#18: Marco Hernandez

#19: Gioskar Amaya

#20: Alberto Cabrera

#21: Logan Watkins

#22: Rob Whitenack

#23/#24: Barrett Loux/Ben Wells

[Bilbo161]

Blackburn, Bruno and Jensen. No particular order.

[davell]

Blackburn, Martin, and Zych, with Rondon a close 4th. I think Blackburn could move fairly quick and mid rotation upside shouldn't be held against him. Martin is raw, but surprised at Boise and has solid upside as a legit CFer. Zych wouldn't shock me if he makes the team out of ST. If not, I do expect him to get plenty of major league time this season.

[CubsWin]

I went with Paul Blackburn basically because the Cubs FO saw fit draft him as high as they did and they know a lot more than I do. I like his youth and control. His stuff is average but to have his control at his age is special.

 

I also voted for Trey Martin. The reports I've read on him said they were pleasantly surprised with his defense in CF. If he is legit in that premium position, his bat showed well in the NWL for a 19 year old and his athleticism is strong, he's got a shot to move up this list quickly if he continues his development.

 

And in no particular order, I also voted for Michael Jensen. At 21, age appropriate for the MWL, he allowed just 117 hits in 140 IP, IIRC. He had a decent K/BB ratio but less than a K/9. His stuff is average, but his results last year speak for themselves.

[toonsterwu]

Rondon and then going off first instinct, which as of now is Jensen/Blackburn in some order. The reports on Rondon are too good for me to pass up - it seems like there's potential late inning potential out of the pen, and he had mid-rotation potential earlier in his career as a starter.

 

After that, I really wanted to pull the trigger on Jose Rosario, but without knowing more about the specific arm issues, it's just hard to right now, and I've never really loved him as a starting arm. I'm just not ready to pull the trigger on Zych without seeing a more consistent breaking ball. Martin's a thought, and I might revisit it, but he probably has to make some swing changes, so I'm a bit hesitant as a result.

[rawaction]

Only voted for 2 at this point. Blackburn and Rondon.

 

I'll vote for a 3rd once I can decide between the cluster that is McNutt, Ha, Martin, Bruno, Jensen and Zych. Hell, I really like McNeill too.

[Cubswin11]

Blackburn

Rondon

McNutt (hoping he can figure it out/stay healthy, potential to be at least be a decent bullpen arm is there)

[craig]

Jensen\Rondon/Zych

 

Blackburn and Arias would be my next two.

 

I'm a hopeless optimist I'm sure. But I think this is a really fun part of the system. Nobody's got sure-thing superstars hanging out in the late 20's. I think the volume and quality of legitimately interesting pitchers still left this deep into our system is pretty nice. I'm very optimistic about some of these pitchers.

 

Blackburn is a tough one for me. The reports from Arizona Phil and others on his stuff were not very impressive. But as CubsWin mentioned, the fact that management picked him so high says somebody was impressed. If they project a reasonable big-league fastball, I'm fine to trust their judgment, at least for now.

[CubsWin]

As has been mentioned by more than one "expert" last year, the Cubs are deep. Their system has the most potential major leaguers of any organization right now. They had very little in the way of impact talent going into last year, but Theo & the gang did a very good job of changing that. The fact that we are in the mid-20s and still mentioning people that have a decent shot at contributing in the near future is pretty cool. Guys like McNutt, Zych and Loux as well as Rondon could all contribute this season.

[Little Slide Rooter]

McNutt

Golden

Jensen