2013 BA Prospect Hot Sheet

[CaliforniaRaisin]

No Cubs made the 2013 debut of the Hot Sheet, Jorge Soler being an obvious snub. In the ensuing chat:

 

David Yuen (Portland, OR): After Jorge Soler's incident it has been mentioned that he has been dealing with emotional issues. Does he still have family in Cuba? If so, are they, or the family of any recent defectors, facing any repercusions of player defection?

 

J.J. Cooper: I haven't heard about families facing repercussions from a player coming to the U.S., but there is always an understandable feeling of isolation. Travel restrictions for players to go back to Cuba are starting to loosen, but the reality is still that a player coming from Cuba to the U.S. knows he may not see his family for years. That's tough to take.

 

Peter (Toronto): Was Jorge Soler left off the list due to the incident the other night?

 

J.J. Cooper: Yeah. Good enough week to make the Hot Sheet, but we think the "can't make the Hot Sheet the same week your suspended for a bat wielding incident" is a good rule.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Thought Rock Shoulders had a chance. At least the team photo.

[Quakers]

Thought Rock Shoulders had a chance. At least the team photo.

 

 

Rock has had a nice start. He can put a hurt on the ball when he hits it. Athletic for a big man.

[Guest]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-april-26-jesse-biddles-16-strikeouts-stand-out/

 

7. Rock Shoulders, 1b/lf, Cubs

 

Team: low Class A Kane County (Midwest)

 

Age: 21

 

Why He’s Here: .533/.650/1.067 (8-for-15), 6 R, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBIs, 5 BB, 3 SO

 

The Scoop: Shoulders was solid in short-season Boise last year, but this season he’s showing he’s more than just a minor league slugger with a superhero name. Shoulders has reached base in 16 of his 17 games and is hitting .406/.486/.656 with four home runs. His best tool is power, but he’s also showing signs of improvement with his contact frequency, which was one of the question marks on him coming into the year.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

=D>

 

Obviously he's going to fall off, I just hope it's not a cliff.

[Guest]

From the ensuing chat: http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-chat-with-ben-badler/

 

Ben (Long Island): Would Rock Shoulders be on your radar if his name was Rick Smith (or something equally benign)?

 

Ben Badler: He’s second in the Midwest League in slugging and fourth in OBP. He’s no slouch.

 

bardin (San Diego): Ronald Torreyes is having a decent start in AA, where he is young for his age. but... he is only 5'9'' and weights 140 pounds. Does he have any sort of realistic chance to stick in the bigs?

 

Ben Badler: Yes. People are sleeping on him after last year. Look, you’re probably not going to get more than 5-10 home runs per year out of the guy, but his hand-eye coordination and knack for squaring up the baseball is remarkable, so I think he’s going to hit and he’s a pretty good defender at second base too. He’s underrated.

 

Drew (Chicago): update on juan carlos paniagua Visa issues?

 

Ben Badler: Still waiting to get things sorted out, last I checked.

[jersey cubs fan]

Ronald Torreyes is having a decent start in AA, where he is young for his age.

 

[CubsWin]

Ronald Torreyes is having a decent start in AA, where he is young for his age.

 

Awesome.

[Guest]

BA Prospect Hot Sheet: May 10th - Soler comes in at #4 and Starling Peralta on the not-so-hot list:

 

4. Jorge Soler, rf, Cubs

Team: high Class A Daytona (Florida State)

Age: 21

Why He’s Here: .381/.462/1.048 (8-for-21), 6 R, 3 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 4 BB, 4 SO

The Scoop: Soler is a scary guy with a bat in his hands, whether he’s charging the opposing team’s dugout or digging into the batter’s box. The scouting reports from international scouts who saw him playing for the Cuban junior national team and during his workouts in the Dominican Republic have held up well, as Soler has shown outstanding power, strong strike-zone discipline and the ability to mash in games. He’s hitting .290/.374/.559 through 25 games, which is reflective of the type of profile he should be have in the big leagues during his prime and why he’s quickly become one of the game’s premium prospects.

 

Starling Peralta, rhp, Cubs: Like McGuinness, Peralta started his spring training with a shot at the big leagues because he was selected by the Diamondbacks in the Rule 5 draft. But while McGuiness had a good shot at making the jump from Double-A to the big leagues, seeing Peralta jump from low Class A to the majors was a highly unlikely proposition. As expected, Peralta was sent back to the Cubs and unlike McGuinness, Peralta has had trouble getting readjusted to the minor league life. Pitching at high Class A Daytona, Peralta gave up 10 runs in two innings in two appearances this week. Now he’s been sent back to extended spring training to try to get back on track.

[sneakypower]

"Soler has shown outstanding power, strong strike-zone discipline and the ability to mash in games. He’s hitting .290/.374/.559 through 25 games"

 

my favorite part:

"keep in mind the FSL’s average slugging percentage is .381."

[CubsWin]

"Soler has shown outstanding power, strong strike-zone discipline and the ability to mash in games. He’s hitting .290/.374/.559 through 25 games"

 

my favorite part:

"keep in mind the FSL’s average slugging percentage is .381."

If BA did a top 100 right now, you'd have to think that Soler would be in the top 30, maybe even top 20, and would have surpassed Baez as the Cubs top prospect.

[Guest]

12. Christian Villaneuva, 3b, Cubs

Team: Double-A Tennessee (Southern)

Age: 21

Why He’s Here: .435/.500/.739 (10-for-23), 3 R, 4 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBIs, 1 BB, 6 SO, 1-for-2 SB

 

With Adrian Beltre on their big league roster and Mike Olt dominating in the upper levels of the minors last year, it made sense for the Rangers to include Villanueva in last summer’s trade to acquire Ryan Dempster. Villanueva got off to a sluggish start, but this past week has been better. He probably won’t see time in the big leagues this year, but he has a chance to be a contributor in Chicago by 2014.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-may-17/

[Guest]

From the hot sheet chat today:

 

Ryan (Chicago): Does Christian Villaneuva have enough power to be an everyday 3rd baseman in the Bigs?

 

Matt Eddy: That will be the determining factor. Scouts see Villanueva as being right on the borderline now between first- and second-division in the HR department. His glove will allow him ample time to develop his power approach at Triple-A if that’s what stands in his way of playing in the bigs.

[Guest]

Not surprising but Soler and Baez both make the list this week:

 

No. 11 Jorge Soler, rf, Cubs

Team: high Class A Daytona (Florida State)

Age: 21

Why He’s Here: .438/.500/.594 (14-for-32), 6 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBIs, 4 BB, 4 SO

 

The Scoop: Even with his early suspension, it’s been a great start to the season for Soler. He’s hitting for power, hitting for average and he’s drawing nearly as many walks as strikeouts. In comparison to the other massive rebuilding projects in Houston and Miami, the Cubs have a lot of advantages. For one, they have a number of potential cornerstones already in the big leagues in Anthony Rizzo, Jeff Samardzija and Starlin Castro. And just as importantly, they also have a number of potential cornerstones coming up through the minors in Soler, Albert Almora and Javier Baez.

 

No. 12 Javier Baez, ss, Cubs

Team: high Class A Daytona (Florida State)

Age: 20

Why He’s Here: .400/.455/.600 (12-for-30), 10 R, 4 2B, 1 3B, 3 RBIs, 3 BB, 3 SO, 1-for-1 SB

 

The Scoop: Speaking of Baez, he matched Soler hit for hit this week. Unlike his fellow top prospect, Baez has some significant warts to burn off before he’s ready for the jump to Double-A. Baez’s three walks this week come after he walked five times in his first 36 games. His excellent hand-eye coordination and his impressive bat speed allow him to compensate to some extent for his overaggressiveness, but the strikeouts are becoming more of a problem as he climbs the ladder. A week like this where he works counts and lays off strike three is a positive sign.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-may-24-stetson-allie-making-pitcher-hitter-swap-look-easy/

[Guest]

Steve (Connecticut): What is Jorge Soler's upside and or MLB comp? Thanks

 

Jim Shonerd: Scouts do worry about his swing mechanics a bit, but overall he’s got plenty of power and blends it with a feel for hitting. His offense was in a bit of funk after he got back from his suspension, but now he’s hitting .324 in May and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him end the year in Double-A.

 

Andrew (Chicago): After a rough couple weeks for Jeimer Candelario has really started to turn it around, he has cut down his K rate and increased his already good bb rate, he seems to be hitting a lot of double with next to no home run power however. Do you see the Hrs starting to come as his body matures?

 

Jim Shonerd: Yeah, scouts can project him developing average power down the road. He’s got the frame and bat speed for it, just needs to get stronger.

 

Andrew (IL): Arisemendy Alcantara seems to have a decent bit of pop for such a slender frame, is this due to good bat speed or cheating on AA fastballs? How does his power and hit project at the major league level?

 

Jim Shonerd: Getting a lot of Cubs questions today. Alcantara does have some power. Nothing spectacular, but enough to believe his numbers aren’t a fluke. The key for him is improving his patience, and he has made some progress there. He’s still not exactly a beacon of selectivity, but his 16 walks in 45 games this year almost matches the 19 he drew in 85 games last year.

[wekim81]

Ever get the feeling that some of the guys answering these chat questions don't know anymore than you or I and are just reading stats and passing along someone else's scouting reports?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Ever get the feeling that some of the guys answering these chat questions don't know anymore than you or I and are just reading stats and passing along someone else's scouting reports?

 

Yes.

 

I definitely believe that there's a lot of Cubs fans on the internet who know much more about the minor leagues than the national prospect pundits. Those guys have to divide their attention 30 ways, which isn't enough to give more than a passing glance to any one team.

 

For most of them, their knowledge peaks in the offseason when they write their top 10/30 lists for each team. That's when they have time to really dig deep into a single team.

[Guest]

Ever get the feeling that some of the guys answering these chat questions don't know anymore than you or I and are just reading stats and passing along someone else's scouting reports?

 

Yes.

 

I definitely believe that there's a lot of Cubs fans on the internet who know much more about the minor leagues than the national prospect pundits. Those guys have to divide their attention 30 ways, which isn't enough to give more than a passing glance to any one team.

 

For most of them, their knowledge peaks in the offseason when they write their top 10/30 lists for each team. That's when they have time to really dig deep into a single team.

To be fair, the BA guys split up the teams and Callis follows the Cubs in detail the whole year. So he's a bit different than most.

 

Now, I have no idea about Shonerd.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Steve (Connecticut): What is Jorge Soler's upside and or MLB comp? Thanks

 

Jim Shonerd: Scouts do worry about his swing mechanics a bit, but overall he’s got plenty of power and blends it with a feel for hitting. His offense was in a bit of funk after he got back from his suspension, but now he’s hitting .324 in May and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him end the year in Double-A.

 

 

Jim didnt even almost answer Steve's question.

[Guest]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-may-31-wil-myers-heats-up/

 

No. 9 Pierce Johnson, rhp, Cubs

Team: low Class A Kane County (Midwest)

Age: 22

Why He’s Here: 1-1, 1.46, 2 GS, 12 1/3 IP, 10 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 15 SO

 

The Scoop: If you’re looking for a strong candidate for a midseason promotion, Johnson fits the bill. The 43rd overall pick in last year’s draft, he has allowed two runs or fewer in seven of his 10 starts in low Class A. The 22-year-old has the advanced stuff and could’ve started the year in high Class A, and now he’s surged into second in the Midwest League strikeout race with 60 in 53 innings.

 

NOT SO HOT

 

Jeimer Candelario, 3b, Cubs: The 19-year-old hitting machine ranks second in the Midwest League with 17 doubles, though he endured a rough week with low Class A Kane County, going 2-for-23 (.087) at the dish with two walks (one intentional) and four strikeouts.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

where the [expletive] is Almora?

[wekim81]

where the [expletive] is Almora?

Yeah no doubt

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

the only thing I can think of is he didn't have enough PA to qualify.

[Little Slide Rooter]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-may-31-wil-myers-heats-up/

 

No. 9 Pierce Johnson, rhp, Cubs

Team: low Class A Kane County (Midwest)

Age: 22

Why He’s Here: 1-1, 1.46, 2 GS, 12 1/3 IP, 10 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 15 SO

 

The Scoop: If you’re looking for a strong candidate for a midseason promotion, Johnson fits the bill. The 43rd overall pick in last year’s draft, he has allowed two runs or fewer in seven of his 10 starts in low Class A. The 22-year-old has the advanced stuff and could’ve started the year in high Class A, and now he’s surged into second in the Midwest League strikeout race with 60 in 53 innings.

 

NOT SO HOT

 

Jeimer Candelario, 3b, Cubs: The 19-year-old hitting machine ranks second in the Midwest League with 17 doubles, though he endured a rough week with low Class A Kane County, going 2-for-23 (.087) at the dish with two walks (one intentional) and four strikeouts.

 

I actually find it somewhat impressive that Candelerio made the not so hot list. These things are reserved for notable prospects. While Cubs fans have been taking notice of him, I didn't realize he was the type to earn mainstream (as far as low level prospects go) attention of any kind. And what's not to like about the 19 year old hitting machine tag from a top analyst.

[Guest]

Yeah, I'm guessing Almora didn't have enough PAs.

 

I actually find it somewhat impressive that Candelerio made the not so hot list. These things are reserved for notable prospects. While Cubs fans have been taking notice of him, I didn't realize he was the type to earn mainstream (as far as low level prospects go) attention of any kind. And what's not to like about the 19 year old hitting machine tag from a top analyst.

 

He is a notable prospect (at least notable enough for this list), he made BA's top 10 list for the Cubs