2013 BA Prospect Hot Sheet

[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

 

and i remember some list out there having him on the verge of top 100

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

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

 

and i remember some list out there having him on the verge of top 100

 

Think it was Keith Law.

[Guest]

This week's hot sheet is out a day early due to the draft and Javier Baez is back:

 

No. 12 Javier Baez, ss, Cubs

Team: high Class A Daytona (Florida State)

Age: 20

Why He’s Here: .421/.542/.789 (8-for-19), 1 HR, 4 2B, 7 RBIs, 6 R, 1 BB, 4 SO

 

The Scoop: Baez’s hot spell actually stretches back two weeks. He’s hitting .339 (19-for-56) in his last 14 games with 10 extra-base hits, 13 RBIs and 14 runs scored. He’s been hit by five pitches in that stretch, but probably not too many times in three-ball counts, seeing as he drew two walks against 12 strikeouts.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-june-6-xander-bogaerts-big-bat-leads-the-list/

[Guest]

4 HRs in one game is only good enough for Javier Baez to get 4th on this week's Hot Sheet.

 

4. Javier Baez, ss, Cubs

Team: high Class A Daytona (Florida State)

Age: 20

Why He’s Here: .304/.429/.870 (7-for-23), 5 R, 1 2B, 4 HR, 8 RBIs, 5 BB, 3 SO, 2-for-2 SB

 

The Scoop: In the interest of full disclosure, Baez is on the Hot Sheet for essentially one day of work. But what a day it was. Baez became the first minor leaguer since 2011 to hit four home runs in a game, and only the second player in Florida State League history to do it. Maybe less noticed are the signs that Baez is catching up to the pitchers when it comes to making contact. He struck out in 30 percent of his at-bats in April, 25 percent in May and so far just 15 percent in June while his walk rate has improved.

 

Almora comes in at 13:

 

13. Albert Almora, cf, Cubs

Team: low Class A Kane County (Midwest)

Age: 19

Why He’s Here: .433/.438/.667 (13-for-30), 5 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 7 RBIs, 1 BB, 6 SO, 1-for-1 SB

 

The Scoop: If not for injuries, Almora’s season would be getting more acclaim. He missed the first month with a hamate bone injury that had sidelined him from early in spring training. He announced his return by going 7-for-11 in his first two games with low Class A Kane County. A hamstring injury knocked him out for a few days later in May, but he’s returned from that to rip off an 11-game hitting streak. Almora’s ability to pile up multiple hits in a game is remarkable. In just 19 games, he’s already had three or four hits six different times.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-june-14-joey-gallo-slugs-seven-home-runs/

[ctcf]

 

4. Javier Baez, ss, Cubs

Team: high Class A Daytona (Florida State)

Age: 20

Why He’s Here: .304/.429/.870 (7-for-23), 5 R, 1 2B, 4 HR, 8 RBIs, 5 BB, 3 SO, 2-for-2 SB

 

The Scoop: In the interest of full disclosure, Baez is on the Hot Sheet for essentially one day of work. But what a day it was. Baez became the first minor leaguer since 2011 to hit four home runs in a game, and only the second player in Florida State League history to do it. Maybe less noticed are the signs that Baez is catching up to the pitchers when it comes to making contact. He struck out in 30 percent of his at-bats in April, 25 percent in May and so far just 15 percent in June while his walk rate has improved.

 

Yissssssss

[CubsWin]

 

4. Javier Baez, ss, Cubs

Team: high Class A Daytona (Florida State)

Age: 20

Why He’s Here: .304/.429/.870 (7-for-23), 5 R, 1 2B, 4 HR, 8 RBIs, 5 BB, 3 SO, 2-for-2 SB

 

The Scoop: In the interest of full disclosure, Baez is on the Hot Sheet for essentially one day of work. But what a day it was. Baez became the first minor leaguer since 2011 to hit four home runs in a game, and only the second player in Florida State League history to do it. Maybe less noticed are the signs that Baez is catching up to the pitchers when it comes to making contact. He struck out in 30 percent of his at-bats in April, 25 percent in May and so far just 15 percent in June while his walk rate has improved.

 

Yissssssss

That's exactly what I was hoping to see. Keep it going into July and he'll likely see AA soon thereafter.

[Guest]

Brett Jackson on the Not Hot list: http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-june-21-taijuan-walker-is-cruising-through-the-southern-league/

 

• Brett Jackson, cf, Cubs: With the outfield prospects the Cubs have coming behind him, Jackson, 24, would be well served to make a move on a big league job sooner than later. Instead, he’s hitting .217 and striking out in roughly a third of his at-bats for Triple-A Iowa. His misery this week included 14 strikeouts as part of a 2-for-25 (.080) showing.

[Little Slide Rooter]

The not hot list is generous for Brett. Is there a Small Step Above Ty Wright List?

[BeerHere]

06/28

 

6. Alberto Cabera, rhp, Cubs

 

Team: Double-A Tennessee (Southern)

 

Age: 24.

 

Why He’s Here: 8 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER. 3 BB, 13 Ks.

 

The Scoop: If the Cubs were less desperate for starting pitching and playing more for today, Cabrera might be pitching in their big league bullpen now. That’s the role he filled throughout 2012, when he was pegged as a reliever and made his major league debut in August. But the front office moved him back to the rotation and returned him to Double-A this year and it has paid off, as Cabrera has posted a career-best strikeout rate as a starter as well as a reduced walk rate.

 

In the Team Photo

Paul Blackburn, rhp, Cubs: When the Cubs drafted Blackburn in the supplemental first round last year, they knew he had better feel than the average high school arm. That has been apparent in his first three starts at short-season Boise. The 19-year-old has walked two while striking out 20 and has yet to allow an earned run. He was 0-1, 0.00 this week with 12 strikeouts in 10 innings.

[GammonsPocketTweets]

If Jim Hendry was still the GM, Cabrera would be in the bullpen today.

[KingCubsFan]

If Jim Hendry was still the GM, Cabrera would be in the bullpen today.

I bet Samardzija would too.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Almora made it this week:

 

11. Albert Almora, of, Cubs

Team: low Class A Kane County (Midwest)

Age: 19

Why He’s Here: .526/.550/.895 (10-for-19), 6 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SO, 1-for-1 SB

 

The Scoop: Almora collects hits in bunches. In 17 of the 40 games he’s played this year (he missed time with a hamate injury), Almora has had two or more hits. He already has eight games of three or more hits. Almora’s best fit in the future Cubs lineup is as a top-of-the-order table setter, and in the Midwest League this season, few have done that job nearly as well as Almora.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

A possible future Cub made the hot sheet today:

 

No. 4 C.J. Edwards, rhp, Rangers

Team: low Class A Hickory (South Atlantic)

Age: 21

Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 5 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 9 SO, 3 BB

 

The Scoop: Edwards has come out firing after the Sally League all-star break, going 2-0, 1.32 in five starts while logging 36 strikeouts, seven walks and 21 hits allowed in 27 1/3 innings. He leads the league in ERA (1.83) and strikeouts (122), and, most remarkably, Edwards hasn’t allowed a home run in 18 starts on this season. That despite playing in homer-friendly Hickory ballpark that features a three-year HR factor of 1.307. No qualified SAL pitcher in the previous eight seasons escaped the season unscathed, though Giants prospect Kyle Crick (Augusta, 2012) and former Braves farmhand Tim Gustafson (Rome, 2007) each allowed only one home run in a season.

[Guest]

IN THE TEAM PHOTO

 

Javier Baez, ss, Cubs: Promoted to Double-A Tennessee in the beginning of July, Baez justified that promotion with an explosive offensive week. He drilled five home runs, including four over a span of three games, tallied three doubles and drove in 10 runs while batting .281 in 32 at-bats. Plate discipline continues to be an issue—he had zero walks and more strikeouts (11) than hits (9)—but the the 20-year-old is batting .266/.324/.550 with 25 homers this season.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-july-26-kyle-zimmer-pulls-a-180-on-his-season/

[Guest]

Baez and Bryant made the Hot Sheet this week:

 

11. Javier Baez, ss, Cubs

Team: Double-A Jackson (Southern)

Age: 20

Why He’s Here: .444/.483/.630 (12-for-27), 4 R, 5 2B, 7 RBIs, 2 BB, 7 SO, 3-for-3 SB

 

The Scoop: Southern League fans got the full Baez experience this week. He provided highlights all around with four multi-hit games, five extra-base hits, a strikeout per game on average and three errors. Those three errors give him 40 for the season. That’s a pretty large number, but it also comes as more scouts and coaches give Baez a chance to stick at shortstop then they did when he was drafted. Those who’ve seen him last year and this say he looks a little quicker at shortstop than he did last year, and his error count ought to decrease as he gains experience.

 

13. Kris Bryant, 3b, Cubs

Team: short-season Boise (Northwest)

Age: 21

Why He’s Here: .462/.533/1.077 (6-for-13), 2 HR, 2 2B, 5 RBIs, 6 R, 2 BB, 3 SO

 

The Scoop: We hope no one was actually worried when Bryant started his pro career 2-for-18. Now that the reigning College Player of the Year appears to have gotten his feet under him again, he’s hit .359/.422/.769 with four homers in his last 11 games, during which time he coincidentally has an 11-game hitting streak. Combining his college and pro home run totals, he’s up to 35 longballs in the 2013 calendar year.

[ctcf]

Combining his college and pro home run totals, he’s up to 35 longballs in the 2013 calendar year.

 

Swoon

[rawaction]

If those 2 pan out, Castro doesn't ever have to hit his power potential.

[XZero771679666304]

If those 2 pan out, Castro doesn't ever have to hit his power potential.

 

Unless nearly all of the Cubs' top positional prospects flame out, power production isn't going to be a problem for the big league team for quite a while.

[Have a seat, Neifi]

Cubs killed it in this week's prospect hot sheet -- http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-aug-16-mets-rafael-montero-is-always-in-command/

 

3. Christian Villanueva, 3b, Cubs

Team: Double-A Tennessee (Southern)

Age: 22

Why He’s Here: .458/.519/1.000 (11-for-24), 2 HR, 7 2B, 7 RBIs, 6 R, 3 BB, 2 SO, 0-for-1 SB

 

The Scoop: When the Rangers traded Villanueva and righthander Kyle Hendricks to the Cubs last year to add Ryan Dempster, the move made sense for Texas, where Villanueva was blocked by Adrian Beltre and Mike Olt. One year later, Villanueva is again blocked by Olt—though Olt’s struggles have certainly narrowed the gap between the two—with Kris Bryant, Jeimer Candelario and potentially Javier Baez also competing with Villanueva to be Chicago’s third baseman of the future. At some point, that could make Villanueva trade bait once again. For now, he’s one of the hottest hitters in the minors with a .305/.351/.543 slash line since the all-star break. His 36 doubles are a career high, and his 16 home runs are one off the 17 he hit two years ago in the low Class A South Atlantic League.

 

9. Kris Bryant, 3b, Cubs

Team: high Class A Daytona (Florida State)

Age: 21

Why He’s Here: .444/.469/.852 (12-for-27), 2 HR, 3 2B, 1 3B, 7 RBIs, 4 R, 3 BB, 9 SO

 

The Scoop: If you ever wanted to see College Player of the Year and No. 2 overall draft pick Kris Bryant don a cap featuring a sunglasses-wearing cartoon bear, then here’s your chance. You’ll want to act quickly, though, seeing as he’s launched two homers and gone 4-for-13 (.308) in his first four games for the Daytona Cubs. At three minor leagues stops, Bryant has hit .333/.381/.679 with 16 extra-base hits (including six homers) in 24 games as a professional.

 

10. Javier Baez, ss, Cubs

Team: Double-A Jackson (Southern)

Age: 20

Why He’s Here: .370/.433/.704 (10-for-27), 2 HR, 3 2B, 5 R, 7 RBIs, 3 BB, 6 SO, 2-for-2 SB

 

The Scoop: The hottest hitter in the Southern League has been on quite the tear. Baez has eight multi-hit games in his last 12. He’s 7-for-his-last-7 on steals and he’s reduced his at-one-point obscene number of errors, committing nine errors in 34 games at shortstop in Double-A (.944 fielding percentage). While that’s still more miscues than the Cubs would like to see, he has made significant strides at converting chances into outs, as attested to by his poor .922 fielding percentage at high Class A Daytona, where errors tended to occur in bunches.

[Tyrant]

Cubs killed it in this week's prospect hot sheet

 

someday we'll have more exciting moments than this

[Guest]

Baez at #2:

 

2. Javier Baez, ss, Cubs

Team: Double-A Tennessee (Southern)

Age: 20

Why He’s Here: .407/.452/.852 (11-for-27), 3 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBIs, 3 BB, 8 SO, 0-for-1 SB

 

The Scoop: Now that Xander Bogaerts is in the big leagues with the Red Sox, the attention shifts to Baez, Carlos Correa, Francisco Lindor and Addison Russell when discussing the top shortstop prospects in the minors. Baez may have the loudest tools of the group, with elite bat speed, incredible power production and a plus arm that turns hits into outs when he’s not throwing balls into the stands. Baez isn’t exactly the most polished shortstop in the group, but on weeks like this one in which he collected his fourth multi-homer game of the season, he may be the most exciting.

 

Paniagua not hot:

 

Juan Carlos Paniagua, rhp, Cubs. His contract twice voided before he signed with the Cubs last July, Paniagua flunked out of the low Class A Midwest League in July (8.22 ERA, 12 walks in 7 2/3 innings) and hasn’t fared much better following a demotion to short-season Boise. The 23-year-old let in 15 runs in 4 2/3 innings this week, allowing 20 baserunners compared with five strikeouts. He now sports a 10.80 ERA through four appearances for the Hawks.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-aug-23-tyler-glasnow-is-nearly-unhittable/