The Breakout guys in 2014

[davell]

I'm talking about guys that can take BIG leaps forward, maybe even into top 100 territory for one or two of them.

 

Jeimer Candelario- Probably the easiest to predict. I expect the power to start to develop more and the plate discipline to help him shine. He's the easiest non-top 100 type for me to see make that of leap. He handled himself well in KC and I feel comfortable with him in Daytona myself to start the season.

 

Paul Blackburn- The teases he gave at the beginning and end of the year were drool-worthy. Especially if you buy he was hindered in the middle of the season by injury. Hearing Sharma mention Alex Cobb as a comp from industry sources gets me very excited. Should start in KC, definitely think he'll be good and could see him climb to Daytona by years end.

 

Rob Zastryzny- Not our typical soft tossing lefty, with the glut of college arms we just drafted along with some strong HS kids taking up KC, I think we'll see him start off in Daytona. Likely spend all season there. Not to mention, he's our minor league Twitter MVP.

 

Carlos Penalver- Solid plate discipline already, still growing into his body- I suspect we'll begin to see the gap to gap power we've heard about. Figure he'll spend all season in KC. Being the best fielder in our organization helps his cause as well. He's not likely to ever see the majors as a Cub, but I can envision him having solid trade value for us in a year or two.

 

Juan Carlos Paniagua- I'll go down swinging on this one. The stuff is just too good from the reports. I'll give him a pass with last year, due to the late start. This is likely going to be his last(only) shot at sticking as a starter, so I could see him begin in KC, but my hope is Daytona. Admittedly, he's a total wild card and its possible we see him in the pen this year, where you 'd hope for a quick ascent.

 

Others that I can see making jumps- Shawon Dunston Jr, Daury Torrez, Yasiel Balaguert, Willson Contreras, and Tyler Skulina.

 

Who you guys got?

[Guest]

Can I take Rizzo?

[davell]

Can I take Rizzo?

Nah, I do think he'll bounce back though.

[illiniguy]

Does Soler count? If so I will take him.

[Guest]

underwood

[gscool89]

Dillon Maples

[Guest]

Blackburn and Candelario seem like the obvious choices.

 

I'll go with Skulina and Dunston.

[Cubswin11]

Jeimer and Maples for me, I think Jeimer becomes a top 75 prospect and Maples looks like a legit mid rotation type prospect.

 

Also I think one of Skulina, Garner, Fraizer or Masek will do well enough to be in Corey Black territory of feeling pretty good we have a solid late inning relief prospect.

[Guest]

I'll go further afield and pick Hannemann

[Cubswin11]

Thoughts on Trevor Clifton?

[imb]

I'll go further afield and pick Hannemann

 

I want to believe

[davell]

Thoughts on Trevor Clifton?

Violent delivery, very solid velo, decent early as hell returns. If he can show relatively decent command after they re-work his mechanics, he could be a real factor obviously. I was happy we found a way to fit him into the draft budget for sure.

 

Tim, I thought about Hannemann but went with Dunston Jr over him and Trey Martin, who will be an interesting follow next year. Be interesting to see which of those 3 secures CF for KC next year.

[davell]

With them scrapping Maples change already, part of me thinks we may see him shift to the pen at some point in 2014 as well.

[Clem Fandango]

I'm hoping for a good bounce back year from Gioskar Amaya

[Johnny Sleeper]

I'll go with Dunston and Trevor Gretzky.

[Guest]

Tim, I thought about Hannemann but went with Dunston Jr over him and Trey Martin, who will be an interesting follow next year. Be interesting to see which of those 3 secures CF for KC next year.

Honestly, I prefer Dunston over Hannemann. There were just several others that had already picked Jr, so I went a different direction.

 

Let's hope the Sizemore comps come true.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Is Josh Conway going to be ready for the start of the season? Because I'd go with him.

[Guest]

Is Josh Conway going to be ready for the start of the season? Because I'd go with him.

 

Yes, he should be ready to start the season.

[BeerHere]

After reading the article that Muscat wrote about Olt, I'll go with him. For the pitcher, I'll go with Z.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

I'll go with Balaguert as my hitter.

[Quakers]

I will go with two seemingly unnoticed Boise middle infielders Penalver and Lockwood. Underwood will be my pitcher. Mind you I do not think they will be top 100 material next year, but they should open some eyes.

 

I would rate Hannemann>Dunston. But that could change if Dunston develops his power.

[Vanilla Ice]

marco hernandez

 

/toonster

[davell]

marco hernandez

 

/toonster

Alcantara struggled somewhat in A ball as well. Hernandez just needs plate discipline, the rest of his game is pretty solid. He could definitely take a big jump next year, in my mind.

[CubsWin]

I'm talking about guys that can take BIG leaps forward, maybe even into top 100 territory for one or two of them.

 

Jeimer Candelario- Probably the easiest to predict. I expect the power to start to develop more and the plate discipline to help him shine. He's the easiest non-top 100 type for me to see make that of leap. He handled himself well in KC and I feel comfortable with him in Daytona myself to start the season.

 

Paul Blackburn- The teases he gave at the beginning and end of the year were drool-worthy. Especially if you buy he was hindered in the middle of the season by injury. Hearing Sharma mention Alex Cobb as a comp from industry sources gets me very excited. Should start in KC, definitely think he'll be good and could see him climb to Daytona by years end.

 

Rob Zastryzny- Not our typical soft tossing lefty, with the glut of college arms we just drafted along with some strong HS kids taking up KC, I think we'll see him start off in Daytona. Likely spend all season there. Not to mention, he's our minor league Twitter MVP.

 

Carlos Penalver- Solid plate discipline already, still growing into his body- I suspect we'll begin to see the gap to gap power we've heard about. Figure he'll spend all season in KC. Being the best fielder in our organization helps his cause as well. He's not likely to ever see the majors as a Cub, but I can envision him having solid trade value for us in a year or two.

 

Juan Carlos Paniagua- I'll go down swinging on this one. The stuff is just too good from the reports. I'll give him a pass with last year, due to the late start. This is likely going to be his last(only) shot at sticking as a starter, so I could see him begin in KC, but my hope is Daytona. Admittedly, he's a total wild card and its possible we see him in the pen this year, where you 'd hope for a quick ascent.

 

Others that I can see making jumps- Shawon Dunston Jr, Daury Torrez, Yasiel Balaguert, Willson Contreras, and Tyler Skulina.

 

Who you guys got?

I think you named most of the best candidates. I'm big on Candelario being the big breakout candidate for next season. He's my top choice. One guy I'm high on but wasn't mentioned is Mark Malave. He might not breakout next season, but I think he's got a shot to do so down the line.

[Guest]

Reggie Golden