BA & MLB.com's Cubs Top 10 Prospects

[CaliforniaRaisin]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2014-chicago-cubs-top-10-prospects-with-scouting-reports/

 

1. Javier Baez

2. Kris Bryant

3. CJ Edwards (!)

4. Albert Almora

5. Jorge Soler

6. Pierce Johnson

7. Arismendy Alcantara

8. Jeimer Candelario

9. Dan Vogelbach

10. Arodys Vizcaino

[Guest]

Oh snap thats amazing.

[jersey cubs fan]

A) Edwards impressed others even more than we may have accounted for previously.

B) While pitchers often get hurt Almora and Soler have actually been hurt and missed too much time to impress.

or,

C) Some guys are just desperate to throw an arm at the top of the list because they don't like the look of an all-bat top 5.

[Guest]

And for those wondering, John Manuel did this list, JJ Cooper was the guy who was super high on Edwards.

[ctcf]

Haha, Jorge Soler is arguably our fifth best prospect. That alone is awesome.

[Guest]

Edwards led MiLB in FIP this year(min 100 IP) with a 1.78 mark. The difference between him and 2nd place is the same as the difference between 2nd and 12th.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/minorleaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=100&type=1&season=2013&team=0&players=0&sort=15,a

[Cubswin11]

Is Jeimer going to be a consensus top 10 guy by most publications? 8 is the highest I've ever seen him, even on our own rankings here. I have big expectations for him this year.

[Rex Buckingham]

Haha, Jorge Soler is arguably our fifth best prospect. That alone is awesome.

 

I think that coupled with the fact that Alcantara, who played in the Futures game and had an awesome year, is 7th really shows the strength of the system. We've come a long LONG way from Jackson-Vitters at 1 and 2

[KingCubsFan]

Was Olt not eligible?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Was Olt not eligible?

 

Pretty sure he was, just 40 MLB PA

[Cubswin11]

Was Olt not eligible?

Pretty sure he was. But, you know, between being 25 years old, the whole vision problem thing not being resolved, and coming off a .201/.303/.381 slash line combined for AA/AAA tends to keep guys out of organizational top 10 lists.

[wekim81]

Was Olt not eligible?

Pretty sure he was. But, you know, between being 25 years old, the whole vision problem thing not being resolved, and coming off a .201/.303/.381 slash line combined for AA/AAA tends to keep guys out of organizational top 10 lists.

i'd still have him ahead of jeimer and arodys for sure.

[KingCubsFan]

Was Olt not eligible?

Pretty sure he was. But, you know, between being 25 years old, the whole vision problem thing not being resolved, and coming off a .201/.303/.381 slash line combined for AA/AAA tends to keep guys out of organizational top 10 lists.

i'd still have him ahead of jeimer and arodys for sure.

Especially Arodys, who hasn't pitched in roughly 2 years.

[Cubswin11]

Was Olt not eligible?

Pretty sure he was. But, you know, between being 25 years old, the whole vision problem thing not being resolved, and coming off a .201/.303/.381 slash line combined for AA/AAA tends to keep guys out of organizational top 10 lists.

i'd still have him ahead of jeimer and arodys for sure.

I see little reason to have him a head of Jeimer at this point, but I'm also very high on Jeimer. Vizcaino and Olt are roughly in the same range for me as both could be ML contributors soon if things go right but both have serious health issues (with Olt's being more serious, imo, since at least the injury Arody's has guys come back from and they really have no idea what's up with Olt's eyes). That being said I'd probably have Hendricks, Cabrera, Blackburn or Villanueva at 10 and all ahead of Vizcaino/Olt for me.

[Cubswin11]

Saw this on PSD and really didn't think of it, but wow.

 

If they have Edwards above Almora and Soler, you really have to wonder where they will rank Edwards in their Top 100.

 

They had Almora and Soler as #16 and #18 prospects respectively in their midseason Top 50 Prospects in July. So, basically the Cubs could easily have 5 prospects in the Top 20.

 

Holy cow.

[Guest]

I personally don't think ratings mean much but the depth there is nice to see.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

The depth here is insane. We're going to make the No. 4 overall pick and then have to legitimately debate if he makes our top 5.

[davell]

The depth here is insane. We're going to make the No. 4 overall pick and then have to legitimately debate if he makes our top 5.

I'll be very surprised if Javy has not used up his rookie eligibility by then. KB is 50/50 for me as well.

[Cubswin11]

The depth here is insane. We're going to make the No. 4 overall pick and then have to legitimately debate if he makes our top 5.

I'll be very surprised if Javy has not used up his rookie eligibility by then. KB is 50/50 for me as well.

What's the amount of games played/PA's a guy needs to reach to lose rookie eligibility? Isn't it like 140 PA's? So basically anyone who gets called up by mid-August and is playing almost every game is going to surpass that.

[davell]

Pretty sure its 130 at bats. Plate appearances don't matter.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Anyone that doesn't have a sub that wants to ask questions for the chat can put them here and I'll send them in. Chat starts at 2:30 EST.

[davell]

Anyone that doesn't have a sub that wants to ask questions for the chat can put them here and I'll send them in. Chat starts at 2:30 EST.

 

 

Whats the initial reports on Zastryzyny, Skulina, Masek, and Frazier look like?

 

Heard very good things on Blackburn at different points in the year, what's going on with his command?

 

Any info on Jimenez, Torres, Mejia and Tseng coming out of Instructs? Is it looking like all 4 will begin year in Arizona?

[Cubswin11]

Anyone that doesn't have a sub that wants to ask questions for the chat can put them here and I'll send them in. Chat starts at 2:30 EST.

Which of the top 10 prospects, if any, do they expect to be up this year and what do they think the eta's are?

 

Since Vizcaino virtually hasn't pitched in 2 years what were the deciding factors in making him #10, still going off of past reports/performance/expectations, knowing TJS isn't a death sentence, or are you hearing/seeing good things in his rehab back?

 

What other prospect(s) were in consideration for #10?

Edited November 11, 2013 by Cubswin11

[craig]

The depth here is insane. We're going to make the No. 4 overall pick and then have to legitimately debate if he makes our top 5.

I'll be very surprised if Javy has not used up his rookie eligibility by then. KB is 50/50 for me as well.

 

Good point, Dave. This may be a high point for our prospect rankings, in terms of "official" BA type lists.

 

1. For Baez, either his star will have dimmed somewhat by November, or he'll have graduated. If Baez is killing the minors like he did in AA, he won't last; and if not his status will settle some.

2. Bryant starts in Daytona, so he's got a better chance to be very productive without having expired eligibility. But if he's great enough, it's at least possible that he'll be expired. And of course there's a chance that his star will dim some, between the K's and the defense.

3. I think edwards and Johnson are both close enough that they might be in a gone-or-down situation. If Edwards is kicking high minors like he did A, given his age and starting in high minors, might he not get called up and expire? Johnson too, when a pitcher starts in the high minors, if he has a great season he can be earning a call up. But if they don't pitch well enough for call ups, they may not look quite as shiny.

[craig]

Anyone that doesn't have a sub that wants to ask questions for the chat can put them here and I'll send them in. Chat starts at 2:30 EST.

 

How many of your sources think Candelario will be able to play solid 3B defense (even if not in Chicago)? And does he project enough power to be a good starter at 1B or OF?