Cubs 2015 #16 Prospect

[Tim]

Make your choice for the Cubs 2015 #16 prospect.

 

Cast votes for the players you think would be deserving at #16. You can vote for up to two players. This is done because at this point, there will start to be greater diversity in whom people may feel is deserving. Voting for multiple players helps to gain greater resolution in the voting when there are many choices and relatively few voters. Ideally, the votes would be weighted, but that isn't possible with the board software.

 

If you want to have a player added to the list, please say so.

 

#1 Kris Bryant

#2 Addison Russell

#3 Jorge Soler

#4 Kyle Schwarber

#5 CJ Edwards

#6 Billy McKinney

#7 Gleyber Torres

#8 Albert Almora

#9 Pierce Johnson

#10 Duane Underwood

#11 Jen-Ho Tseng

#12 Jake Stinnett

#13 Mark Zagunis

#14 Eloy Jimenez

#15 Dan Vogelbach

[Guest]

lol - I was tempted to vote Szczur today, too. I guess I need to see more to know there was a real adjustment made.

 

I went with Caratini and Rivero.

[ctcf]

Dumb Tim makin me change my vote.

[Clem Fandango]

Not to be nitpicky, but don't runoffs usually result in the loser automatically being selected as the next round's prospect choice? Or is that only when the two runoffs were chosen in a landslide compared to all others in the previous round?

[Guest]

Not to be nitpicky, but don't runoffs usually result in the loser automatically being selected as the next round's prospect choice? Or is that only when the two runoffs were chosen in a landslide compared to all others in the previous round?

The latter.

 

I'm not convinced enough to just assume Sands wins this round over Caratini

[Clem Fandango]

Gotcha. Well to make it more difficult I chose both Sands and Caratini, lol.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

lol - I was tempted to vote Szczur today, too. I guess I need to see more to know there was a real adjustment made.

 

I went with Caratini and Rivero.

 

I voted for Szczur.

 

He's close to the majors, he's probably going to make the team and at least have a chance to show some value, and while I wouldn't move him up the depth chart based on ST results, I'm at least curious about how he does at Iowa for the first few months now.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Caratini.

[toonsterwu]

Caratini - perhaps the most polished defensive backstop of our top backstops (admittedly, in of itself, that doesn't mean that much when the competition is Schwarber, Zagunis, Amaya, and the elder statesman in Lopez), he also has some offensive potential. How much depends on how much game power you think he can develop. I think there's the potential for maybe 10-12 HR's a year, which would be more than enough.

 

Sands - Here's a potential 3 pitch lefty who might have 3 above average pitches, and he has some more growth potential. That's quality ceiling. Yes, it's an arm, but I think ceiling-wise, it's more than the standard "mid-rotation" guy, and that's plenty talented.

 

I have Caratini ahead of Sands.

[sneakypower]

Sands & Szczur

[craig]

My top six at this stage, in some order: Caratini, Cease, Zastryzny, Sands, Rivero, Steele

 

1. Caratini. I'm not as high on his defense as toonster. But the population of catchers who are both average defensively and average/decent offensively is limited and valuable. He's got a chance to possibly develop into an average defender, and as disciplined hitter if his bat matures with some contact and some power he's got a chance..

2. Cease. Control, who knows? Raw and wild to start, and lot so guys post-surg have reduced control. But, he's the fastest guy in the Cubs minors, I don't think anybody even close. His velocity is on another level. Guys who can throw 96 at half-speed don't grow on trees. Plus, whatever control questions and surgery questions, the Cubs knew all that and knowingly committed $1.5 for that potential reward, risk included. Sure, SNTS and all that, and with the cautious injury comeback, he'll take a while. But he's got a chance to be way good.

3. Zastryzny. Forgotten man. He was inconsistent last year, with some quite good stretches, but some real bad stretches too, and mixed/erratic reports at best for his fastball. 110K/33B is rather nice. I've heard that his fastball is back this spring, and he's looking good. Already at AA this year, so if he was 100% physically, and a little sharper, a little more consistent, a little faster, he could emerge pretty nicely.

4. Steele. Lefties who project well for good control and 90+ velocity are interesting.

 

I'll stick with Sands and Rivero at this point. But mark Zastryzny as my dark-horse surprise candidate for this spring.

[toonsterwu]

to be clear, in case it wasn't, I'm simply saying that Caratini is the most polished defensive backstop of our top catching prospects, which isn't saying that much. I don't think he'll ever be an elite defensive backstop, based on what's out there, what I heard last year, but I think he's got enough of a skillset to be solid-average.

 

With Zastryzny, I simply would like to know what his consistent velocity is this year. Wasn't there a lot of variance last year, based on the reports? Some nights where he was high 80's mostly, other nights, low 90's? That small difference looks like it is a significant issue for him, as I recall several reports saying he excelled with those extra ticks.

 

As for Szczur, I gotta think a lot of people are voting based on what's happening now, but I take spring with a grain of salt (the positive moreso than the negative), and a lot of the minor leaguers haven't gotten a lot of meaningful action. Still think Szczur can be a solid depth OF in the bigs, a Dave Roberts-esque type, but he's really going to have to hit with this power regularly for me to think he's more than that.

 

craig is right on Cease's raw potential being a factor at this stage, and I wonder why I haven't pondered it. A part of me wonders if there's lingering Dillon Maples-reverberations that's in my mind.

[ctcf]

I went Sands and Szczur.

[rawaction]

Why didn't Sands get 16 since he was in the run-off?

[Guest]

Why didn't Sands get 16 since he was in the run-off?

It was close enough between the top 2 and Caratini that I wasn't sure he'd win the vote.

[Bilbo161]

I went Sands and Szczur. I know it's just spring training, but the change to Szczur's swing mechanics is real in that he is finally using his hips to some effect. Maybe he can get back to what he originally was thought to be. Wasn't he in the top 100 early on based mostly on hype since he gave up football to sign with the Cubs?

[Bilbo161]

I went Sands and Szczur. I know it's just spring training, but the change to Szczur's swing mechanics is real in that he is finally using his hips to some effect. Maybe he can get back to what he originally was thought to be. Wasn't he in the top 100 early on based mostly on hype since he gave up football to sign with the Cubs?

 

I found it. It was the BA 2012 top 100.

 

61 Javier Baez ss, Cubs Age: 19. ETA: 2014.

Bat speed, Florida high school shortstop background . . . let the Gary Sheffield comparisons begin.

62 Zach Lee rhp, Dodgers Age: 20. ETA: 2014.

Would he have made the difference as Les Miles’ quarterback against Alabama? Unfortunately for Louisiana State, he really knows how to pitch.

63 Dellin Betances rhp, Yankees Age: 24. ETA: 2013.

Last year he became the 10th member of New York’s 2006 draft class to reach the majors.

64 Matt Szczur of, Cubs Age: 22. ETA: 2013.

Exciting high-risk, high-reward talent who should take off with football in his rearview mirror.

 

Interestingly he was only 3 spots below Javy.