Minor League Player of the Year

[Tim]

At the risk of being mocked endlessly (no, there won't be a cash reward), let's pick a minor league player of the year and minor league pitcher of the year.

 

The criteria can be anything you want, just explain your answer.

[Guest]

If I discount Schwarber because of playing time, I think this one is pretty easy for me.

 

Willson Contreras and his .327/.408/.473/.881 line with more BB+HBP than K's (64 - 62) while reportedly playing a decent or better catcher is just outstanding.

 

I'd go with Zagunis, McKinney and Chesny Young in some order as the runners up.

[ctcf]

I'd have to pretty much concur. For the sake of having an interesting discussion, it's best to discount Schwarber, because otherwise there's no point.

 

Contreras takes the top spot for me as well. I expect he's going to pop up on a lot of Top 100 lists and I think Luke Blaize over at Bleacher Nation doesn't look too crazy putting him at #1 in the system.

 

Much like Tim, Zagunis and McKinney are fighting out the #2 spot for me. I'd give the edge to McKinney just because I love how polished he is. Zagunis' OBP skills are fantastic, however. What a year for them both.

 

Honestly, this was a pretty great season for the farm system, even after all the graduations. Hell of a job by the front office.

[Guest]

Hard to come up with much of an argument that it's not Contreras. I could see a semblance of an argument for Baez, Zagunis, or Torres, but Contreras is the guy for me too.

[davell]

With Schwarber not eligible, Contreras is even easier than Williams.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Yep, Contreras is an incredibly easy choice.

[Guest]

Yeah, Contreras is the obvious choice.

[CubsWin]

Answering this question brought to light just how good of a developmental year it was for the Cubs organization.

 

Schwarber did Bryant-like things. Torres tore up the MWL as an 18-year-old (until he tired towards the end of the longest season he's ever played). Doing what he did in that league, not a great hitters' league, and at his age, is very rare. Maybe 2 or 3 players in a decade. Javier Baez went from hitting .260/.323/.510 in AAA last year to .328/.391/.526. Jeimer Candelario would run away with Comeback Player of the Year if that were a thing. He went from being written off by many to a 21-year-old, good fielding 3B in AA who hit .291/.379/.462 and walked more than he struckout. Albert Almora isn't in the conversation for this award, but he certainly showed development in his approach and performance at the plate, finishing this season very strongly. Eloy Jimenez improved this season hitting 7 HRs in the NWL (no 18-year-old had more) and improving his AZL line of .227/.268/.367 to a respectable .284/.328/.418. We haven't even gotten to Chesny Young or Mark Zagunis yet.

 

But all of the previously mentioned developmental success stories pale in comparison to Willson Contreras'. I agree, he is easily the Cubs Minor League Player of the Year.

 

Interestingly, there is positional balance to the above list. You could even create an old style BA future line-up out of it...

 

The 2018 Chicago Cubs

 

C - Contreras

1B - Candelario

2B - Young

SS - Torres

3B - Baez

LF - Jimenez

CF - Almora

RF - Zagunis

DH - Schwarber

[rawaction]

I still thought long and hard about giving it to Gleyber. He had an .800 OPS until August as a young 18-year old (not 19 til December) in low A. Clearly wore down at the end, but he already established himself as the clear #1 prospect in the system for me. But yeah, Contreras went from a guy that profiled as a possible backup C, to one of the top 5 prospects in the system.

 

As for pitcher, I guess it's Williams. Brad Markey has an argument. But that's about it.

[TruffleShuffle]

paging IMB to make a joke about the $100 prize to the winner... no you can't prevent the joke by trying to head it off in the OP, tim.

[Little Slide Rooter]

If this is based solely on 2015 performance, it's Contreras. His numbers have been not only great, but consistant all season long. The only one who could give him a run for his money would have been McKinney, had he made it through the season.

[imb]

instead of a $100 award why dont we buy four of these bad boys and donate them to needy children in africa

 

http://www.zazzle.com/nsbb_murderers_throw_2004_tee_shirts-235382828368064009

[Sammy Sofa]

instead of a $100 award why dont we buy four of these bad boys and donate them to needy children in africa

 

http://www.zazzle.com/nsbb_murderers_throw_2004_tee_shirts-235382828368064009

 

I swear that thing was just a trap to trick people into a conversation when they come up to try and read your hideous, nonsensical t-shirt.

[imb]

instead of a $100 award why dont we buy four of these bad boys and donate them to needy children in africa

 

http://www.zazzle.com/nsbb_murderers_throw_2004_tee_shirts-235382828368064009

 

I swear that thing was just a trap to trick people into a conversation when they come up to try and read your hideous, nonsensical t-shirt.

 

i feel like the sizing was super fugged up

 

http://i.imgur.com/gEVR17U.jpg

[Cubswin11]

It's pretty ridiculous we still have a top ~10 system even after graduating so many guys.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

instead of a $100 award why dont we buy four of these bad boys and donate them to needy children in africa

 

http://www.zazzle.com/nsbb_murderers_throw_2004_tee_shirts-235382828368064009

I need to know how many of those were actually sold!