Minor League Musings

[Tim]

Mark Zagunis has been one of the most weirdly consistent baseball players in the minors I can recall. Seems to do about the same thing everywhere he goes. Really curious to see how he translates to the majors. What's the story on his defense?

Corner OFer. Athletic but not fast enough for CF. Average arm but seemingly accurate. Obviously won't have prototypical power for a COF but if the OBP continues in the majors, he could be a 2nd division starter or even a starter for a team that has good power elsewhere in the line-up. Certainly a 4th OFer if the bat plays at the next level as it appears it will.

His tippy top ceiling at the plate is likely Zobrist.

[CubsWin]

Mark Zagunis has been one of the most weirdly consistent baseball players in the minors I can recall. Seems to do about the same thing everywhere he goes. Really curious to see how he translates to the majors. What's the story on his defense?

Corner OFer. Athletic but not fast enough for CF. Average arm but seemingly accurate. Obviously won't have prototypical power for a COF but if the OBP continues in the majors, he could be a 2nd division starter or even a starter for a team that has good power elsewhere in the line-up. Certainly a 4th OFer if the bat plays at the next level as it appears it will.

His tippy top ceiling at the plate is likely Zobrist.

Well I like the sound of that! :D

 

Theo, Jed and Jason have placed a lot of emphasis on make up and work ethic, etc. So, while it is a tippy-top ceiling, I'd say the chances of a Cub prospect reaching their ceiling is better than those from most other teams.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

BA:

Gleyber Torres, ss, Cubs. The Cubs’ top prospect has had an uneven season at bat and in the field. He struggled in April, got hot in May (.306/.353/.519) but is struggling again in June. His glovework has been similarly inconsistent. Torres leads the Florida State League in putouts, but his 13 errors lead the circuit as well. Torres is usually a steady defender with good hands and a strong throwing arm, but some of his errors, according to one evaluator, are a product of poor decisions.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Vogelbach on this week's BA Prosect Hot Sheet:

 

10. Dan Vogelbach, 1b, Cubs

 

Team: Triple-A Iowa (Pacific Coast)

Age: 23

Why He’s Here: .429/.571/1.071 (6-for-14), 8 R, 3 HR, 7 RBIs, 5 BB, 3 SO

 

The Scoop: Vogelbach has drawn 98 walks in 136 games between Double-A and Triple-A dating back to last year, a sign of his outstanding plate patience and ability to manage the strike zone. The power came out this week too, bringing him up to .312/.433/.554 with 12 home runs this season. Yes, there are limitations with him defensively and it’s not clear he’s going to play many major league games with his current organization, but his bat is going to force Vogelbach into a big league lineup. (BB)

[TruffleShuffle]

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=29655

 

Zach Hedges, RHP, Chicago Cubs

First Look: Strong frame, well-proportioned, durable; aggressive takeaway, some rigidity, reasonably balanced, long arm swing, clean to true three-quarter; gets downhill, firm landing, some effort, crossfire action, all fastballs; FB 92-94, solid run, some sink, late life, inside-out sequence, showed command to both sides.

 

Jake Stinnett, RHP, Chicago Cubs

First Look: Tall, very athletic, prototypical build, lean muscle, efficient movements; narrow setup, oriented well over towards third base, semi-wind, closed front side; collapses early on back leg, inconsistent timing and arm swing, some deceleration, didn’t repeat arm path, mild spine tilt, above-average arm speed to three-quarter slot; high-effort, firm drive, really powers over his front side, lacks repeatability; FB 92-96, natural cut, movement plays up at lower end of band; SL 84-85, tight vertical action, hard bite, showed plus darting action; brief look but relief profile.

 

 

Trevor Clifton, RHP, Chicago Cubs

First Look: Long limbs, some present strength, additional projection remaining; stretch only, short leg kick, deep arm action, above-average arm speed, three-quarter slot; early drop, hard drive, loses plane, low release point, slinger; moderate effort, doesn’t get over front side, cuts off finish; all fastballs, FB 92-94, hard run down in the zone, flat up, below-average command, left several sitting out and up.

 

Season-to-date: Clifton isn't the most imposing in terms of his size (6-foot-1) or velocity, but he really can pitch and has above-average movement to his fastball, with the chance for good command. He fills the zone with a heavy 88-91 sinker, and gets lots of depth on his mid-70s curveball. He might not finish with an out pitch; if the overall mix of stuff finishes short for the rotation, his fastball could impact the game more in shorter stints. The Cubs have had success developing movement and command right-handed starters, though, and Clifton had a strong first half en-route to being named to the league's all-star team at 21 years old.

[davell]

92-96 for Stinnett? Wow.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

92-96 for Stinnett? Wow.

 

For Hedges and Stinnett, it sounds like the velocity readings are just from their short stints at their All-Star Game:

 

Last week, we brought you the batters of the Carolina/California League All-Star Game, with first-look notes from Wilson Karaman, and season-to-date thoughts from Adam McInturff. Today we cover the arms in the game for the Carolina League All-Stars, with season-to-date thoughts when we had them. —Craig Goldstein

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Prospect Hot Sheet: http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-july-1-nats-lopez-keeps-dealing/#P8gGEltmchrYrmQw.99

 

4. Ian Happ, 2b, Cubs

 

Team: Double-A Tennessee (Southern)

Age: 21

Why He’s Here: .591/.600/.695 (13-for-22), 6 R, 2 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBIs, 2 BB, 2 SO, 2-for-2 SB

 

The Scoop: The Cubs bumped Happ from high Class A Myrtle Beach to Tennessee just more than a week ago, and he hasn’t stopped hitting. The 2015 first-rounder drew a pinch-hit walk in his first game at the new level, then collected 11 hits in his next 15 at-bats over four games. (JN)

 

18. Dan Vogelbach, 1b, Cubs

image: http://cdn.baseballamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/3ds_cubs79.jpg

 

3ds_cubs79

Team: Triple-A Iowa (Pacific Coast)

Age: 23

Why He’s Here: .373/.419/.793 (11-for-29), 5 R, 3 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBIs, 2 BB, 5 SO

 

The Scoop: While Cubs manager Joe Maddon stresses versatility with his young position players—see Kris Bryant, Javier Baez and rookie Willson Contreras—the first-base-only Vogelbach won’t present those same opportunities. More accurately, he’s a quality bat who plays a survivable first base and is best suited to be a DH. Vogelbach’s patient hitting approach will probably play in the majors, but barring an injury to Anthony Rizzo, even Joe Maddon’s creativity has its limits. (JJ)

[CaliforniaRaisin]

BP released their midseason top 50. Eloy is #28, Gleyber #34, Happ #50.

 

This is a system that's graduated Soler, Baez, Bryant, Russell, Schwarber and Contreras in the last 24 months.

[Tim]

BP released their midseason top 50. Eloy is #28, Gleyber #34, Happ #50.

 

This is a system that's graduated Soler, Baez, Bryant, Russell, Schwarber and Contreras in the last 24 months.

I haven't read the article yet. I assume they ruled out anyone playing in the bigs as opposed to rookie qualification?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

BP released their midseason top 50. Eloy is #28, Gleyber #34, Happ #50.

 

This is a system that's graduated Soler, Baez, Bryant, Russell, Schwarber and Contreras in the last 24 months.

I haven't read the article yet. I assume they ruled out anyone playing in the bigs as opposed to rookie qualification?

 

Correct. No prospects currently in the majors nor any prospects recently signed on July 2nd or drafted this year.

 

I wonder if Contreras got in the top ten otherwise. He deserved to be up there.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

28. Eloy Jimenez, RF, Chicago Cubs

Why He'll Succeed: One of the two or three best young hitters in the minors, Jimenez has the size, bat speed, and hitting ability to develop into a middle-of-the-order hitter. If his approach matures, 30-homer seasons with a .300 average and a good OBP aren’t out of the question.

 

Why He Might Fail: His aggressive approach could get exploited as his moves up the organizational ladder and down the defensive spectrum, making the bat less palatable, though still playable.

 

34. Gleyber Torres, MI, Chicago Cubs

Why He'll Succeed: There’s no real weakness to Torres’ game. Everything but the power flashes above-average to plus, and his instincts both at the plate and in the field are impressive for any age, much less a 19-year-old.

 

Why He Might Fail: If he doesn’t stick at shortstop, he doesn’t have the offensive skill set to be a first-division regular. That’s all I got.

 

50. Ian Happ, 2B, Chicago Cubs

Why He’ll Succeed: When he finds a long-term defensive home he'll be a solid, well-rounded regular with quality makeup and clubhouse contributions. Does a little bit of everything offensively, hitting for average, some power, and putting up double-digit stolen base totals.

 

Why He Might Fail: His longer swing and high strikeout totals could get exposed against big-league competition, and the unusual tool set might never quite fit an everyday profile, in which case Happ would ultimately have more of a utility future.

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=29756

[sneakypower]

I wonder if Contreras got in the top ten otherwise. He deserved to be up there.

we've gotten enough looks at him now and know probably the most about his true talent that i'm not particularly concerned about something like this; the question was brought up a little while back but is instructive, how many players on that list would you trade Contreras for? add 1 to that & that's his ranking

[Tim]

I wonder if Contreras got in the top ten otherwise. He deserved to be up there.

we've gotten enough looks at him now and know probably the most about his true talent that i'm not particularly concerned about something like this; the question was brought up a little while back but is instructive, how many players on that list would you trade Contreras for? add 1 to that & that's his ranking

So...#2 behind Moncada?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I wonder if Contreras got in the top ten otherwise. He deserved to be up there.

we've gotten enough looks at him now and know probably the most about his true talent that i'm not particularly concerned about something like this; the question was brought up a little while back but is instructive, how many players on that list would you trade Contreras for? add 1 to that & that's his ranking

 

Oh, I was only saying that for fun and not for any practical reasons. I just wanted the chance to add another top 25 prospect to Epstein/Hoyer/McLeod's credit.

[Little Slide Rooter]

28. Eloy Jimenez, RF, Chicago Cubs

Why He'll Succeed: One of the two or three best young hitters in the minors, Jimenez has the size, bat speed, and hitting ability to develop into a middle-of-the-order hitter. If his approach matures, 30-homer seasons with a .300 average and a good OBP aren’t out of the question.

 

Why He Might Fail: His aggressive approach could get exploited as his moves up the organizational ladder and down the defensive spectrum, making the bat less palatable, though still playable.

 

34. Gleyber Torres, MI, Chicago Cubs

Why He'll Succeed: There’s no real weakness to Torres’ game. Everything but the power flashes above-average to plus, and his instincts both at the plate and in the field are impressive for any age, much less a 19-year-old.

 

Why He Might Fail: If he doesn’t stick at shortstop, he doesn’t have the offensive skill set to be a first-division regular. That’s all I got.

 

50. Ian Happ, 2B, Chicago Cubs

Why He’ll Succeed: When he finds a long-term defensive home he'll be a solid, well-rounded regular with quality makeup and clubhouse contributions. Does a little bit of everything offensively, hitting for average, some power, and putting up double-digit stolen base totals.

 

Why He Might Fail: His longer swing and high strikeout totals could get exposed against big-league competition, and the unusual tool set might never quite fit an everyday profile, in which case Happ would ultimately have more of a utility future.

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=29756

 

Brett Phillips, CF, Milwaukee Brewers

Why He’ll Succeed: If gains in power and approach that he made at Double-A stick around, it turns him into an above-average offensive weapon with an impact arm in center.

 

Why He Might Fail: If his laugh cascades around the rafters of Miller Park, it could touch off a seismic event that dislodges the beer slide and initiates a Rube Goldbergian series of events that drowns Bernie Brewer, knocks the sausage-race Brat unconscious, and leads to a pitchfork-wielding mob chasing him to Sheboygan, where he’s last seen jet skiing off across the dark waters of Lake Michigan.

 

Looks like somebody was getting delirious toward the end.

[sneakypower]

I wonder if Contreras got in the top ten otherwise. He deserved to be up there.

we've gotten enough looks at him now and know probably the most about his true talent that i'm not particularly concerned about something like this; the question was brought up a little while back but is instructive, how many players on that list would you trade Contreras for? add 1 to that & that's his ranking

 

Oh, I was only saying that for fun and not for any practical reasons. I just wanted the chance to add another top 25 prospect to Epstein/Hoyer/McLeod's credit.

Keith Law had him 18th in his midseason update so we can award WC that distinction

 

he also had Torres top-15 and we can reasonably assume Happ will gain top 25 status in due time (BA midseason?), so hitter development is going pretty well i'd say

[Cubswin11]

we've gotten enough looks at him now and know probably the most about his true talent that i'm not particularly concerned about something like this; the question was brought up a little while back but is instructive, how many players on that list would you trade Contreras for? add 1 to that & that's his ranking

 

Oh, I was only saying that for fun and not for any practical reasons. I just wanted the chance to add another top 25 prospect to Epstein/Hoyer/McLeod's credit.

Keith Law had him 18th in his midseason update so we can award WC that distinction

 

he also had Torres top-15 and we can reasonably assume Happ will gain top 25 status in due time (BA midseason?), so hitter development is going pretty well i'd say

Law is pretty high on Eloy too, iirc from his chats and some tweets, I could definitely seem Law having him a lot higher than other prospect ranking guys next year.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

BA's midseason top 100: http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/midseason-top-100-prospects/#oOoCkEUOEcjjMT3u.97

 

27. Gleyber Torres

37. Ian Happ

46. Eloy Jimenez

[sneakypower]

interesting to consider that Law's #5 is 41st for BA and Longenhagen's 3rd-best pitching prospect doesn't crack top-100 here

[sneakypower]

BP's Bret Sayre says this of a current Cubs prospect:

"Might be the best hitter in the minors right now"

[stitchface]

Browsing through minor league stats - the k/bb ratios of cubs prospects, especially at the higher levels, are amazing almost across the board.

[David]

BP's Bret Sayre says this of a current Cubs prospect:

"Might be the best hitter in the minors right now"

 

since this is from the list, i'm assuming it's eloy

 

28. Eloy Jimenez, RF, Chicago Cubs

Why He'll Succeed: One of the two or three best young hitters in the minors, Jimenez has the size, bat speed, and hitting ability to develop into a middle-of-the-order hitter. If his approach matures, 30-homer seasons with a .300 average and a good OBP aren’t out of the question.

 

Why He Might Fail: His aggressive approach could get exploited as his moves up the organizational ladder and down the defensive spectrum, making the bat less palatable, though still playable.

 

EDIT - n/m i guess he qualifies it with young

Edited July 8, 2016 by David

[Tryptamine]

BP's Bret Sayre says this of a current Cubs prospect:

"Might be the best hitter in the minors right now"

 

Yeah, Vogelbach is going to be a nice bat for someone down the line. Part of me wants to keep him around as a bench bat for the playoffs.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

From BA's biggest midseason risers and fallers in the top 100:

 

Eloy Jimenez, of, Cubs

 

As a 19-year-old, Jimenez is a contemporary of the high school outfielders in the 2015 draft class. From that group, Nick Plummer (wrist injury) and Garrett Whitley have yet to play in full-season ball. Daz Cameron was demoted to short-season ball and will miss the season because of a broken finger. Only Trent Clark and Kyle Tucker are currently in full-season ball, and of those only Tucker comes close to matching Jimenez’s production this year in the Midwest League. Jimenez was considered one of the most talented players in the 2013 international July 2 class. He’s living up to those expectations with power and improving plate coverage. The biggest knock against him is that he’s likely a left fielder–although he played right in Sunday’s Futures Game and made a great catch.