Eloy Jimenez & Jeimer Candelario Make the Futures Game

[CaliforniaRaisin]

They'll be representing the Cubs' minor league system in San Diego.

 

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[CubsWin]

Eloy has established himself as a top 100 talent. The way he's dominating a league in which he is 2 years young plus his pedigree of being the top IFA in 2013 makes that a certainty. Combined with Gleyber, who is already ranked top 40 (and in some cases top 25), the Cubs scouting and development staffs have proven themselves yet again.

 

It may seem otherwise, but Jeimer was also 19 in Low-A and remains on the same timeline as Jimenez, assuming Eloy advances at a level per year rate. Candy's a different type of hitter though with less power but greater discipline and more walks.

 

At the same age in the same league, Jeimer hit 35 doubles with 11 HRs, walking 68 times against 88 Ks hitting .256/.346/.396. I picked him to breakout in High-A the next season. I was wrong. I've since learned it's rare to have a hitter breakout in extreme pitcher's leagues like the FSL or CL. He struggled badly and was sent back to Low-A to finish out the season.

 

The next year was a different story. He made the adjustments the Cubs were asking of him while never wavering from his work ethic, developmental plan and continuing to trust his coaches. After proving ready in Myrtle Beach, he brokeout in AA as a 21-year-old, continued it in the AFL and is now dominating AAA (in a short sample) as a 22-year-old. Is Jeimer at top 100 prospect as this point, too? At his age and level, if his production stays high, I believe he should be.

 

Despite Candelario being a Hendry signing (his development is the clear result of the improved instruction and philosophy of the new Cubs FO), it has been night and day as far as who the Cubs have sent to Futures Game since the new regime was hired. Theo took over in the 2011 off season, so the current FO's impact didn't start to be felt until 2013.

 

Past Cubs representatives in the Future's Game have been:

 

2007 - Geovany Soto

2008 - Wellington Castillo

2009 - Starlin Castro and Josh Vitters

2010 - Brett Jackson and Hak-Ju Lee

2011 - Matt Szczur

2012 - Jae-Hoon Ha

 

2013 - Arismendy Alcantara and Jorge Soler

2014 - Kris Bryant and Javy Baez

2015 - Kyle Schwarber and CJ Edwards

 

Hopefully, Jimenez and Candelario can follow in the most recent Cubs footsteps.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

BP: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=29684

 

Jeimer Candelario, 3B, Chicago Cubs (Triple-A Iowa)

 

Candelario first got attention in 2011 when he drew 50 walks in the DSL, prompting many to notice the outlier among a swing-first league. Since then the switch-hitting third baseman has had an interesting career with many ups and downs. Multiple times he has started the year off repeating a level, only to show adjustments and get promoted. This recently happened at Double-A Tennessee resulting in his recent promotion to Iowa. He profiles as a third baseman, but won’t wow you with his glove. He will more than likely see time in the bigs at some point this year, though there isn’t an easy fit with the Cubs for him. —Grant Jones

 

Eloy Jimenez, OF, Chicago Cubs (Low-A South Bend)

 

One of the biggest breakthrough players of the year so far, Jimenez has shown an immensely improved approach while still showing light tower power. He will still flail at low outside sliders from time to time, but the urge to swing at everything has abated. His .380 OBP is largely unexpected, and had always been considered raw in comparison with fellow Cubs 2013 IFA signee Gleyber Torres, but this year has shown the readiness for the next level, though the Cubs may prefer to let Jimenez continue to work on his approach in South Bend. —Grant Jones

[sneakypower]

Eloy has established himself as a top 100 40 talent.

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[craig]

I have a hard time getting very excited about Candelario.

 

The only real virtue he's ever shown consistently is being young. But he's never actually been especially good, relative to his competition, for more than short-sample stretches.

 

He's a .759 career OPS guy, and .783 this season. Turning 23 later this year. So it's still projection to be good, rather than actually ever having *been* good, other than in DSL, or in occasional hot stretches. (Every hitter has some ups and downs....) It's always been decent..... for his age.

 

Scouts don't project noteworthy HR power, and he's never hit a lot of HR. Scouts don't project noteworthy defense, acceptable but average.

 

Decent prospect. The majors has lots of guys who have developed into decent/good players who weren't great prospects or great minor-league producers, so Candelario has that possibility. Maybe being a decent player (for his age) is good enough to make top-100.

 

Good prospect, but limited excitement level. Not sure how much trade value goes with that profile? Hard to get a handle on that for my brain.

[Thrilho]

Eloy has established himself as a top 100 40 talent.

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Agreed. I moved Candelario down to 7 in my most recent rankings but I think all of Conteras, Jimenz, Torres, Happ, Almora and Cease all end up in the top 50. It's debatable whether Cease and Almora end up there, but I think Candyman will be, think Cease will continue to explode and Almora I'm sure people will be torn on. So maybe Candelario ought to be higher on my list if I consider him solid top 50 but right now it's more what those other guys have done than me being less sure on Candelario. That .350 BA at AAA is looking mighty fine.

 

ETA: oops I read your note as Candelario in top 40. Oh well the rest of my post still stands. I think all those guys are having much better years than expected by the average prospect ranking outlet.