2017 Post-Season Prospect Rankings (BA, Fangraphs, BP, ESPN, MLB Pipeline)

CaliforniaRaisin · February 5, 2018

BP's Top 100 is out: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/prospects/article/37535/baseball-prospectus-top-101-prospects-2018-top-mlb-prospects-ronald-acuna-victor-robles-vladimir-guerrero-jr-eloy-jimenez/

Adbert Alzolay is the only Cub, coming in at 95.

Gleyber is 3, Eloy 6, Cease 47.

Bertz · February 5, 2018

Dan Szymborski did his ZiPS Top 100 prospects, and Aramis Ademan came in at #18.

CaliforniaRaisin · February 5, 2018

No Cubs on Fangraphs' top 100 list (a combined effort between Kiley McDaniel and article Longenagen): https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2018-top-100-prospects/

Eloy is 6, Gleyber 12, no Cease.

CaliforniaRaisin · February 7, 2018

Nelson Velázquez (Lower-Level Outfielders), Dillon Maples (Close-to-the-Big-Leagues Relievers) and Victor Caratini (Utility Players) mentioned in Fangraphs' Lower Ranked Prospects they love: https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/heres-some-lower-ranked-prospects-we-love/

Tryptamine · February 7, 2018

The next time the random Sox fan is pointing out that the Cubs gave up Eloy for Quintana, as if it was a bad deal, you can now point to the fact that the White Sox gave up Fernando Tatis Jr for a broken James Shields. Tatis is now a top 5-10 prospect on just about every list and getting comps to Machado/Tulo as far as future impact goes.

Cubswin11 · February 7, 2018

The next time the random Sox fan is pointing out that the Cubs gave up Eloy for Quintana, as if it was a bad deal, you can now point to the fact that the White Sox gave up Fernando Tatis Jr for a broken James Shields. Tatis is now a top 5-10 prospect on just about every list and getting comps to Machado/Tulo as far as future impact goes.

I regret nothing. I’d trade Jorge Soler 2.0 for Jon Lester 2.0 (at a discounted, controlled rate) every time

Hairyducked Idiot · February 7, 2018

Fernando Tatis Jr.

Go horsefeathers yourself, inexorable march of time

Tryptamine · February 7, 2018

The next time the random Sox fan is pointing out that the Cubs gave up Eloy for Quintana, as if it was a bad deal, you can now point to the fact that the White Sox gave up Fernando Tatis Jr for a broken James Shields. Tatis is now a top 5-10 prospect on just about every list and getting comps to Machado/Tulo as far as future impact goes.
I regret nothing. I’d trade Jorge Soler 2.0 for Jon Lester 2.0 (at a discounted, controlled rate) every time

I agree, I did not and do not regret the Quintana deal at all. The point was the White Sox made an absolutely horrific deal and they got James Shields who was getting paid 20M a year on top of it.

David · February 7, 2018

The next time the random Sox fan is pointing out that the Cubs gave up Eloy for Quintana, as if it was a bad deal, you can now point to the fact that the White Sox gave up Fernando Tatis Jr for a broken James Shields. Tatis is now a top 5-10 prospect on just about every list and getting comps to Machado/Tulo as far as future impact goes.
I regret nothing. I’d trade Jorge Soler 2.0 for Jon Lester 2.0 (at a discounted, controlled rate) every time

I agree, I did not and do not regret the Quintana deal at all. The point was the White Sox made an absolutely horrific deal and they got James Shields who was getting paid 20M a year on top of it.

Why don't I just point out that we have 3+ years of Jose Quintana, instead?

Guancous · February 9, 2018

Prospects 1500 has their Cubs list out. The site ranks the top 50 prospects for each team.

http://prospects1500.com/top-50-lists/chicago-cubs-2018-top-50-prospects/

Regular Show · February 9, 2018

Prospects 1500 has their Cubs list out. The site ranks the top 50 prospects for each team.

http://prospects1500.com/top-50-lists/chicago-cubs-2018-top-50-prospects/

This site ranks the top 50 prospects for each team? Hmm... I'm a little skeptical about going 50 deep for every MLB team lol.

CaliforniaRaisin · February 10, 2018

Aramis Ademan was one of BA's 25 prospects who just missed their top 100.

Each of the BA writers came up with their own personal top 150 lists. Each of Adbert Alzolay, Aramis Ademan, Dillon Maples, José Albertos, Thomas Hatch and Victor Caratini showed up in at least one top 150 list.

https://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/ask-ba-who-just-missed-the-top-100-prospects-list-2/?amphtml=1&__twitter_impression=true

CaliforniaRaisin · February 11, 2018

BP's Top 100 is out: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/prospects/article/37535/baseball-prospectus-top-101-prospects-2018-top-mlb-prospects-ronald-acuna-victor-robles-vladimir-guerrero-jr-eloy-jimenez/

Adbert Alzolay is the only Cub, coming in at 95.

Gleyber is 3, Eloy 6, Cease 47.

Here's what BP wrote on Alzolay in their top 100 list:

Alzolay has a starter’s delivery in a reliever’s body with a change-up that could push him to either role. Currently, the pitch is not playable to turn over MLB rotations, but he could right now get outs from a bullpen with his FB/SL combination, playing to higher end of velo band in short stints. The relative quietness of his delivery given his size, a result of plus athleticism and a strong lower half that stabilizes his delivery. I project change up and command improvement enough to keep Alzolay in an MLB rotation.

CaliforniaRaisin · February 17, 2018

Cubs Top 10 Prospects
1. Aramis Ademan, SS
2. Adbert Alzolay, RHP
3. Jose Albertos, RHP
4. Victor Caratini, C
5. Alex Lange, RHP
6. Oscar De La Cruz, RHP
7. Brendon Little, LHP
8. Thomas Hatch, RHP
9. Jen-Ho Tseng, RHP
10. Nelson Velazquez, OF

I got my BA Prospect Handbook yesterday. Here is 11-31:

11. DJ Wilson, OF

12. David Bote, 2B/3B

13. Bryan Hudson, LHP

14. Keegan Thompson, RHP

15. Dillon Maples, RHP

16. Cory Abbott, RHP

17. Trevor Clifton, RHP

18. Justin Steele, LHP

19. Duane Underwood, RHP

20. Mark Zagunis, OF

21. Dakota Mekkes, RHP

22. Miguel Amaya, C

23. Javier Assad, RHP

24. Charcer Burks, OF

25. Jason Vosler, 3B

26. Michael Rucker, RHP

27. Erich Uelman, RHP

28. Alec Mills, RHP

29. Jonathan Sierra, OF

30. Jake Stinnett, RHP

31. Manuel Rondon, LHP

Most surprising omission for me is Jeremiah Estrada.

Tim · February 17, 2018

Does Rucker roll the ball to the plate or something?

Hrubes20 · February 18, 2018

Cubs Top 10 Prospects
1. Aramis Ademan, SS
2. Adbert Alzolay, RHP
3. Jose Albertos, RHP
4. Victor Caratini, C
5. Alex Lange, RHP
6. Oscar De La Cruz, RHP
7. Brendon Little, LHP
8. Thomas Hatch, RHP
9. Jen-Ho Tseng, RHP
10. Nelson Velazquez, OF

I got my BA Prospect Handbook yesterday. Here is 11-31:

11. DJ Wilson, OF
12. David Bote, 2B/3B
13. Bryan Hudson, LHP
14. Keegan Thompson, RHP
15. Dillon Maples, RHP
16. Cory Abbott, RHP
17. Trevor Clifton, RHP
18. Justin Steele, LHP
19. Duane Underwood, RHP
20. Mark Zagunis, OF
21. Dakota Mekkes, RHP
22. Miguel Amaya, C
23. Javier Assad, RHP
24. Charcer Burks, OF
25. Jason Vosler, 3B
26. Michael Rucker, RHP
27. Erich Uelman, RHP
28. Alec Mills, RHP
29. Jonathan Sierra, OF
30. Jake Stinnett, RHP
31. Manuel Rondon, LHP

Most surprising omission for me is Jeremiah Estrada.

BA has REALLY gone downhill.

David · February 18, 2018

I thought ademan was a pitcher for a long time

Hairyducked Idiot · February 18, 2018

I thought ademan was a pitcher for a long time

I still get him mixed up with the other guy we also got in the supplemental first round in 2012.

Regular Show · February 19, 2018

I thought ademan was a pitcher for a long time

I still get him mixed up with the other guy we also got in the supplemental first round in 2012.

Paul Blackburn? What? That guy? :-k

craig · February 21, 2018

Does Rucker roll the ball to the plate or something?

BA book lists him as a reliever, said he got up to 94-96 in relief, but was 90-93 in rotation. Doesn't scout any of his offspeed pitches as more than average if that. So, they basically view him as a guy with no good-stuff pitches in rotation, and just the fastball in relief. Basically a no-stuff command guy.

Doesn't seem that different a scouting report from what other media guys give.

BA may be right, and none of the other scouting writeups seems to like is stuff very well either.

Still, kind of a puzzle how he can be whiffing guys all the time without actually having any good pitches?

He averaged over a K-per-inning, so it would seem that even if none of his stuff seems particularly sharp, that somehow A-ball hitters still miss it a lot. Perhaps it's just a testament to the value of command; if you're getting ahead 1-2 on three guys per inning, and you throw so many fastball strikes that guys are expecting a strike, maybe you don't need anything sharp to still be getting some A-ballers to chase and whiff. Or, maybe there's something in the delivery that's deceptive, so guys can't easily distinguish a so-so curve from a fastball, and end up K-ing even thought the curve doesn't have much spin rate or anything?

It's just weird.

squally1313 · February 21, 2018

I thought ademan was a pitcher for a long time

I still get him mixed up with the other guy we also got in the supplemental first round in 2012.

Paul Blackburn? What? That guy? :-k

Fun fact, Zips has Paul Blackburn, yes, that guy, as being more valuable (1.2 WAR in 138 IP) than both the Brewers fourth (Gallardo, 0.7/122) and fifth (Guerra, 0.4/99) projected starters.

But yes, the rebuilding is over.

Regular Show · February 22, 2018

I still get him mixed up with the other guy we also got in the supplemental first round in 2012.

Paul Blackburn? What? That guy? :-k

Fun fact, Zips has Paul Blackburn, yes, that guy, as being more valuable (1.2 WAR in 138 IP) than both the Brewers fourth (Gallardo, 0.7/122) and fifth (Guerra, 0.4/99) projected starters.

But yes, the rebuilding is over.

Lol, I'll take that bet. Blackburn was a pretty mediocre pitching prospect, and I doubt he improves at the big league level. I'm NOT high on this worn down version of Gallardo obviously, but I like Guerra. We're talking about Junior Guerra right? He was really good in 2016, and I'm not sure what happened to him last year. Seems like he was injured most of 2017, but IF he's healthy I would take him over Blackburn all day.

squally1313 · February 22, 2018

Paul Blackburn? What? That guy? :-k

Fun fact, Zips has Paul Blackburn, yes, that guy, as being more valuable (1.2 WAR in 138 IP) than both the Brewers fourth (Gallardo, 0.7/122) and fifth (Guerra, 0.4/99) projected starters.

But yes, the rebuilding is over.

Lol, I'll take that bet. Blackburn was a pretty mediocre pitching prospect, and I doubt he improves at the big league level. I'm NOT high on this worn down version of Gallardo obviously, but I like Guerra. We're talking about Junior Guerra right? He was really good in 2016, and I'm not sure what happened to him last year. Seems like he was injured most of 2017, but IF he's healthy I would take him over Blackburn all day.

Haha that was definitely meant more as a shot to the Brewers (and surprise at the Blackburn projections). But worth noting Blackburn put up a (seemingly lucky) 3.22 ERA in ten starts this year. Zips seems to like his control and GB rate, despite his horrid K rates.

Transmogrified Tiger · February 22, 2018

fun fact: Junior Guerra is more than a year older than Yovani Gallardo

Regular Show · February 22, 2018

fun fact: Junior Guerra is more than a year older than Yovani Gallardo

I know. I saw that. I think he's a late bloomer, like a really late bloomer. Gallardo is done being an effective starting pitcher. I don't think that's the case for Guerra. What injuries did he have last year?

2017 Post-Season Prospect Rankings (BA, Fangraphs, BP, ESPN, MLB Pipeline)

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