Outshined_One

The only other thing I can think of is Wiggins' post-draft physical might not have gone as well as expected, hence the hold up in getting him signed. I get that most people consider TJS recovery to be automatic, but if there are concerns about a longer recovery than expected recovery period or the possibility of follow-up procedures, I could see the Cubs make a push to sign him below slot.

I always love me a good prospect roundtable, so what the heck, here are my justifications: Pete Crow-Armstrong Cade Horton Pretty obvious 1-2 for me here. PCA's giving me Javier Baez vibes in a good way and also in a not so great way due to his plate discipline. Regardless, a guy like that can be a huge boon during his cost-controlled years. Horton gets the nod as the top pitcher due to his meteoric rise through the system and balanced profile with stuff, command, and control as a SP, although he gets held back from the #1 spot due to the usual TINSTAAPP concerns. Matt Shaw Jordan Wicks Miguel Amaya Ben Brown This next cluster tends to shuffle for me on a day to day basis. I was initially bummed with Shaw on draft day, but when I was reminded that he probably would have been a Top 5 pick in a normal year and his bat would play anywhere on the diamond, I got over it. Wicks gets the nod over Brown because LHPs are more likely to stick in the majors and I really like how Wicks has a different arsenal compared to the rest of the system. Amaya seems like a good bet to get a second contract in the majors, but I get the feeling he's more of a competent C/DH type than an impact player. To me, Brown has the second highest ceiling as a pitcher in the system (more on that below), but I have a nagging suspicion his control might merit a move to the bullpen, hence his placement below Wicks and Horton. Kevin Alcantara Owen Caissie Two hitters with fantastic corner OF potential, but definite concerns about their development as they face more advanced pitching hold them back. I'd feel more comfortable about their profiles if this were a different system, so I get the feeling they'd be more valuable as trade bait this coming offseason than keeping them in-system. Jackson Ferris Matt Mervis Moises Ballesteros Kevin Made James Triantos I think Ferris is the highest ceiling pitching prospect in the system. I could easily see him as my #1 prospect by the end of next season, so long as he stays healthy and on track. Mervis, Ballesteros, Made, and Triantos constitute my "there's good and not so good" blob of position prospects who have the attributes to be everyday types in the majors, but who also have noticeable issues that could see them flame out. Alexander Canario Canario is a complete wild card to me. If he's healthy, his profile is beastly. But the injury and the uncertainty around whether he can recover 100% keeps him out of my Top 10. Josh Rivera Cristian Hernandez Daniel Palencia Brennan Davis Richard Gallardo Jefferson Rojas Not gonna lie, this is where I start throwing darts at random names. Rivera is an intriguing senior sign who needs to hit the ground running next season to see how much there is there. If I were doing this list today, I probably would have dropped Hernandez off, but he's here due to age and legacy status. Palencia has the stuff to be a really good pen arm, and now has to prove it in the majors. Davis' injury issues see him continue to slip, but the potential is still there. Gallardo just needs to keep progressing and stay healthy, but he's shaping up to be a possible workhorse type SP. Rojas got to 20 by the magic of being the flavor of the month, and by being really young and productive for his level. HMs: Jaxon Wiggins (needs to sign and Luke Hagerty scared me off TJS guys having a routine recovery); Luis Vazquez (probably would have been #20 if I made the list today); Will Sanders (seems like the type who will benefit from the Pitch Lab); the third tier P prospects who haven't blown up (Hodge/Birdsell/Herz/Little/Franklin/Arias); BJ Murray (overshadowed by Mervis, but might be the better player when all is said and done); Pablo Aliendo (catchers tend to develop slower, but he's coming on). Admittedly, the most depressing part of this exercise has been the fact that Caissie is the only positive contributor currently in the system from the Darvish deal. Blech.

I've been slacking since I graduated from law school. 😞

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...and you bought NSBB why exactly?

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Betteridge's Law strikes again!

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Admittedly, Brock appears to have given grandpa a hip replacement and a viagra prescription.

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HEY YOU GUYYYYYYYYYYYS! Welcome! And be afraid. Be very, very afraid. But don't be. Well, maybe a little.

It's no coincidence David Ross was the backup catcher on the Cubs in 2016.

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Just wait until they discover the magic of clicking on a three page Minor League Box Score thread, only to find 2.5 pages of it dedicated to arguing about Ethan Hearn and Derniche Valdez.

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Welcome to our weird little corner of the internet!

It's as if Jed decided to put together a team that would actively spit in the face of the BABIP gods.

Uh oh, the dreaded TBD probable pitcher.

Pete Crow-ArmstrongCade HortonMatt ShawJordan WicksMiguel AmayaBen BrownKevin AlcantaraOwen CaissieJackson FerrisMatt MervisMoises BallesterosKevin MadeJames TriantosAlexander CanarioJosh RiveraCristian HernandezDaniel PalenciaBrennan DavisRichard GallardoJefferson Rojas Roughly what I expected post-draft. As I mentioned elsewhere, I'm more bullish on pitching than hitting, but, I really like PCA, and Shaw is growing on me. All I ask for the second half is for the pitching to stay healthy and for the hitters to rebound.

I gave up when it was 3-0. What in the ever living horsefeathers?

Bowser is a guy I had pegged to go back to school to play his way into a Day 2 slot as a below slot senior signability guy with some upside. I'm impressed they signed him.