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| Baez one of many promising Cubs prospects.Photo Credit:Jerry Lai/USA Today |
Though the Chicago Cubs are going through another tough season this year, with a 52-68 record to confirm that, there is however a sense of optimism growing within the organization and the fans. Its not for this current club they are watching, but the young, upcoming prospects that are zipping through the farm system and have the potential to put Cubs baseball back on the map. Who are these prospects you say? Take a look below at which prospects are making the most noise.
By: Michael Hanley
The first prospect we will shed some light on has recently been called up to the big club and already started to make an impact on the team. His name is Javier Baez, a shortstop by trade for the Cubs who became only the third player in MLB history, along with Joe Cunningham (1954) and Charlie Reilly (1889), to hit three home runs in his first three at bats as a major leaguer, already showcasing the very high ceiling he has as an overall player. Baez was the ninth overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft and displayed the kind of power bat that the Cubs hope can transition to the major leagues for the long term. He also was rated the number five prospect in all of baseball by Baseball America.
Baez’s natural position on the field is shortstop, where he has played a majority of the time when he was in the minor leagues. Since the Cubs already have a very gifted and talented shortstop in Starlin Castro, Baez has been forced to occupy the second baseman job for the time being and might have to get used to playing that position. If Castro continues to field and hit the way he has, Baez will not be able to unseat from that position for the foreseeable future.
The 21 year old has been lauded for his impressive, level swing on balls, his bat speed on pitches that run inside on him and his overall ability to consistently knock out home runs. Some scouts have made even the comparison of his bat speed to former slugger Gary Sheffield, very high praise for the young man to get. The numbers he has put up bare that out as he has hit an incredible 60 home runs over a span of just a season and a half in the minor leagues, blowing through just about every pitcher that went up against him.
His future for the Cubs looks to be at second base with Starlin Castro entrenched at the shortstop position. It feels like Castro has been a major leaguer for a long time but remember, Castro is only 24 years old himself, so his best prime years are still to come. As far as where he will end up batting in the lineup, Baez has a power bat that will compliment Anthony Rizzo perfectly in the heart of the lineup and will take some pressure off Rizzo of having to be “the guy” who generates all the home run power for the team.
Next we take a look at a rising star named Kris Bryant. He was the second overall pick in last year’s MLB Draft. He has quickly shown that he has top of the line type of power with the numbers he is putting up in the minor leagues. The third baseman has hit an astonishing 40 home runs this season when you combine his time in Double-A and Triple-A. Ranger’s prospect Joey Gallo is the only other player along with Bryant to hit 40 home runs during the past five seasons. Bryant's home runs go along with an impressive .336 batting average, 33 doubles, 15 stolen bases and a whopping 1.126 OPS in 122 games played.
The consistency and level of play Bryant continues to showcase is remarkable for a player of his age and has scouts thinking of him as the next big slugger to come on and burst onto the major league scene. He also has drawn 74 walks this season which is a clear sign that he can be a patient enough of a hitter to work deep counts and wait for the right picture he thinks he could do something productive with.
The 22 year old also has been noted for his strong and accurate arm within the infield, being able to make quick, alert decisions when the ball comes right at him or if he has to go after one and make the proper play with it. His future looks to continue at third base when he does get called up and gets his opportunity to play with the big club. The Cubs will no doubt insert him into the middle of the order to beef up the power bats along with Rizzo and Baez and have him be a big part of creating a deeper and more lethal lineup when the opposing pitchers get to 3,4 and 5 in Chicago’s lineup.
Another potential superstar in the future for Chicago is outfield prospect Jorge Soler. The 22 year old from Cuba has shown great promise with the bat when he has been active and been able to play on a consistent basis. In the 52 games he has played combined this year, he is batting .344 with 12 home runs and 46 RBIs to go along with a .706 slugging percentage and 1.146 OPS. Those are numbers that the Cubs would take in a heartbeat right now to add to their outfield, which has been lacking any real slugger for the last couple of years. Though Soler can get impatient at the plate at times and swinging at the bad pitches out of the strike zone, that is something he and the Cubs will continue to improve and he will be able to iron out eventually a she gets more experience and at bats.
Not only is Soler well regarded for his power with his bat, he also has a very strong arm as an outfielder. As we have seen with other Cuban outfielders in Yoenis Cespedes of the Red sox and Yasiel Puig of the Dodgers, he has a great knack for being able to launch the ball with accuracy and velocity to nab runners down in their tracks if they try to run on him.
His position in the lineup when he does get called up to the big club could be in the first few batters, not a leadoff hitter, but maybe in the second or third spot depending on how fast he can further develop. He has proven he can drive in runners in key situations in the minors and would be a welcomed sight for a roster that is short on having reliable RBI bats.
The final prospect we highlight is shortstop prospect Addison Russell who was acquired from the Athletics in a trade that sent Cubs starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel to Oakland. There was a reason why he was rated as the A’s top prospect a she has shown to be a player that can very well be an elite one when he gets to the major leagues one day.
He has a great combination of a power with his bat and speed when running the base paths. Since he came over to the Cubs organization and was assigned to Double-A Tennessee, he is hitting .300 with 8 home runs and 19 RBIS, certainly showing the billing of having a bat that opponents must fear when facing in a lineup.
His overall skills in the infield are very good for a player at his stage of his career. being able to turn double plays and cover a good amount of space in the infield. His arm is fairly solid as well when making a various amount of different throws that a game can have in it. He is not as far along as the other prospects being talked about from the Cubs but he is one that if he stays on his current steady progression, he will be joining the big club in Chicago and making some big time noise along with the rest of the young players.
So as the Cubs are taking on allot of losses this season, the organization and Cub fans everywhere have reason to smile and have hope for the future as this young crop of top prospects continues to grow and improve their overall games. They could be the ones who finally return Chicago back to a player not only in the National League but also in all of baseball.
