Chicago Cubs: Top 10 Prospects by Baseball America
Who are the best Chicago Cubs prospects in the minor league system?
The Chicago Cubs just won the World Series, but the 2017 season and the future looms large. If they are going to continue to build the right way, the Cubs will need their farm system going forward. Baseball America recently released their top 10 list for the Cubs, as they analysed their entire system.
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The list is featured with four pitchers and six position players. Whether they make it to the majors or supplement the big league club as a trade piece, each of these prospects are extremely important for the Cubs going forward.
The first three players of the list are, in order, outfielder Eloy Jimenez, infielder Ian Happ and outfielder Albert Almora Jr. Jimenez and Happ are two sluggers that fans expect to see in a Cubs uniform in the future. Jimenez has incredible upside as a power hitting corner outfielder, while Happ is a more balanced player with a great approach at the plate.
Almora is the only player on the list that has a chance to start the 2017 season on the MLB roster. He was an important part of the 2016 post-season roster and could see a lot of time in center field this season.
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The next players are pitchers Dylan Cease and Oscar de la Cruz. Both are good pitching prospects that could became valuable starters in the next level. Cease in particular has a ton of upside with his high 90s fastball and knockout curve ball. Cease and de la Cruz could be the answer to help fill the 2018 rotation if the front office don’t make moves to extend Jake Arrieta or John Lackey.
Outfielder Mark Zagunis, third baseman Jeimer Candelario, pitcher Trevor Clifton, outfielder D.J. Wilson and pitcher Jose Albertos complete the list.
There are a couple of players who were probably snubbed from the list. Pitchers Duane Underwood and Rob Zastryzny have enough talent to make the cut, but Underwood had a down year in 2016, and Zastryzny was used as a bullpen piece by the Cubs when called to the big leagues.
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With a ton of young talent already in the big leagues, its hard to imagine all these players reaching the majors with the Cubs. However, they can still be valuable to the organization as trade bait. The Cubs’ minor league system is not as loaded as it was a few short years ago, but the World Champions are undoubtedly loaded with talent for the foreseeable future.