Christopher Morel begins Chicago Cubs youth movement

Ever since the Chicago Cubs took a wrecking ball to the core of players that won the World Series in 2016, the goal for Cubs’ president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer was to develop the farm system and build the next great Cubs’ baseball team.

The results of Hoyer’s work at the Major League level has yet to be seen as the team has been forced to field career minor leaguers such as Frank Schwindel, Patrick Wisdom, and Rafael Ortega as the team’s prospects continue to develop within the minor league system.

On Tuesday, it could be perceived that the Cubs began their youth movement with promotion of infielder/outfield prospect Christopher Morel to the Major League level. Morel opened the season with the Cubs’ Double-A affiliate, Tennessee Smokies, and had a slash line of .306/.380/.565/.945 with 7 home runs and 20 RBIs in 28 plate appearances.

Morel was the 21st ranked prospect in the Cubs’ farm system according to MLB.com but has been a steady riser over the past couple of seasons due to an uptick in his power numbers. Morel was already among the best defensive players in the Cubs’ system and the increase in power have led to him paving his path to the Major League level.

Morel wasted no time in showing that power at the Major League level as the 22-year old launched a home run during his first at bat at the Major League level with the Cubs last night in their victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The ball sailed out of Wrigley Field and onto Waveland Avenue and that sent the Cubs’ dugout into a frenzy.

Chicago Cubs prospect Christopher Morel kicked off the youth movement at the Major League level for the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night.

Tuesday night was a moment that Wrigley Fields has not experienced since the likes of Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez. Kyle Schwarber, and Willson Contreras made their respective debuts at Wrigley Field.  While Morel is not as highly touted as the aforementioned players were at the time of their debuts, he certainly marks the beginning of a youth movement for the Cubs at the Major League level

The question remains whether or not Morel will remain at the Major League level once the likes of Nico Hoerner and Nick Madrigal return from the injured list, but he will be the first of what is likely to be multiple prospects that will be making their Major League debuts this season. Iowa Cubs starting pitcher Caleb Kilian is expected to be promoted to the Major League level within the next month or two and that will allow Cubs’ fans to see the return that the team received in the Bryant trade last season firsthand. Kilian’s teammate and the Cubs’ top overall prospect, outfielder Brennan Davis, is also expected to make his Major League debut before the end of the season.