Cubs best unknown prospect

[Chris J]

http://www.chicitysports.com/2013/03/03/timothy-saunders-one-of-the-cubs-best-prospects/

Wrote this article about Tim Saunders. Let me know what you guys think

 

[Rice Cube]

Saunders is 22. If he's not beating the hell out of the younger competition in rookie league and at A-level, then he's pretty much a no-name. It's good that he's hitting so well so far, but you have to take into account the small amount of opportunities he's had so far. I think they'll have him in Daytona or Tennessee for a bit to see what he does. Wait for that before you anoint him the next big thing. But the early signs are encouraging.

 

[MRubio52]

Saunders has to earn the billing first with sustained success then he has to pass the AA test this year to start getting mentions. He is unknown, so much so that I can't find any reports on his tools.


Sent from up Mark Teixeira's butt.

 

[Chris J]

Saunders is 22. If he's not beating the hell out of the younger competition in rookie league and at A-level, then he's pretty much a no-name. It's good that he's hitting so well so far, but you have to take into account the small amount of opportunities he's had so far. I think they'll have him in Daytona or Tennessee for a bit to see what he does. Wait for that before you anoint him the next big thing. But the early signs are encouraging.

Daytona doesnt exist anymore haha. Kane County

 

[MRubio52]

Daytona doesnt exist anymore haha. Kane County

I thought Peoria got the axe and the cubs still have the Daytona Cubs.


Sent from up Mark Teixeira's butt.

 

[Rice Cube]

I thought Peoria got the axe and the cubs still have the Daytona Cubs.


Sent from up Mark Teixeira's butt.

Roobs be correct.

 

[Jntg4]

I thought Peoria got the axe and the cubs still have the Daytona Cubs.


Sent from up Mark Teixeira's butt.

Yep

 

[Chris J]

haha alright ill just shut up then. my bad lol

 

[X]

Best unknown prospect? Can we label him, "Prospect X"? :fap:

 

[MRubio52]

haha alright ill just shut up then. my bad lol

Nah you're good, we all say something idiotic at one point or another.


Sent from up Mark Teixeira's butt.

 

[waldo7239117]

Daytona's top age is 22. If he's still 23 and in Daytona, then there's a problem. I think.

 

[dabynsky]

Saunders is a good guy to root for, but he is hardly a top prospect. If you are looking for a guy with little pub so far to get behind I would think the arms taken in the later part of the top 10 rounds like Josh Conway or Anthony Prieto would be a better choice, imo.

 

[waldo7239117]

Anyone think Austin Kirk is a sleeper pick? He was a top round pick, but he hasn't move too much in the system.

 

[dabynsky]

Anyone think Austin Kirk is a sleeper pick? He was a top round pick, but he hasn't move too much in the system.

Meh stuff. Going to rely on command and deception to become a useable big league starter. He could be a backend of the rotation guy, but a lot has to go right for that to happen.

 

[waldo7239117]

Yes, I did hear about he will have to command to be effective. If everything goes right, back-end starter may be fine. As you'll have Samardzija, FA, possible Jackson, Johnson, Kirk? etc?

Hopefully Maples finally gets it figured out and makes a huge jump this year.

 

[MRubio52]

Yes, I did hear about he will have to command to be effective. If everything goes right, back-end starter may be fine. As you'll have Samardzija, FA, possible Jackson, Johnson, Kirk? etc?

Hopefully Maples finally gets it figured out and makes a huge jump this year.

I would hope Samardzija isn't the ace.

 

[waldo7239117]

I would hope Samardzija isn't the ace.

Me too. That wasn't in order. I was just listing names in no particular order. Hopefully the FA is.

 

[Chris J]

Why is everyone making it sound like 22 is so old? He just got out of college. Mike Zunino is 21, came out of college together and he only played two weeks in Double A. Not everyone is Mike Trout or Bryce Harper coming up by the time they are 20

 

[Rice Cube]

Why is everyone making it sound like 22 is so old? He just got out of college. Mike Zunino is 21, came out of college together and he only played two weeks in Double A. Not everyone is Mike Trout or Bryce Harper coming up by the time they are 20

Well, I'll let you do your own research here...

Saunders: http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=saunde002tim

Zunino: http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=zunino001mic

One of these things is definitely not like the other.

 

[MRubio52]

Why is everyone making it sound like 22 is so old? He just got out of college. Mike Zunino is 21, came out of college together and he only played two weeks in Double A. Not everyone is Mike Trout or Bryce Harper coming up by the time they are 20

There's a few factors at play when it comes to a relatively unknown prospect who is 22 in A Ball. None of them mean the player will never develop into a surprise per se, but they are things to think about when you evaluate Player X.

One of them is the age/level thing. Saunders is destroying A ball, which is fine but AA ball is where the more advanced pitching is and that's the real nut cutter for 22 year olds. I don't think anyone is writing Saunders off but I do caution the use of a very small sample of stats when evaluating a player. It is a tremendous start and it does elevate him from "non prospect" to "fringey guy," but the jump from that to "MLB starter" is one filled with Jake Fox's and Jason Dubois's.

Scouts like his glove and his range but aren't sold that the hit tool will come around and his power is non existent with a swing that isn't likely to generate more. He can succeed but it's a high climb for him.