Cub's Prospect Watch And Development Discussion Thread

[MRubio52]

Even if he doesnt stick to catcher?

Yep. I think the bat plays anywhere and given the frequency pitchers are getting hurt at I am willing to go on the Alex Jackson ride.

 

[SilenceS]

Yep. I think the bat plays anywhere and given the frequency pitchers are getting hurt at I am willing to go on the Alex Jackson ride.

I get you. I just dont want him at 4 in my opinion. He has big power potential, but not an overall approach to hit for a high average. I know power hitters usually lose average. I read he wants to stay at catcher, but people think the bat will be ready before he will be ready to catch for a major league team. He is a big boy and should fill his frame out well. I wouldn't be devastated if we took him, but just personally want to take a pitcher with the 4th pick. I do not want a HS one though.

 

[MRubio52]

I get you. I just dont want him at 4 in my opinion. He has big power potential, but not an overall approach to hit for a high average. I know power hitters usually lose average. I read he wants to stay at catcher, but people think the bat will be ready before he will be ready to catch for a major league team. He is a big boy and should fill his frame out well. I wouldn't be devastated if we took him, but just personally want to take a pitcher with the 4th pick. I do not want a HS one though.

That's interesting on the HS pitcher thing, I think I'd rather have a prep arm over a college arm in a vacuum. Less abuse, quicker in your system.

 

[SilenceS]

That's interesting on the HS pitcher thing, I think I'd rather have a prep arm over a college arm in a vacuum. Less abuse, quicker in your system.

Depending to me, HS pitchers can get really abused as well. Also, the fail rate I think is at its highest for HS pitchers. This draft is really weird now. The injuries and the clear cut guys not all performing has made this a mixed bag.

 

[chibears55]

Im hoping they get the best closest to MLB ready pitcher available
But just wondering with the lack of OF depth in the system near MLB ready, could they look in that direction for the 4th pick ?
Or is there no really stand out OFer to use a 4th pick on ?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-T217A using Tapatalk

 

[MRubio52]

I don't believe in drafting for need at all, especially not at 4. I think you get the best player available and let everything else work itself out. If it's a shortstop, it's a shortstop. If it's an OF, it's an OF.

 

[CSF77]

I get you. I just dont want him at 4 in my opinion. He has big power potential, but not an overall approach to hit for a high average. I know power hitters usually lose average. I read he wants to stay at catcher, but people think the bat will be ready before he will be ready to catch for a major league team. He is a big boy and should fill his frame out well. I wouldn't be devastated if we took him, but just personally want to take a pitcher with the 4th pick. I do not want a HS one though.

I believe Castillo will be the long term answer at C but a player like him holds value. I would make him a corner OF and #2 catcher. Castillo goes down then move him over and bring in a OF.

Different way of thinking but the back up catcher tends to be a wasted roster spot IMO.

 

[CSF77]

Ruggiano 2-3 at Iowa. I'm expecting him recalled very soon. Guessing Cog goes back down.

 

[CSF77]

Wouldn't mind seeing Kalish and Rug platoon RF and Schierholtz turned into a PH. Nate is killing the line up. Rugg was starting to heat up right before hitting the DL...Just like Sweeney was.

 

[beckdawg]

Yep. I think the bat plays anywhere and given the frequency pitchers are getting hurt at I am willing to go on the Alex Jackson ride.

Does that include over the top 3 pitchers or do you think they go off the board first? I personally think Rodon is interesting and possibly the most likely of the 3 to be there. He was long considered the consensus #1 guy but people have soured on him some. I can understand some of the concern but at the end of the day he's a lefty which is pretty valuable and has really good stuff. I just think he can be the type of player that people question going into the draft and then a few years later you wonder why there were concerns.

 

[MRubio52]

Does that include over the top 3 pitchers or do you think they go off the board first? I personally think Rodon is interesting and possibly the most likely of the 3 to be there. He was long considered the consensus #1 guy but people have soured on him some. I can understand some of the concern but at the end of the day he's a lefty which is pretty valuable and has really good stuff. I just think he can be the type of player that people question going into the draft and then a few years later you wonder why there were concerns.

I think it's Aiken Rondon/Kolek then Jackson. Just knowing the top 3 orgs and how they like to draft it seems unlikely they'd pass the arms for Jackson. I like Rondon, I love Kolek but I'm fine with who they deem to be the best available player.

 

[beckdawg]

I think it's Aiken Rondon/Kolek then Jackson. Just knowing the top 3 orgs and how they like to draft it seems unlikely they'd pass the arms for Jackson. I like Rondon, I love Kolek but I'm fine with who they deem to be the best available player.

I think it sort of depends on how the first couple of picks shape up. The Marlins were reportedly interested in trades with the cubs for hitting prior to the start of the season given they have a lot of high profile pitching. So, it wouldn't shock me to see them take a bat. I get that you don't really draft for need but when you consider their team make up in both the majors and minors it might make more sense for them to draft a bat. Jose Fernandez is 21 and obviously going to be along term fixture there assuming he comes back healthy. 7 of their top 10 prospects according to mlb.com are pitchers. Nathan Eovaldi is 24 as is Henderson Alvarez. They also have a 23 year old Jacob Turner who they presumably would want to start soonish if he can. So, I can see it being possible they decide to pass on a pitcher though I'm not saying it is a given or even most likely. After that, I think if Rodon is there at 3 the Sox might consider a hitting prospect over dealing with Boras. They have typically been pretty frugal when it comes to drafting and Boras is rarely if ever easy to deal with in that regard.

If Rodon goes top 2 I'm not sure Kolek or Aiken make it though.

 

[SilenceS]

Baseball America's updated mock draft. Interesting. Not what you would think at 1 through 4...

1. ASTROS

Jackson’s power barrage has thrust him into the conversation for the top three selections. It’s unlikely the Astros take him at No. 1, however, and then move him from behind the plate to right field or third base. They’re expected to choose between two of the many lefthanders with upside in this draft, North Carolina State’s Carlos Rodon and San Diego prep Brady Aiken. Rodon has more upside thanks to his top-shelf slider, but as one crosschecker put it, “Aiken does it easier and throws a lot more strikes. He may not have the same present stuff, but he’s more consistent, and his stuff is plenty good. He just does so many things well.”

Industry opinion appears to favor Aiken as the top prospect in the draft, and he’s the rare high school player with a long-enough track record to earn the No. 1 selection. But Rodon’s trend lines continue to point in the right direction, and the Astros’ big league struggles likely bring pressure to speed up the rebuilding process in Houston. Rodon’s talent is worthy of the No. 1 pick, and so is the buzz factor he would bring.

Projected Pick: LHP Carlos Rodon





2. MARLINS: Ownership would jump on Rodon if the Marlins get the chance, even if he’s not the first choice of their scouting department. Prep arms Aiken and righthander Tyler Kolek, as well as Jackson, are said to top their board. Several scouting directors have said they believe Jackson’s likely position switch would drive him down the board, but he also has the draft’s best bat. He has the most usable power in the class as well as one of its best hit tools, and he has enough experience in the outfield to move quickly.
Projected Pick: C/OF Alex Jackson




3. WHITE SOX: Chicago would like a shot at Jackson, and may still get it, but this scenario would leave the polished Aiken falling in their lap.
Projected Pick: LHP Brady Aiken





4. CUBS: Here’s where it gets interesting. The Cubs want a college pitcher, but Rodon is unlikely to fall this far, leaving Kolek and his 100 mph fastball staring them in the face. Kolek is such an outlier, however, that teams aren’t sure what to make of him. It’s not only his velocity and height (6-foot-5), but at 250 pounds he’d be the biggest high school pitcher ever drafted in the first round by weight, bigger than Indians 1998 first-rounder C.C. Sabathia (who was listed at 6-foot-6, 240 pounds when drafted) and even Orioles 2009 first-rounder Matt Hobgood (listed at 6-5, 245).Kolek’s extreme velocity, at a time when every other hard-throwing prep pitcher, it seems, is having Tommy John surgery, further complicates matters.Kolek’s unique combination appears to be dropping him down boards. The same is true of Finnegan, who was projected in this slot last time. The Cubs still prefer a college pitcher, and Evansville’s Kyle Freeland has been burning up boards with his stellar season. The tall lefty is in play this high and won’t get out of the first 10 picks if he doesn’t falter down the stretch.

Projected Pick: LHP Kyle Freeland

 

[SilenceS]

Mike (Evansville): Kyle Freeland keeps climbing higher and higher. Any chance at him going 1st overall?

John Manuel: I have asked that very question myself and been told he is not in the mix for that selection. I humbly believe that he should be; I suppose there’s actually nothing humble about saying that. But the stuff is outstanding, as is the performance. But I think his track record isn’t long enough to get him into that mix. I do think we’re a bit higher on him than the entire industry is, but I am OK with that.



Allen (IN): Who makes it to MLB the fastest out of this draft? Rodon? Nola?

Clint Longenecker: They are contenders, though Rodon will have to improve his command, particularly of his fastball, and continue to develop his changeup. I spoke with an evaluator who suggested another pitcher for this category, LHP Kyle Freeland. He said that you could stick him in the major league pen in August with his plus fastball-slider combo and at least plus command.

.

 

[theberserkfury]

This is great stuff, everybody... thanks!

 

[Boobaby1]

This is great stuff, everybody... thanks!

And yes, if anybody cares.............I still want Freeland in the worst way. :cubs:

 

[theberserkfury]

And yes, if anybody cares.............I still want Freeland in the worst way. :cubs:

The more I read about him, the more convinced I am... I think I'm with you.

 

[CSF77]

Dud alert:

CHICAGO -- Cubs prospect Jorge Soler is sidelined again this season, this time with a right hamstring strain.

Soler, who had a left hamstring strain in Spring Training, was examined by Cubs doctors in Chicago. The outfielder, who is playing for Double-A Tennessee, is now on a new program to promote better muscular balance, according to Cubs player development director Jason McLeod.

Soler will rehab at the Cubs' facility in Mesa, Ariz., and then rejoin the Tennessee team.

The Cuban outfielder has played just seven games, batting .333 (8-for-24) with seven doubles and seven RBIs.

 

[Jntg4]

Dud alert:

CHICAGO -- Cubs prospect Jorge Soler is sidelined again this season, this time with a right hamstring strain.

Soler, who had a left hamstring strain in Spring Training, was examined by Cubs doctors in Chicago. The outfielder, who is playing for Double-A Tennessee, is now on a new program to promote better muscular balance, according to Cubs player development director Jason McLeod.

Soler will rehab at the Cubs' facility in Mesa, Ariz., and then rejoin the Tennessee team.

The Cuban outfielder has played just seven games, batting .333 (8-for-24) with seven doubles and seven RBIs.

Wouldn't call him a dud just for getting injured a few times... still performing when he is healthy.

 

[SilenceS]

Baez is starting to heat up a little bit.