Cub's Prospect Watch And Development Discussion Thread

[JP Hochbaum]

A lot of our prospects success will be determined by their command of the strike zone.

Olt is still striking out a ton in AAA, and that usually magnifies in the majors. This is why Bryant will take some time to make a leap to the majors as his K rate is still too high to warrant a call up.

We have several prospects that have great command of the strike zone: Almora, Soler, Schwarber, and McKinney. A guy on the cusp of showing command of the strike zone has been BAez recently as he has improved his K rates, but he also has a very quick swing which will help him hit for decent average on any level.

 

[Boobaby1]

Seems like same posts daily, so i will specify that this is for Sunday, 8/3.

Baez with a 1st inning HR.

And dare I say, per @TheCCO: Mike Olt is batting .333/.348/.533 (15-for-45) with 6 2B, HR, BB, 13 K and a .881 OPS in 12 games with .861 OPS.
Admittedly, that's a small sample size. But it is such a far cry from his MLB performance I think it is good to see.

On the other hand, maybe that just tells us what difference there is between MLB and AAA and we should temper expectations of the young guys a bit.

And you can look at Rizzo and Castro, and up to this point, how Alcantara has transitioned so far, so I can see where the expectations might remain high.

Considering the only two prospects that came through the organization over the last 25 years were Mark Grace and Starlin Castro, I think the Cubs are so overdue for a couple that can actually hit and hit for power that it isn't even funny.

 

[chibears55]

@IowaCubsGameDay: Jorge Soler doubles home Bryant! Soler is 2-2 with a HR, 2B, 2BB,and 3RBI...only in the 6th inning! Iowa leads 8-3. T6.

This kid (Soler) has got to get the call up soon..

Cubs just have 4 bench players on roster and 8 relievers

My guess they drop Villanueva next and add Soler

 

[CSF77]

@IowaCubsGameDay: Jorge Soler doubles home Bryant! Soler is 2-2 with a HR, 2B, 2BB,and 3RBI...only in the 6th inning! Iowa leads 8-3. T6.

This kid (Soler) has got to get the call up soon..

Cubs just have 4 bench players on roster and 8 relievers

My guess they drop Villanueva next and add Soler

Hoyer leaked it would be in Sept He is on the 40 man and rosters lets 40 man players come in with out roster moves.

Goes along with Bryant and Theo saying he is not coming up this year. Not on the 40 man and they don't have to boot anyone off.

To add Turner they booted Kalish off the 40 man. His production sucked anyways.

I expect a house cleaning this winter with the 40 man. Guys like Jackson and Vitters should be gone.

 

[CSF77]

I'm expecting as far as bats Soler, Szczur and Watkins added. Arms would be the same ones that have been going up and down.

Chicago Cubs 40-Man Roster
Chicago Cubs 40-man Roster
# Pitchers B/T Ht Wt DOB
49 Jake Arrieta R-R 6'4" 225 Mar 6, 1986
32 Dallas Beeler * R-R 6'5" 210 Jun 12, 1989
Felix Doubront Disabled List 15-day DL * L-L 6'2" 225 Oct 23, 1987
11 Kyuji Fujikawa L-R 6'0" 190 Jul 21, 1980
52 Justin Grimm R-R 6'3" 210 Aug 16, 1988
28 Kyle Hendricks R-R 6'3" 190 Dec 7, 1989
36 Edwin Jackson R-R 6'3" 210 Sep 9, 1983
55 James McDonald Disabled List 60-day DL ** L-R 6'5" 205 Oct 19, 1984
50 Blake Parker * R-R 6'3" 225 Jun 19, 1985
54 Neil Ramirez Disabled List 15-day DL * R-R 6'4" 190 May 25, 1989
56 Hector Rondon R-R 6'3" 180 Feb 26, 1988
59 Zac Rosscup * R-L 6'2" 205 Jun 9, 1988
18 Chris Rusin L-L 6'2" 195 Oct 22, 1986
63 Brian Schlitter R-R 6'5" 235 Dec 21, 1985
Dan Straily * R-R 6'2" 215 Dec 1, 1988
46 Pedro Strop R-R 6'1" 220 Jun 13, 1985
Jacob Turner * R-R 6'5" 215 May 21, 1991
33 Carlos Villanueva R-R 6'2" 215 Nov 28, 1983
47 Arodys Vizcaino * R-R 6'0" 190 Nov 13, 1990
67 Tsuyoshi Wada L-L 5'11" 180 Feb 21, 1981
37 Travis Wood R-L 5'11" 175 Feb 6, 1987
53 Wesley Wright R-L 5'11" 185 Jan 28, 1985
# Catchers B/T Ht Wt DOB
12 John Baker L-R 6'1" 215 Jan 20, 1981
5 Welington Castillo R-R 5'10" 210 Apr 24, 1987
# Infielders B/T Ht Wt DOB
7 Arismendy Alcantara S-R 5'10" 170 Oct 29, 1991
9 Javier Baez R-R 6'0" 190 Dec 1, 1992
13 Starlin Castro R-R 6'0" 190 Mar 24, 1990
30 Mike Olt * R-R 6'2" 210 Aug 27, 1988
44 Anthony Rizzo L-L 6'3" 240 Aug 8, 1989
4 Chris Valaika R-R 5'11" 205 Aug 14, 1985
24 Luis Valbuena L-R 5'10" 200 Nov 30, 1985
61 Christian Villanueva * R-R 5'11" 210 Jun 19, 1991
27 Josh Vitters * R-R 6'2" 200 Aug 27, 1989
22 Logan Watkins * L-R 5'11" 195 Aug 29, 1989
# Outfielders B/T Ht Wt DOB
8 Chris Coghlan L-R 6'0" 195 Jun 18, 1985
7 Brett Jackson * L-R 6'2" 220 Aug 2, 1988
21 Junior Lake R-R 6'3" 215 Mar 27, 1990
20 Justin Ruggiano R-R 6'1" 210 Apr 12, 1982
68 Jorge Soler * R-R 6'4" 215 Feb 25, 1992
6 Ryan Sweeney L-L 6'4" 225 Feb 20, 1985
72 Matt Szczur * R-R 6'1" 195 Jul 20, 1989
* Not on Active Roster
** Not on 40-Man Roster

 

[chibears55]

Hoyer leaked it would be in Sept He is on the 40 man and rosters lets 40 man players come in with out roster moves.

Goes along with Bryant and Theo saying he is not coming up this year. Not on the 40 man and they don't have to boot anyone off.

To add Turner they booted Kalish off the 40 man. His production sucked anyways.

I expect a house cleaning this winter with the 40 man. Guys like Jackson and Vitters should be gone.

Yea I expect too alot of clean up on 40 man with alot of the players thst are hanging on getting the boot or maybe traded..

Jackson and vitters could probably net an A baller

 

[CSF77]

Yea I expect too alot of clean up on 40 man with alot of the players thst are hanging on getting the boot or maybe traded..

Jackson and vitters could probably net an A baller

Think they will become minor league F/A. They will most likely just go to another AAA team to try to get a opportunity elsewhere. Happens. Casey Coleman was cut for nothing.

 

[TL1961]

@IowaCubsGameDay: Jorge Soler doubles home Bryant! Soler is 2-2 with a HR, 2B, 2BB,and 3RBI...only in the 6th inning! Iowa leads 8-3. T6.

This kid (Soler) has got to get the call up soon..

Cubs just have 4 bench players on roster and 8 relievers

My guess they drop Villanueva next and add Soler

Soler has better command of the strike zone and better discipline than our other prospects. I look forward to seeing him soon.

 

[chibears55]

@darenw: Lowest WHIP by 2014 draft class:
1 #Cubs 1.120
2 #Rays 1.130
3 #Orioles 1.135
4 #Twins 1.184
5 #Pirates 1.236
http://mlbfarm.com/draft.php?sortp=10&tab=1&dir=asc

Looks like they drafted some good pitchers this year

 

[beckdawg]

@darenw: Lowest WHIP by 2014 draft class:
1 #Cubs 1.120
2 #Rays 1.130
3 #Orioles 1.135
4 #Twins 1.184
5 #Pirates 1.236
http://mlbfarm.com/draft.php?sortp=10&tab=1&dir=asc

Looks like they drafted some good pitchers this year

That's without Cease. But with Schwarber and Kevonte Mitchell playing well so far i think you can say the drafted well full stop.

 

[theberserkfury]

That's without Cease. But with Schwarber and Kevonte Mitchell playing well so far i think you can say the drafted well full stop.

And Zagunis.

 

[remixdjinx]

Yea I expect too alot of clean up on 40 man with alot of the players thst are hanging on getting the boot or maybe traded..

Jackson and vitters could probably net an A baller

I'm surprised Jackson and Vitters are still on the 40 man.

 

[CSF77]

Well at least Olt looks like he has figured something out:

.343 now. Hit 2 HR's up to 4. 3 RBI up to 17 now.

He said he got into some bad habits in the majors so at least he knew what he was doing wrong and it looks like he is getting sorted.

Weird part is he is at 24 hits now while only collecting 26 in the majors.

 

[beckdawg]

Well at least Olt looks like he has figured something out:

.343 now. Hit 2 HR's up to 4. 3 RBI up to 17 now.

He said he got into some bad habits in the majors so at least he knew what he was doing wrong and it looks like he is getting sorted.

Weird part is he is at 24 hits now while only collecting 26 in the majors.

Or he's not cut out for the majors. I'm not trying to rain on the dudes parade but he hit almost immediately after going down to AAA. Hard to imagine you can make any kind of real impactful change in that short of a time frame. At this point unless Baez doesn't play well and eventually ends back up in AAA either this year or to start next it's hard to imagine him seeing much time. You're unlikely to move Valbuena out of the line up short term and he's going to play 3B unless Baez isn't at 2B. And next year you star talking about Bryant. Unfortunately for Olt, because he struggled that likely means he's going to be find it hard to be a cub long term. He's not young enough to languish in the minors for a chance and it's hard to see him as a back up though i suppose it's possible. Packaging him in a trade this offseason would make a lot of sense especially when you consider Villanueva is basically AAA ready already anyways and should be playing 3B.

 

[SilenceS]

Or he's not cut out for the majors. I'm not trying to rain on the dudes parade but he hit almost immediately after going down to AAA. Hard to imagine you can make any kind of real impactful change in that short of a time frame. At this point unless Baez doesn't play well and eventually ends back up in AAA either this year or to start next it's hard to imagine him seeing much time. You're unlikely to move Valbuena out of the line up short term and he's going to play 3B unless Baez isn't at 2B. And next year you star talking about Bryant. Unfortunately for Olt, because he struggled that likely means he's going to be find it hard to be a cub long term. He's not young enough to languish in the minors for a chance and it's hard to see him as a back up though i suppose it's possible. Packaging him in a trade this offseason would make a lot of sense especially when you consider Villanueva is basically AAA ready already anyways and should be playing 3B.

I agree with you, people know I never liked Olt much. I never considered him the center of the Garza deal. I saw red flags in him that I didnt like. I always hoped he would hit well enough for the Cubs to use him in a trade. I never saw a future with him as a Cub. I think I was on record a decent amount saying that and my mind never changed when he reached the majors.

 

[CSF77]

Or he's not cut out for the majors. I'm not trying to rain on the dudes parade but he hit almost immediately after going down to AAA. Hard to imagine you can make any kind of real impactful change in that short of a time frame. At this point unless Baez doesn't play well and eventually ends back up in AAA either this year or to start next it's hard to imagine him seeing much time. You're unlikely to move Valbuena out of the line up short term and he's going to play 3B unless Baez isn't at 2B. And next year you star talking about Bryant. Unfortunately for Olt, because he struggled that likely means he's going to be find it hard to be a cub long term. He's not young enough to languish in the minors for a chance and it's hard to see him as a back up though i suppose it's possible. Packaging him in a trade this offseason would make a lot of sense especially when you consider Villanueva is basically AAA ready already anyways and should be playing 3B.

That is what I was thinking. The way I look at it the same was thought about with Rizzo when he was with the Pads. Well he improved also when going down to the minors then had to still adjust.

I wouldn't put him into the same category as Jackson though. Jackson has never mastered AAA pitching. Olt never did last year then got the promote and struggled. Now he is starting to dominate AAA like he did to AA pitching.

I think they should have started him in Iowa this year and let him progress naturally. They did the same thing with Lake. Just goes to show who they consider short term and long term players.

Olt has a chance to become a every day player on another team. There is still a clear need for 3B out there. I can see both Olt and Valbuena traded out this off season.

 

[Parade_Rain]

I agree with you, people know I never liked Olt much. I never considered him the center of the Garza deal. I saw red flags in him that I didnt like. I always hoped he would hit well enough for the Cubs to use him in a trade. I never saw a future with him as a Cub. I think I was on record a decent amount saying that and my mind never changed when he reached the majors.

He doesn't seem to be in their long term plans. Hopefully he does a nice job and becomes a trade piece. For his sake perhaps a change of scenery would make any trade a win-win for both teams and Olt.

 

[SilenceS]

Soler continues to show that AAA is not much of a challenge. He is 1 for 2 with a double and 2 RBI's and 2 more walks tonight. The guy has ober a 1.100 OPS. He has walked 12 times since being called up to AAA. He is walking and hitting for power and keeping the K's to a reasonable level. He seems ready.

Also, Pierce Johnson with another stellar performance. 6 IP on 0 run ball. Allowed 1 hit, 2 walks, and struckout 8. He should be in AAA. He has moved his AA ERA down to 2.49. He has been great for quite some time now.

Bryant also continues to hit but also is still K'ing. Theo seems adamant he wont be called up this year. I think we see him after the first 3 weeks of next season.

 

[Boobaby1]

Soler continues to show that AAA is not much of a challenge. He is 1 for 2 with a double and 2 RBI's and 2 more walks tonight. The guy has ober a 1.100 OPS. He has walked 12 times since being called up to AAA. He is walking and hitting for power and keeping the K's to a reasonable level. He seems ready.

Also, Pierce Johnson with another stellar performance. 6 IP on 0 run ball. Allowed 1 hit, 2 walks, and struckout 8. He should be in AAA. He has moved his AA ERA down to 2.49. He has been great for quite some time now.

Bryant also continues to hit but also is still K'ing. Theo seems adamant he wont be called up this year. I think we see him after the first 3 weeks of next season.

It could very well depend on what happens the rest of the year, and if they make the playoffs as Bryant will get additional time to show improvement.

If he can raise it to around .750% contact rate, then he should get the call up for good, and hopefully, he will start out as the everyday 3rd basemen in 2015. To me, they can always throw Valbuena or someone else out there to man 3rd if he struggles a little bit, and it could very well be a work in progress in Chicago versus leaving him in the minors to work on just contact rate.

And as far as the contact rate goes, yes it hovers in the .667% range now, but also, when Bryant does make contact, he does damn good things with it. :clap:

 

[beckdawg]

Bryant also continues to hit but also is still K'ing. Theo seems adamant he wont be called up this year. I think we see him after the first 3 weeks of next season.

I'm less worried about the K's with Bryant than Baez but I can see the hypocrisy of that. That being said, the dude has hit above .325 at every level above rookie ball and to be frank has sort of been rushed through the system compared to a typical college draft pick. Obviously he he dominated each level but what I mean is the most plate appearances he has had at any level is 297 which really hasn't given him a great deal of time to adjust fully. My guess is that's where the K's are coming from more than anything given his walk rate has been stellar. That being said I could see him being potentially in the low 20's when all is said and done.

His year's been Special person though. He's hitting .341/.448/.692 with 38 HRs, 97 RBIs 15 SBs in 117/502 games/PAs. What's even more absurd is his BABIP has been over .400 for quite some time. If we compare him to a similar corner infielder in Rizzo, you're talking about a career BABIP of .279. And obviously Bryant isn't a speedster which tells you he's just destroying the ball even when it's not leaving the yard. I wish they had the batted ball data for the minors like they do for the majors on fangraphs but I'd have to imagine his line drive rate is something absurd.