Kyle Schwarber has a bat and an approach that should translate to the big leagues, defensive is wher

To no surprise, Kris Bryant , Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year and the player on the cover on the 2015 Prospect Handbook, topped the list. Addison Russell , Jorge Soler , Kyle Schwarber and C.J. Edwards complete the top five of one of the two best minor league systems in the game.
John Manuel put together the list and ranked the top 30 players in the Cubs’ organization for the 2015 Prospect Handbook. Based on the information Manuel massachusetts rv and travel trailer sales massachusetts gathered while doing research on the young players in the system, Manuel recently reported the Cubs have 30 legitimate prospects in the organization.
Three of the top young players in the system, Javier Baez , Arismendy Alcantara and Kyle Hendricks , are not eligible to be included on prospect lists. Baez, Alcantara and Hendricks exceeded rookie limits last season. Jorge Soler played in only 24 games and had 89 at bats (97 plate appearances) and did not lose his rookie status (less than 130 at bats and 45 days on an active roster during the 25-man limit period).
Baseball America provided scouting grades for Kris Bryant and it’s not very often an 80, on the 20-80 scouting massachusetts rv and travel trailer sales massachusetts scale is given to a player. Baseball America graded out Kris Bryant as follows: Batting: 60; Power: 80; Speed: 50; Defense: 50; Arm: 60.
As Ben Badler pointed out Sunday, it’s possible the Cubs have four top prospects in the same system. In other words, Addison Russell , Jorge Soler and Kyle Schwarber would likely be the top prospect in any other organization in baseball.
Kris Bryant’s approach at the plate and pitch recognition, even with the holes in his swing that most tall hitters have, make “him an above-average hitter with lethal all-fields power.” Bryant is a hard worker, soaks up information and earns the respect of teammates massachusetts rv and travel trailer sales massachusetts and coaches. Bryant is athletic with average defense at third in which he’s improved on, especially with balls hit to him. Stronger to the left than right and has an “easy plus arm.” Runs every ball out, speed would translate to the outfield. Bryant could stay at third but could move to the outfield with Starlin Castro, Javier Baez and Addison Russell filling the spots in the infield.
Addison Russell “combines above-average athleticism with extremely quick hands and impressive strength to produce both plus hitting massachusetts rv and travel trailer sales massachusetts ability and power.” Nearly impossible to beat with a fastball, stays back on off-speed. Has the athleticism and improved enough to stay at shortstop. An above average arm with a “slight hitch in his throwing massachusetts rv and travel trailer sales massachusetts motion” and most scouts “believe he can be an average defender.”
Jorge Soler has “vicious bat speed, massachusetts rv and travel trailer sales massachusetts top-of-the-scale raw power and an impressive feel for hitting.” Soler hits line drives to all fields, is coachable, has quality at bats and “isn’t fazed by hitting with two strikes.” Average runner with “an easy plus-arm.” Soler has struggled with concentration, consistency and staying healthy during his pro career.
Kyle Schwarber has a bat and an approach that should translate to the big leagues, massachusetts rv and travel trailer sales massachusetts defensive is where the question marks come. Schwarber “has thick, strong legs and swings from the ground up, incorporating his powerful lower half to develop massachusetts rv and travel trailer sales massachusetts plus power with a short, furious stroke.” Can hit the ball out to all fields and has a .300 batting, 30-home run ceiling. Schwarber has “the tools to be a capable left fielder,” as a catcher he was “rudimentary as an amateur.”
The Cubs have moved him behind the plate. And team officials John Manuel spoke to give him a “50-50 shot to stay” as a catcher. The Cubs plan for him to begin the season at either High-A Myrtle Beach or Double-A Tennessee. Starting with the Smokies in 2015 would say a lot about his development as a catcher.
C.J. Edwards has the stuff, the concern is his durability. Edwards features “three above-average to plus pitches with excellent body control leading to an easy, rhythmic delivery and strike-throwing ability” when he’s on. Hard to square up due to “late cutting action on his fastball” which was in the 90-93 mph range in August and in the Arizona Fall League. Curveball sits in the upper-70s with more snap than in 2013.
Billy McKinney is polished hitter with a good approach at the plate. McKinney is quiet in the box with a “balanced setup and good hands.” Generally a smooth swing, not afraid to hit with two strikes and uses the entire field. Plus pitch recognition massachusetts rv and travel trailer sales massachusetts and situational hitting. Could end up providing average to above average home run production. The 20-year old is an average runner, arm limits to left or centerfield.
Albert Almora had problems with “being pitched backwards” a majority of last season and “struggled to adjust.” Almora has first round tools, line-drive bat, bat speed to catch up with fastballs and average raw power. Defense is big league ready with excellent range “despite fringe-average speed.” Has a strong, accurate arm.
Gleyber Torres “is not the typical teen and draws comparisons” to Albert Almora “for his baseball savvy and instincts.” Above-average massachusetts rv and travel trailer sales massachusetts arm and hands of a shortstop, makes routine massachusetts rv and travel trailer sales massachusetts plays look routine. Range may be a better fit at second base than shortstop. Advanced approach at the plate, willing to take walks and “has a chance to be an above-average hitter with fringe-average power down the line.”
Gleyber Torres should be at shortstop on Opening Day for Low-A South Bend and is a “couple of years away from the Cubs’ upper-levels middle-infield glut and could be trade bait sooner rather than later.”
Pierce Johnson has the stuff to be a No. 2 or No. 3 starter in the big leagues. Johnson’s fastball sits in the 90-94 mph range and he has touched 96 mph on the gun with “late life up in the zone.” Johnson struggles with his command and locating down in the strike zone. Features a “hard late-breaking curveball massachusetts rv and travel trailer sales massachusetts with depth and slurvy shape in the low-80s and a short, cutter-like slider.” Learned how to use “a fringy changeup.”
Duane Underwood started growing up last year and it reflected in his on-the-field performance. Underwood got in shape “and his preparation started to match his ability.” The weight loss helped him repeat his delivery “and locate his plus fastball.” Highest average velocity on his fastball (94-96 mph) than any other starter in the system. Curve “flashes plus” with “depth and late action.”
Filed Under: Back to the Minors Tagged With: Addison Russell , Albert Almora , Billy McKinney , C.J. Edwards , Cubs Prospects , Cubs Top Prospects , Duane Underwood , Gleyber Torres , Jorge Soler , Kris Bryant , Kyle Schwarber , Pierce Johnson
As much as I love what Arrieta did last year, having Johnson follow the same career path would be pretty disastrous. Struggling to find his groove with the Cubs for four years until he is finally traded and unleashes his full potential with another team. That would be hard to stomach.
Tony, it s just my opinion. I m not dismissing Soler s talent, just the criteria. Soler was up long enough to get enough at bats to no longer qualify as a rookie, but was kept out of games due to his injury history. While it was prudent, he was still on the big league roster. We re talking massachusetts rv and travel trailer sales massachusetts about only 11 at bats (3 plate appearances) to reach 100.
It is actually 130 AB s so with walks we are talking 140+PA s needed. Either massachusetts rv and travel trailer sales massachusetts way, there has to be a way to determine who is eligible and I am sure no one would agree with just appearing in a MLB game makes you ineligible, so using rookie eligibility seems simple enough versus using a more subjective system of who people think is up for good.
Determining rookie massachusetts rv and travel trailer sales massachusetts status:A player shall be considered a rookie unless, during a previous season or seasons, he has (a) exceeded 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched in the Major Leagues; or (b) accumulated more than 45 days on the active roster of a Major League club or clubs during the period of 25-player limit (excluding time in the military service and time on the disabled list).
I think this is a big year for a lot of our prospects. Which is one reason I think it s smart to not sell out now. By the end of 2015, we should have a much better projection on guys like Edwards, Almora, McKinney.
I don t like hearing Torres in trade bait scenario. For a kid to move to a new country, where he doesn t speak the language, and hit the ground running. I would like to have him around, for one of those deals like Cardinals and Sox do, where in a few years (say 2019), we ve got a bunch of guys that are up for new deals, and other clubs interested. We can allow a Baez or Castro (or whoever we deem to be the most expendable at that time, and age. I mention Castro because he ll be approaching 30, and at that point when you re making those resigning choices and factoring age, leadership comes into play), to be traded to reload with a collection massachusetts rv and travel trailer sales massachusetts of young prospects and have Torres ready to step in with that 3rd or so wave of guys coming up.
I liked it, but Russell s not a top 10 ML prospect at 20 yo if he s an average defender at SS. He d have to have some other tool be suuuuuper high to justify that high of a ranking. I think his defense massachusetts rv and travel trailer sales massachusetts will be above average. I know he s supposed to be a pretty good hitter, but does he have a standout tool offensively? I really want him to be the 2016 SS with Castro flipped for a frontline, controllable starter.
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