Individual team prospect rankings season is winding down, and we’ve already seen the Chicago Cubs’ lists from Baseball Prospectus, from FanGraphs, from MLB.com (updated periodically), and from Minor League Ball.
Now we have the list from Baseball America, and you should go there now to read.
The top ten, per Baseball America:
1. Kris Bryant, 3b
2. Addison Russell, SS
3. Jorge Soler, OF
4. Kyle Schwarber, C/OF
5. C.J. Edwards, RHP
6. Billy McKinney, OF
7. Albert Almora, OF
8. Gleyber Torres, SS
9. Pierce Johnson, RHP
10. Duane Underwood, RHP
When Ben Badler teased yesterday about wondering whether an organization could have four number one prospects, I wondered who that fourth guy was going to be: Schwarber or Edwards. I would have guessed Edwards, given BA’s previous particular affection for the righty. But it’s Schwarber, and that’s how my top four would look right now, too.
Once again we see increasing love for shortstop prospect Gleyber Torres, who only just turned 18, and could play full season ball at South Bend this year. There’s big-time breakout potential there.
McKinney topping Almora is an interesting shift, but undoubtedly a reflection of the adjustment process Almora went through as the Cubs retooled his approach at the plate. Hopefully it pays dividends at AA this year, with McKinney doing his thing right alongside.
Underwood is starting to pop up as a common number three pitching prospect in the system behind Edwards and Johnson, with Jen-Ho Tseng typically showing up thereafter.
There will be much more to say about BA’s look at the Cubs’ system, but, for now, digest the list, read BA’s write-up, and discuss freely the beautiful depth and impact of the organization.