Ah, it’s that time of year: prospect list mania! Minor league guru John Sickels has offered his top 20 list of Chicago Cubs prospects, which we’ll reproduce here. But we encourage you to visit the link if you want to see the write-up on each of the players. Enjoy.
1) Starlin Castro, SS, Grade B+.
2) Josh Vitters, 3B, Grade B+.
3) Brett Jackson, OF, Grade B.
4) Jay Jackson, RHP, Grade B.
5) Andrew Cashner, RHP, Grade B.
6) Hak-Ju Lee, SS, Grade B.
7) Chris Carpenter, RHP, Grade B-.
8) Kyler “Killer” Burke, OF, Grade B- (Sickels’ quote, not mine).
9) Ryan Flaherty, INF, Grade B-.
10) D.J. LeMahieu, INF, Grade C+.
11) Brooks Raley, LHP, Grade C+.
12) Logan Watkins, 2B, Grade C+.
13) Esmailin Caridad, RHP, Grade C+.
14) Blake Parker, RHP, Grade C+.
15) John Gaub, LHP, Grade C+.
16) Matt Spencer, OF-1B, Grade C+.
17) Dae-Eun Rhee, RHP, Grade C+.
18) Casey Coleman, RHP, Grade C+.
19) Tyler Colvin, OF, Grade C.
20) Jeff Beliveau, LHP, Grade C.
Others that were close:Â James Adduci, OF; Jeff Antigua, LHP; Chris Archer, RHP; Darwin Barney, SS; Justin Bristow, RHP; David Cales, RHP; Welington Castillo, C; Rafael Dolis, RHP; Brandon Guyer, OF; Chris Huseby, RHP; Austin Kirk, LHP; Junior Lake, SS: Trey McNutt, RHP; Mike Parisi, RHP; Chris Rusin, LHP; James Russell, LHP; Ryan Searle, RHP; Tony Thomas, 2B.
No huge surprises on the list at the top, as the top six are pretty much considered the top six by everyone who discusses the matter.