NEWSLETTER
It’s that time of year: prospect rankings are starting to trickle out. And The Cub Reporter is offering up its own version, one of the first of the Chicago Cubs’ prospect rankings for 2011.
1. Chris Archer, RHP (2006 5th Round by Cleveland Indians – Clayton HS – Clayton, NC) – age 22 – 6‘3 185
2. Trey McNutt, RHP (2009 32nd Round – Shelton State CC) – age 21 – 6‘4 205
3. Brett Jackson, OF (2009 1st Round – Cal) – age 22 – 6‘2 210
4. Brandon Guyer, OF (2007 5th Round – Virginia) – age 24 – 6‘1 220
5. Josh Vitters, 3B (2007 1st Round – Cypress, HS – Cypress, CA) – age 21 – 6‘2 200
6. Jay Jackson, RHP (2008 9th Round – Furman) – age 23 – 6‘1 195
7. Welington Castillo, C (2004 NDFA – Dominican Republic) – age 23 – 5‘10 210+
8. Hak-Ju Lee, SS (2007 NDFA – South Korea) – age 19 – 6‘2 170
9. Chris Carpenter, RHP (2008 3rd Round – Kent State) – age 24 – 6‘4 220
10. Ryan Flaherty, IF-OF (2008 Supplemental 1st Round – Vanderbilt) – age 24 – 6‘5 220
11. Jae-Hoon Ha, OF (2008 NDFA – South Korea) – age 20 – 6‘1 185
12. Aaron Kurcz, RHP (2010 10th Round – College of Southern Nevada) – age 20 – 6‘0 175
13. D. J. LeMahieu, INF (2008 2nd Round – LSU) – age 22 – 6‘4 200
14. Reggie Golden, OF (2010 2nd Round – Wetumpka HS – Wetumpka, AL) – age 19 – 5‘10 225
15. Darwin Barney, SS (2007 3rd Round – Oregon State) – age 24 – 5‘10 180
16. Alberto Cabrera, RHP (2005 NDFA – Dominican Republic) – age 22 – 6‘4 210
17. Marquez Smith, 3B (2007 8th Round – Clemson) – age 25 – 5‘10 200
18. Chris Rusin, LHP (2009 4th Round – U. of Kentuicky) – age 24 – 6‘2 190
19. Robinson Chirinos, C (2000 NDFA – Venezuela) – age 26 – 6‘1 195
20. Junior Lake, SS (2007 NDFA – Dominican Republic) – age 20 – 6‘2 200
An altogether solid list, and you should follow the link above for commentary on each player. I’m surprised to see Guyer up so high, though he did take home some hardware after a huge 2010 season. I think Archer is a fair number 1, but I’d probably have Brett Jackson at 2 over Trey McNutt. After back-to-back disappointing seasons, Ryan Flaherty wouldn’t be in my top 15. It’s interesting to see 2010 draftee Aaron Kurcz on the list, while 2010 first round pick Hayden Simpson is absent. Given that Simpson has yet to pitch and Kurcz looked great in limited time, I can’t say I disagree with the decision.
Finally, it’s worth pointing out that none of the players the Cubs received in their summer dump deals appears on the list.
Another Cubs Blog also has a Cubs prospect list out, with the help of its community. Notable similarities and differences? ACB goes Jackson/Archer/McNutt at the top, followed by J. Jackson, Vitters, and Lee. ACB doesn’t think as highly of Castillo, and has Junior Lake all the way up at 8. Golden comes in at 9, and Robinson Lopez – received from the Braves in the Derrek Lee deal – actually makes it onto the list at 15.
