NEWSLETTER
Although he’s recovering from a (hopefully) minor hamstring issue, Chicago Cubs outfield prospect Albert Almora is raking in the hardware.
That’s because Almora, on the strength of a .519/.567/.704 debut in Low-A this year, was named the Midwest League’s Player of the Week. Almora had just debuted with Kane County because he’d been rehabbing a hamate-bone-free wrist (he had the bone removed after breaking it this Spring), and it was obviously a rousing success. Now if he could just get back in action as soon as possible and keep it up, we’d all be much obliged.
In other good prospect news, outfielder Jorge Soler has moved up to No. 21 on Keith Law’s list of top prospects. Law had Soler at number 42 before the season, but has been impressed by Soler’s ability to take a walk coupled with his prodigious power. In the field, Law has been disappointed by Soler’s performance, but it’s possible that there’s simply some learning going on (because the raw ability is indisputable). Soler is currently hitting .295/.367/.513 at High-A Daytona, and figures to get strong consideration for a promotion to AA in the coming months.
Law listed just 25 players on his updated list (with five “also considered”), so Soler was the only Cub on the list. Before the season, Law had ranked Javier Baez at 31 and Almora at 33. Baez has probably slipped some, thanks to K/BB and defensive issues at High-A. Almora may have also slipped slight, due to his delayed start to the year (guys who are playing could have passed him). Each has plenty of time to re-emerge as tip top prospects, however.
