Prospect Notes: Edwards, Almora, Bryant, Baez, Vogelbach, Jimenez, Torres, More

javier baez aflYesterday’s AFL action was relatively low on Cubs-related participation. Albert Almora went 1-4 with a single. /end Cubs stuff from game.

  • BP’s Jason Parks chatted about prospects, and offered many thoughts of relevance here … (1) Parks likes C.J. Edwards very much, but he simply doesn’t see a starting pitcher long-term, given the inability to add on weight – indeed, Parks says he doesn’t know a single evaluator who has seen Edwards in person and believes he can be a top-of-the-rotation arm; (2) although AFL performances are sometimes overrated, they aren’t meaningless – and Albert Almora is a top 20 prospect to Parks; (3) Kris Bryant is a “polished offensive monster” who is a top 10 prospect in the game, right behind Oscar Tavares(!); (4) third base is probably best for Javier Baez, given the hands and the arm; (5) Almora could probably handle a leap to AA, but it’s just a matter of how the Cubs’ developmental staff sees the best next step; (6) at least one of The Big Four will underwhelm, because that’s what happens; (7) Parks sees Bryant as a right fielder eventually; and (8) Corey Black is a future reliever, but he’ll reach the big leagues. There’s tons, tons more in there, though.
  • Keith Law also did some chatting, and … (1) Law thinks Bryant will stick at third (where he says the Cubs want him to stick) and will be a future All-Star; (2) [not prospecty, but interesting] Masahiro Tanaka is not comparable to Yu Darvish, and no one in the NPB is – instead, Tanaka is more comparable to Hiroki Kuroda (I’d still want that guy); (3) Law reminds everyone to take it easy on AFL stats, given the small sample and the caliber of pitching (which tends not to be as top shelf as the offensive talent, especially as guys get shut down at certain innings limits); (4) [also not prospecty, sorry] Law hopes Manny Acta gets the Cubs’ gig; and (5) Law implies – though it was directed by the question – that Dan Vogelbach has the worst body of any prospect (would love to know Parks’ hashtag for that one).
  • Carrie Muskat knocked one out of the park in an piece about international signees Eloy Jimenez and Gleyber Torres, who are currently working with the Cubs in Mesa, Arizona. Read it, and let the joy of the international signing period this year (remember when the Cubs absolutely pwned that period?) wash over you anew. Cubs Minor League Hitting Coordinator Anthony Iapoce says that the duo are advanced for 16-year-olds, and aren’t especially raw. Each youngster says he expects to be with the Cubs in three or four years. That’s pretty unlikely, but the two were the top prospects in the international class – and were paid commensurately – for a reason. If they’re as advanced as it sounds like they could be, playing in the States as soon as next year isn’t out of the question.
  • More on Kris Bryant’s development and his time in Arizona. The ball looks like a beach ball to him right now, he says.
  •  

    written by

    Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

    more cubs news

    WAKE UP, BASEBALL IS BACK

    The day has arrived. Opening Day. The most glorious day on the baseball calendar, save for the day of each Chicago Cubs World Series win, of course. See, I get to say things like that on Opening Day. Maybe the...

    Wrigley Field is Gonna Be Lit This Year (As in New Colored Lights!)

    Last year, the Cubs started using their new LED outfield lights to do a little dancing display during 'Go Cubs Go,' lighting along with the song and throwing in a W. It was very fun and I liked it. This...

    The 2024 Chicago Cubs for Dummies

    Boom. We made it. The offseason is over, and the Cubs regular season - and those elevated expectations - begins tomorrow. But in case you slept through the winter, I'm here to catch you up on everything you need to...

    Why Craig Counsell Wanted Miles Mastrobuoni on the Cubs’ Bench

    I don't know why Miles Mastrobuoni bugs some folks, but it's probably heavily-weighted toward his small-sample, bad-batted-ball-luck start last year, and that time he didn't dive while playing in right field. It can be hard to shake initial impressions, I...

    Kinda Sounds Like Craig Counsell May Have a Set Top Three in the Batting Order

    New Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell has said, generally, his batting order philosophy is the very simplistic (and very correct): just get your best hitters the most at bats. Sure, there's some play in that to set up good match-ups,...

    Los Angeles Dodgers Signing Will Smith to a TEN-YEAR Extension

    The Los Angeles Dodgers have done it again. And by it, I mean they have signed a funkily-structured contract that is going to leave some folks annoyed. The Dodgers are extending catcher Will Smith on a DECADE-long deal with a...

    The Stretch: 2024 MLB Season Preview

    On Monday, during a team-building conversation with some of the Bleacher Nation and Betsperts Media Group folks, we discussed sports—shocking, I know—and Brian Twining asked the group what their favorite sport was. For me, it's baseball. There's no debate. I...

    We Have to Talk About Some of the “Deals” the Cubs Sat Out in Free Agency

    This week, in a conversation with Jon Greenberg at The Athletic, Cubs President Jed Hoyer made an honest and sober (but also moderately disappointing) admission about the 2024 Chicago Cubs: "We need to perform probably at or a little bit...

    The Chicago Cubs Are Reportedly Now Worth Over $5 Billion

    Given all the tumult in the baseball broadcasting world, and the uncertain future for that portion of revenues, you'd be forgiven for expecting that MLB franchise valuations would slow their recent surge. But, according to Sportico at least, you'd be...

    Reds Second Baseman Matt McLain Had Shoulder Surgery

    The injury to Matt McLain's shoulder issue obviously wound up being worse than he and the Cincinnati Reds had been hoping. The damage to his left (non-throwing) labrum ultimately required surgery: https://twitter.com/m_sheldon/status/1772993402604339478 When the hope is that a guy can...

    Latest News

    Best NBA Prop Bets Today – March 28, 2024

    The Boston Celtics and the Atlanta Hawks take the court for one of two exciting matchups on the NBA slate today.Looking for NBA player prop bets for today's games? This article includes NBA player props for every matchup, so take...

    Who Is In The Sweet 16? Updated Bracket, Odds to Win, and More

    It has been a great March Madness so far and we have more great matchups in the Sweet 16. Check out what teams are in the Sweet 16, odds, and more as the college basketball season rolls on. Latest March...

    Today’s March Madness Schedule: Updated Bracket, TV Channels for Every Game

    The Sweet 16 is here as March Madness brings us some great matchups tonight! Check out today's March Madness schedule along with game times, TV channels, and more as the college basketball season's biggest games continue. The Sweet 16 Begins...

    2024 MLB Mock Draft: Opening Day Mock Draft Projections

    Happy Opening Day! As the new baseball season begins, and hope is present among most fanbases, why not take a look at a new 2024 MLB Mock Draft? Various mock drafts meticulously analyze potential picks, emphasizing the abundance of talent...

    WAKE UP, BASEBALL IS BACK

    The day has arrived. Opening Day. The most glorious day on the baseball calendar, save for the day of each Chicago Cubs World Series win, of course. See, I get to say things like that on Opening Day. Maybe the...

    Pac-12 Basketball Predictions, Computer Picks and Best Bets | March 28

    There is one game featuring a Pac-12 teams on the Thursday postseason college basketball schedule, the Clemson Tigers versus the Arizona Wildcats. Make sure you check out below for today's best bets!How to Bet on Pac-12 Games[lasso rel="draftkings-promo-1" id="299003"]Best Pac-12...

    Rays vs. Blue Jays Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, March 28, 2024

    The Tampa Bay Rays are moneyline favorites (-135) to begin their season with a home win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday at 4:10 PM ET, live on MLB Network.Tampa Bay's Zach Eflin gets the start, and he'll go...

    Astros vs. Yankees Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, March 28, 2024

    The Houston Astros start their season as home favorites (-156) in a matchup with the New York Yankees on Thursday at 4:10 PM ET, live on YES from Minute Maid Park.Framber Valdez will get the ball for Houston while New...

    Tigers vs. White Sox Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, March 28, 2024

    The Detroit Tigers begin their season as -178 favorites in a road tilt against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday at 4:10 PM ET, live on BSDET.Detroit's Tarik Skubal gets the start, and he'll go against Chicago's Garrett Crochet.Tigers vs....

    Reds vs. Nationals Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, March 28, 2024

    The Cincinnati Reds open their season as -153 favorites in a home matchup with the Washington Nationals on Thursday at 4:10 PM ET, live on MASN2.Frankie Montas will get the ball for Cincinnati while Washington will counter with Josiah Gray.Reds...

    more cubs news