The MLB Pipeline Top 100 Prospect list will be revealed this Friday, and, despite having graduated most of their elite prospects, the Cubs still figure to do fairly well. Ahead of the list itself, though, MLBPipeline has been teasing the final results with top 10 prospect rankings by position. Earlier, for example, we found out that Willson Contreras is rated as the top catcher in the minor leagues. And today, we get more pleasantries, as Ian Happ has been ranked as the third best second baseman in the minors.
Happ, who just fully committed to second base this offseason, comes in third on the list behind Yoan Moncada (the Red Sox big-time Cuban prospect) and Jose Peraza (the Reds’ main return in the Todd Frazier trade). And his third place finish is ahead of five other NL second baseman, including one more from the Reds (Alex Blandino) and one from the Pirates (Alen Hanson). Seven of the top ten second baseman are from the National League and three of the top six are from the NL Central. It’s crowded.
[adinserter block=”1″]With their fifth straight top ten pick in the first round, the Cubs selected Ian Happ 9th overall in the 2015 MLB draft – their third consecutive polished college bat. Unlike Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber, though, Happ is not expected to make a meteoric rise through the system. According to Jonathan Mayo, Happ might not even stick in the infield altogether, given the late in baseball-life commitment to second base. Which, when taken positively, is quite the compliment, given that he’s ranked as the third best second base prospect on Mayo’s own list.
If it doesn’t work out at second, though, Happ has the bat to play a corner outfield position, as well as the capability to play center field part-time. The move to second base, which hasn’t even happened yet, will be the first time Happ is playing second base full-time since his freshman year of college, where reports were less than pretty, according to Mayo. Still, increasing versatility is clearly a message the Cubs front office is sending down through the minors, and guys at Happ’s level will do whatever it takes to make it to MLB.
Luke recently wrote more about Happ’s 2015 debut in the Cubs organization, if you missed it.
You can see the whole list – with thoughts from Jonathan Mayo – here, and watch a video discussion of the list:
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