Remember, best is a relative term here. I'm excited to see what the Cubs are doing from here forward, as the kids are starting to arrive and the Cubs have been playing some of their best baseball in several years lately. What we've seen so far is still barely a dent in the system that the Cubs have built up, and I'm going to do my best to take a suggestion that I made around mid season and do a top 20 list for both the positional and the top 20 pitching prospects. I'll allow the September callups to remain on the list, but guys like Soler, Baez, Hendricks, Wada, and Alcantara, who may still have rookie eligibility (not sure on Alcantara) will be off since I'm under the impression that they're up to stay up right now.
Positonal Players
1. Kris Bryant
This was a tough choice....okay, not really. I understand why he's not up yet, as that's one of the sacrifices you make for having Scott Boras as your agent, but he'd be one of the best players on the team, I'm sure, if he were up.
2. Addison Russell
To be honest, there isn't as much of a gap here between Bryant and Russell as many may think. Russell is a great prospect, and I really hope that he stays with the team, as he could very easily wind up being the best of the Cubs young shortstops (along with Castro and Baez), and that's nothing close to a knock on those other two.
3. Kyle Schwarber
I'm putting him above Almora at this point based on my expectation that he's able to stick at catcher. I've read more reports that he should be able to than ones that he won't be able to. It would be nice to have him starting and Castillo as a backup, as I think Castillo fits better as a backup anyway given his being more of a defensive catcher and Schwarber looking like a future offensive beast. Both Schwarber and Almora played at high A this year, and as for their Daytona performances, Schwarber's was much better offensively. It gets close when you bring in that Almora's already a great defender and Schwarber still has a steep defensive hill to climb, and Almora's got about half a season on Schwarber right now, but that bat on Schwarber (and how much more advanced it is than Almora's) is just too much to ignore, and his ability to strike out very little and walk a ton is what is the deciding factor to me.
4. Albert Almora
Almora is finally starting to see some real competition, and he's been able to adjust at 2 different levels now. He took a bit to adjust at Daytona, as that was probably the first time he's ever really had to adjust, and at AA he was able to adjust fairly quickly. Remember that although he's the same age as Russell, they're both VERY young for AA still. Almora adjusted much more quickly at AA after a late season callup and finished with a batting average around the mid .200's after spending the first 2-3 weeks in the .100's.
5. Billy McKinney
McKinney is another guy whose age needs to be taken into consideration. He'll likely start next season at AA, and he's around a year younger than Russell and Almora. His power hasn't been great yet, but it's still decent, and given his age, it will probably develop. I've told others before that I can see him being a rich man's 2006 Matt Murton (low .300's average, around 20 home runs, 30 doubles, high .300's OBP, OPS in the mid .800's as a corner outfielder).
6. Dan Vogelbach
Vogelbach was a tough one. His defense brings him down a ton, and earlier this year I started to worry about his bat, but he came around big time during the second half of the season. The power is still there, and he's still young and will get stronger. He's actually solid at first, but nothing special and without great range, but reliable at sucking up what gets to him from what I understand. I can't wait to see if he picks up where he left off at AA. We'll start to get an idea this fall in the AFL.
7. Gleyber Torres
He had a bit of an up and down season in Arizona, but was mostly up, enough to get him up to Boise by the end of the season, where he'll likely pick up at the start of next season. Remember, he's only 17 years old, and also remember that being a shortstop really gives him a boost in value.
8. Victor Caratini
I'm giving him a boost due to his position being catcher. Supposedly he's got a solid glove that will be able to stick, but isn't great defensively, and his bat is around one that projects to be major league average instead of just average for a catcher.
9. Eloy Jimenez
Jimenez may fly up the rankings at any point in the next couple of years. He wasn't especially good in Arizona, but he did hold his own somewhat, as a 17 year old kid. His body just projects to have such good power, and he supposedly does look good at the plate. He's even been called things like Baby Soler by some people due to their physical similarities. At 17 though, he could also not get past Kane County at the same time, but there's every reason to believe that he can be a future star.
10. Jeimer Candelario
This was another tough one, between Candelario and Villanueva. Candelario is younger and has more potential in his bat, and he can play defense quite well for his age. He had a rough time in Daytona this season, so he was sent back to Kane County for the second half of the season where he had similar success to what he did last season. He could be in for a huge boost or a huge drop next season depending on if he moves forward at all, but he's still young, even for Kane County.
11. Christian Villanueva
Some say he has the best glove in all of the minor leagues, period, all positions, all levels. Villanueva's glove has been major league ready for quite some time now, but his bat still has a little way to go. He started the season at AAA, but just wasn't able to find his stroke there. When Kris Bryant was brought up, they moved Villanueva back down to AA where he started hot, but otherwise wasn't any better than last year, finishing at .248 in Tennessee. He's approaching his mid 20's, so the question of rather he'll be a starting quality third baseman or a backup may be answered soon.
12. Jacob Hanneman
Hanneman is a bit of a strange name to see on here given his level and age, but remember that this was his first full season, and even last season he missed a huge chunk due to injury. He started at Kane County and eventually got called up to Daytona. He played well, not great at each level. Also, remember that he went on a 24 month Mormon mission, so his age is higher than his experience as well as the wear and tear on his body, he's more like a 21 year old than a 23 year old. He's got some power and very good speed. He's going to have to improve in some aspects of his game, but the physical skills are there.
13. Chesny Young
Young was just drafted, but he's made the most of his time with the Cubs already. He hasn't shown any power yet, but he's been able to get on base easily as well as has shown some speed. I don't see him as a regular starter, but I can really see him as one of those good utility guys.
14. Mike Olt
I wouldn't have considered him a prospect a few months ago, but he's back down, and it does look like he'll be back up, but there is some question. I'll go ahead and include him. He's supposedly looked solid at first, so he can handle two defensive positions now, and we all know he has massive power. The issues that plagued his swing this past season, if they have been fixed, can make him a starting quality third baseman again. He's always going to strike out a lot, but he might at least be able to make enough contact to be a good starter again, but again, after he looked so bad earlier this year, it's hard to imagine him being too good.
15. Rock Shoulders
I may be somewhat alone here, but I'm fairly high on Shoulders, beyond the great name. He's got very good power, but he is somewhat limited in the field (left field, first base), and doesn't hit for a great average.
16. Mark Zagunis
I should probably have him several places higher, but he just hasn't played above short season A yet, so I'm going to hold back. However, his bat has looked good so far after one professional season, and his glove is supposedly a solid glove too.
17. Kevonte Mitchell
Mitchell is also in his first partial professional season, but hit well for average, got on base, and stole a bunch of bases in the short time he played in the Cubs system this year. Given his size and power potential, it will be fun to see how he winds up.
18. Charcer Burks
Burks is someone who can play center field, has good speed, and who can hit for extra bases. He hit over .300 this year as well for Arizona and Boise.
19. Stephen Bruno
Bruno is another guy I should probably have a bit higher, but he just seems to be such a lock to be a utility guy that I have trouble putting him higher. I still have some hope that Young adds something, but I feel like Bruno is what he is, and that's not bad, and will probably be a valuable addition to a major league team, but it's not as an every day starter.
20. Shawon Dunston
His slow start made me start to give up on him, but Dunston had a good last 3/4 of the season, and while he still finished with an OPS a little under .700, he still managed to steal almost 30 bases, and from all accounts play very good defense.
Pitchers
1. CJ Edwards
That duo that was at AA this year did have some issues with injuries this year, but while Johnson was able to show enough to probably start at AAA next year, Edwards will have to show up in the Arizona Fall League and get some more experience. While the AFL is a hitters league, Edwards probably won't be completely judged on the numbers he puts up.
2. Pierce Johnson
Johnson and Edwards are being closed in on fast by the #3 guy on this list, but #'s 1, 2, and 3 are still pretty obvious. Johnson has very solid middle of the rotation, maybe even as high as #2 type of stuff. Something that can fit in with just about any rotation, assuming he continues like he's been playing.
3. Jen-Ho Tseng
Given he's only played as high as Kane County, but to do what he did this past season at age 19, well under the league average age, is phenomenal. At very least, at this point, he looks like a mid to high rotation guy, and that can go up, but he still has a long way to go and a lot can happen in that time, but he's starting to look like he might wind up being even a solid #1, but again, there's still a long way to go.
4. Duane Underwood
Underwood had the breakout season that every Cubs fan who follows their minor league system was hoping he would have this past season. He finished with a 2.50 ERA in Kane County, and remember, he's barely 20 years old himself.
5. Paul Blackburn
Blackburn once again saw his numbers slowly get better this year while he moved up another level. He'll turn 21 in December, so he's also still pretty young, as he just finished this season in Kane County. While his arm isn't seen as having the upside that Underwood's does, it's still a good arm.
6. Corey Black
Black had a very good season in AA, and will be very ready for AAA. The Iowa Cubs may have a surprisingly good rotation to start next year. Everyone will be surprised except for us too.
7. Dallas Beeler
I probably have him a touch higher than most, but I was actually impressed with what I saw of him when he was up. I consider him to be a September call up, since he was just called up in September and isn't anything close to a sure thing to stay up, but he did have one bad outing, but it seemed more of a case where the ground balls just got through. If a guy can throw ground balls at Wrigley, he can win.
8. Trevor Clifton
Clifton is flying under a lot of radars, but he quietly put up a very good season in Boise this year. He just turned 19 in may, so he's very young, and he will be young for his level rather he starts in Boise or Kane County next season.
9. Rob Zastryzny
Zas had a tough start to the season, but settled down, finishing with an ERA of 4.66 after spending most of the season in the 5's and 6's in Daytona. He may wind up having more adjusting than you'd like out of a guy his age, but he won't be old or anything like that for his level. I'm starting to see him as a potential 4 or 5.
10. Jeferson Mejia
With Mejia it's more of a case of someone who just hasn't played at a high level yet. However, he's got a ton to look forward to. He's huge at 6'7", and has a very good fastball. He's developing other pitches, but he just turned 20 a month ago, so he's quite young. I can see him starting next year in Kane County, and he might be 2015's Tseng.
11. Dylan Cease
Cease hasn't thrown a single pitch in the Cubs system, and he probably won't throw one next season. That being said, he'll be behind by the time he comes up, if he ever does, due to Tommy John surgery, but at the same time, many pitchers lose a year to that during their career, he's just losing it early. If it hadn't been for needing that surgery he would have likely been picked in the top 2 rounds.
12. Arodys Vizcaino
I am partial to starters, and there's 11 potentially good starters ahead of Vizcaino, but at the same time, Vizcaino still could possibly wind up being a starter himself, it's just unlikely. Either way, his stuff is great, and he has a good chance at being a great reliever.
13. Armando Rivero
With a very good bullpen in Chicago already, and it spilling over into Iowa, Rivero didn't have much of a chance to get to the Cubs, but on many teams he would have been in the big leagues already. Rivero had a very good season, and I can't wait to see him in Wrigley, probably sometime next year.
14. Carson Sands
I think I'm going to have an issue with Sands, Steele, and Cease like I did with Underwood, Blackburn, and Maples. I could not keep those 3 straight for the longest time, and at least their last names didn't start with the same sound. Anyway, I put Sands above Steele due to him having a slightly better season, but those 3 were overslot high school pitchers that can wind up being absolute studs. Case in point, Sands put up a 1.89 ERA in his first 19 professional innings this year. He struck out 20 and walked 7 in those innings, which is pretty solid, not great, but good, only giving up 15 hits, in Arizona.
15. Justin Steele
Steele is the other of that overslot trio. His ERA was a little higher at 2.89 (had one tough start). In 18.2 he struck out 25, gave up 15 hits, and walked 8, very similar numbers to Sands.
16. Jake Stinnett
Stinnett had a bit of a rough start to his professional career after being a 2nd round draft pick, getting roughed up in Arizona, but the Cubs quickly moved him to Boise anyway, and he pitched very well there, putting up an ERA under 3. Keep in mind that he threw 11 innings the whole season, after pitching a full college season (including CWS).
17. Eric Jokisch
Jokisch is another one of those Cubs pitchers that is right there. He had a very solid year in AAA and will, at very least, be someone worth taking a look at for an end of the rotation spot.
18. Austyn Willis
Willis is a tall righty who was drafted out of high school this past draft. He put up decent numbers in Arizona, especially given that he'd just turned 18 when he was drafted. I hope to see him continue improve, hopefully in Boise next year.
19. Josh Conway
Conway is another forgotten arm. He was drafted in 2012, but due to Tommy John he didn't throw his first pitch with the Cubs until this season. However, in Boise he was outstanding, despite the limits on his pitches. He threw 36.2 innings with an ERA of 1.96. He turned 23 in April, so he is old for where he is, but pitchers often come up a bit later than position players, and he's already lost his year due to TJS.
20. James Norwood
Norwood had a rough season, but he has very good stuff and was an exciting draft pick for the Cubs. If he doesn't have a decent year next year, then he's off the list, but chances are that he will.
I'll note a couple of things. The first, and really most exciting thing for me is that the Cubs 20 pitchers were easier to come up with than the position players. A system that is so insanely heavy in bats is really starting to see the pitching catch up to it. Considering how insanely good the bats look like they might be, this is very exciting. That being said, the excitement is almost entirely due to the depth of the pitching. As of right now, there is nobody that really looks like a top pitching prospect, although guys like Tseng and Underwood may not be far off from turning a lot of heads. Tseng, right now, looks like Hendricks, but with a more lively arm.
The second thing I'd like to say is that I have never seen the Cubs, or any team for that matter have a system that is so deep. All 40 of these guys are players I can easily see on an mlb roster. Sure, some are going to be as utility guys or something of that sort, but I can easily see any of these guys as being major league players. None of them are guys who I'm even iffy on at this point.
You may notice that Dillon Maples is absent from this list. I was really high on him for a while, but he's just had a history of injuries and poor performances so far. Being a positive person, I'll admit that he very likely has not had any chance of building any rhythm due to the injuries and such, but at this point he's out of my top 20 Cubs pitching prospects, but he can get back up there. He was highly praised as a 14th round pick in 2011, and while he is 22, a couple of good years could get him to the big leagues by age 25 still, which is far from ancient for getting to the big leagues. That is, of course, if the Cubs do keep faith in him. He's seen as having a top of the rotation arm, but he just hasn't been able to put it together.
All in all, even with Alcantara, Baez, Hendricks, and Soler all out of the mix, this is a great system that will likely continue to be considered a top 5 system as the reporters realize how good the pitching in the system actually is.
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