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2008 Top Cubs Prospects
Cubs Top 10 Prospects
Posted by MB21 on Monday, November 19, 2007 at 05:29 PM
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Baseball America released it’s 2008 Top 10 Prospects for the Cubs (subscription required) today as many of you already know. You can read the last thread’s comments for discussion about it if you’d like. Here’s the list along with “The Future” that is included as part of the scouting report for the 10 prospects. Here is the link to the Community Top Prospects list that Ryno put together recently if you’re interested.
- Josh Vitters
- Geovany Soto
- Tyler Colvin
- Jose Ceda
- Sean Gallagher
- Donald Veal
- Josh Donaldson
- Jeff Samardzija
- Tony Thomas
- Kevin Hart
The Future: Aramis Ramirez is signed through 2011, which could create a dilemma because Vitters’ bat should be ready for the majors well before then. But the presence of Ramirez and the depth of third basemen throughout the system also will make it easy for the Cubs to let Vitters develop at his own pace. He’ll begin his first full pro season at low Class A Peoria.
The Future: Soto has raised his ceiling from likely backup to potential all-star. He’ll be the Cubs’ regular catcher in 2008 and eventually should become their best all-around catcher since Jody Davis two decades ago
The Future: If Felix Pie doesn’t take over Chicago’s center-field job in 2008, Colvin could get a crack at it after spending the year at Triple-A Iowa. Another year of minor league at-bats to hone his approach and his pitch recognition is all he needs.
The Future: Chicago may jump Ceda to Double-A Tennessee so he can face hitters who actually have a chance against him. He has big league stuff and will head to Wrigley Field once he figures out how to locate his pitches better.
The Future: In spring training, Gallagher will get the chance to win a spot as a No. 5 starter or long reliever. Spending most of 2008 at Triple-A as a 22-year-old wouldn’t be a setback, however. He has the makings of a No. 3 starter along the lines of Jon Lieber.
The Future: He has a ceiling as a No. 2 starter, but Veal also could wind up as a reliever in the mold of Arthur Rhodes. The Cubs sent him to instructional league rather than to the Arizona Fall League so he could build up confidence against lesser hitters, and they’ll probably send him back to Double-A to start 2008.
The Future: Chicago has built up its catching depth, so it may take things slow with Donaldson and let him concentrate o his work behind the plate. He’ll probably open 2008 in low Class A.
The Future: Samardizja remains an enigma, still capable of becoming a frontline starter, a closer or a bust. After pitching better following a promotion to Double-A, he’ll return to Tennessee to start 2008.
The Future: His bat is so advanced that Thomas will jump to high Class A Daytona. If he can make progress with his glove, he could reach Chicago by the end of 2009.
The Future: Hart thrived as a big league reliever in September, but the Cubs haven’t given up on him as a starter. He could open the season in their rotation if he pitches well in spring training. He’s versatile enough to project as a No. 4 starter, a middle reliever or a seventh-inning setup man.
Best tools in the organization as rated by Baseball America and the projected 2011 lineup below.
BEST TOOLS |
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| Best Hitter for Average | Tony Thomas |
| Best Power Hitter | Josh Vitters |
| Best Strike-Zone Discipline | Sam Fuld |
| Fastest Baserunner | Leon Johnson |
| Best Athlete | Tyler Colvin |
| Best Fastball | Jose Ceda |
| Best Curveball | Casey Lambert |
| Best Slider | Alessandro Maestri |
| Best Changeup | James Russell |
| Best Control | Mark Holliman |
| Best Defensive Catcher | Welington Castillo |
| Best Defensive Infielder | Josh Lansford |
| Best Infield Arm | Josh Lansford |
| Best Defensive Outfielder | Sam Fuld |
| Best Outfield Arm | Kyler Burke |
PROJECTED 2011 LINEUP |
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| Catcher | Geovany Soto |
| First Base | Derrek Lee |
| Second Base | Tony Thomas |
| Third Base | Aramis Ramirez |
| Shortstop | Ronny Cedeno |
| Left Field | Alfonso Soriano |
| Center Field | Felix Pie |
| Right Field | Tyler Colvin |
| No. 1 Starter | Carlos Zambrano |
| No. 2 Starter | Rich Hill |
| No. 3 Starter | Sean Gallagher |
| No. 4 Starter | Ted Lilly |
| No. 5 Starter | Donald Veal |
| Closer | Carlos Marmol |
Baseball America’s Jim Callis took questions from fans about the list (subscription may be required…I’m not sure).
‘Community’ Top 10+ Prospects
Posted by Stuart Turkeylink on Thursday, October 11, 2007 at 04:19 AM
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Here’s your eagerly anticipated top prospect list. I know many of you haven’t been able to sleep at nights since you’ve submitted your list…
| Ryno | Maddog | Samael | JMan | b3barron | 368 | tyger | J | aaron | Aggregate | |
| Vitters | 8 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 81 |
| Colvin | 10 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 78 |
| Gallagher | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 78 |
| Veal | 7 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 57 |
| Donaldson | 5 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 56 |
| Ceda | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 33 |
| Shark | 6 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 23 | |||
| E-Pat | 3 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 22 | |||
| Atkins | 6 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 20 | |||
| Thomas | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 11 | |||||
| Hernandez | 4 | 3 | 4 | 11 | ||||||
| Maestri | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 9 | ||||
| Papelbon | 2 | 4 | 6 | |||||||
| Huseby | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | ||||||
| Petrick | 3 | 3 | ||||||||
| Suarez | 3 | 3 |
I was going to add some commentary to the list, but I want you guys to think for yourselves. You can and should discern from this list what you choose.
All I’ll say is that you should look at the definite tiers in the aggregate scores.
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