Vitters and Castro Among Top 25 Position Prospects

By Neil on February 22, 2010 21 Vote 0 Votes

Scout.com released their list of the top position prospects in baseball. The top two position prospects in the Cubs' system made the cut ... Josh Vitters ranked 11th while Starlin Castro checked in at number 22.

Josh Vitters and Starlin Castro rank as one-two (in pre-season rankings by Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus) among the position players in the Cubs' system. Both players, along with Brett Jackson, received non-roster invitations to big league camp and many are looking forward to see how they perform this spring against Major Leaguers.

Josh Vitters has been the top prospect (according to most) in the Cubs system since pre-season rankings in 2008. Vitters was the Cubs first round pick (third overall) in the 2007 draft.

After tearing up the Midwest League (.316/.351/.535/.886 with 12 doubles and 15 home runs in 70 games), Josh Vitters struggled a little with his promotion to the Daytona Cubs (High-A, Florida State League). Vitters was hampered by the annual injury bug and managed just a .238/.260/.344/.604 line with seven doubles and three homers in 50 games.

Vitters rebounded nicely in the Arizona Fall League. In 16 games, Vitters hit .353 with a .380 OBP (.485 SLG, .866 OPS) with four doubles, a triple and a home run.

Vitters can hit. His swing has been raved about for years; the only knock on him is his patience at the plate as pointed out by Scout.com.

From Scout.com:

Vitters has the potential to hit for average and power, but he needs to improve his anemic walk totals. He seems to have a knack for developing minor nags and bruises, normally with his hand or wrist, but that could be because the Cubs are just being cautious with their top prospect (really one of their only legit position prospects). His defense is average at best, for now, and perhaps better classified as suspect. His bat, however, will allow him to play for a long time.

Josh Vitters' Page on Baseball-Reference

Starlin Castro began making noise when Baseball America named him the Cubs' seventh best prospect prior to last season. Castro did not disappoint and surpassed expectations in 2009.

Castro began the year in Daytona and lit up the Florida State League. Castro put together a .302/.340/.391/.731 line with 17 doubles, three triples and three home runs after a slow start.

Castro played in the Florida State League All-Star game, earned MVP honors and took part in XM Radio Future's Game during All-Star weekend ... all at the age of 19. Castro earned the promotion to Double-A and continued to impress while playing short for Ryne Sandberg.

After another slow start, Castro adjusted and hit .288/.347/.396/.744 in 31games for the Tennessee Smokies.

Starlin Castro spent his fall in Arizona and played in the AFL Rising Stars game. In 26 games in the AFL, Castro hit .376/.396/.475/.871 with five doubles, a triple and a home run.

From Scout.com:

The buzz has grown around Castro all year long with merit. He has flown through the minor leagues at 19, reaching Double-A and playing in the Arizona Fall League where he hit .376. A plus defender, Castro does everything right in the field. Sitting at 170-pounds, he has already shown gap power with the ability to use the entire field. Castro has the chance to be an impact bat as he fills out his frame.

Starlin Castro's Page on Baseball-Reference

One of the 'Storylines of the Spring' will be how Josh Vitters and Starlin Castro handle themselves in big league camp. The future looks bright, but the players still have to perform.

Bryan

There are some very interesting attitudes on this site over the last 24 hours. Wow.

SuzyS

Bryan and Tony...I agree...must be something in the Wheaties. :)

Tony_Hall

Bryan - I agree with you on that! I've been busy most of the day, but Wow.

Baccardi

Lou will forget more baseball than Sandberg will ever learn. You demonstrate your lack of baseball knowlege when you trash Piniella. Get your facts straight

before you go spouting off on things you

don't understand.

Tony_Hall

I don't agree with all the Lou bashing, but I think you may be overstating your point. Sandberg is a very intelligent baseball mind and so is Lou. One doesn't need to be knocked to make the other one smart.

With that said, I feel it is a valid point, that if the Cubs get off to a slow start, Lou may not be around for the full season and Sandberg would get a jumpstart on his MLB managerial career.

cc002600

I have some good news.

Phil Rogers was just on Sports Central and he picked the cubs for no higher than 3rd.

That bodes well for Cubs.

:-)

Grant

guys i was just reading an articale on MLBTradeRumors and its worrying!!!! it said Shin Shoo Choo of the trice has a deadline to enlinst in the military as its required by South Korea, some will say so what? but we have a TON of Korean players notibly my number 1 prospect for the cubs Hak-Ju Lee and im wondering if anyone knows if anyone of our player will have to enlist????

Neil

Grant, I have not seen or read the report you are talking about. But they have been talking about this for some time on XM.

Choo's representatives are working on the solution and the Indians do not see it interrupting his big league career. There is talk that Choo could "serve his time" by playing on their National team.

Grant

**players

calicub

last time i read nandy was throwing about 120-150 feet.

How many feet does he need to effectively play the outfield position? I know his arm is weak from the double TJ's but i've always wondered...

Neil

Cali...it is 368 feet from right center at Wrigley and 353 from right. Nady needs to double where he is now to be an effective defensive outfielder in my opinion.

The Cubs have said they will use him sparingly in the field during the first month of the season. Look for him to get a lot of DH time during ST games ... except when Zambrano is starting.

SuzyS

It's nice that Lou recognizes that some

of the "kids" in camp can really swing the bat.

If Soriano isn't 100% by opening day...maybe he'll do a Contreras an ask to go to AAA rehab until he is right...AND...Lou will realize there are

viable alternatives until Soriano is ready....(or Nady for that matter).

Soriano is still extremely important to

this team...But Lou has to go back to his 2007 mentality...forget about contracts

and forge a winning team.

Play the hot hand this year, Lou.

Grant

i agree suzy, he needs to go back to that mentality.. but everytime i see lou i just think 1 more year until Ryne Sandberg is our manager

Ron Sheasby

There's no guarantee that Ryno Sandberg will be as good a manager as he was a ballplayer; nowhere is it written that he will be any good at all. Lou Piniella may be sometimes vague and annoying, but has a proven track record as a winner, including a World Series.

The grass always looks greener.....

GaryLeeT

I seriously doubt Lou makes it through the year. In fact, I think the annual Cub's record and final standings prediction should include a tie breaker that calls the number of games played before Sandberg replaces Piniella. I have game 64 in mind.

Ron Sheasby

So Alfonso Soriano says his knee is only 75 or 80 percent, and Chan Ho Park or Ho Chan Park or whatever his name is says he chose the Yankees over the Cubs because he wants to be with a team with a chance of winning a championship.

Maybe Josh Vitters can take Soriano's place (He is injury prone and can't field, either) and Brett Jackson will be an improvement over Park Chan Ho or Ho Park Chan or whatever.

I want to wish the Korean pitcher better luck with the Yankees than Soriano has had with the Cubs. Break a leg, Chan!

Or Ho.

Or whatever.

Derick

Chan Ho Park just signed with the Yankees

ripsnorter

This tidbit about Vitters reminds me of Jake Fox: "His defense is average at best, for now, and perhaps better classified as suspect. His bat, however, will allow him to play for a long time."

ripsnorter

I want to see how Colvin does this Spring. I expect he'll be sent down after ST, but I have hopes he'll hit very well with power at AAA and merit a call up soon. Or perhaps Nady won't make the opening day roster with his bad wing, and Colvin gets some playing time and a chance to show he can play CF.