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Baseball America's Prospect Handbook for 2010 hit the stands on Tuesday ... with the Cubs top prospect, Starlin Castro gracing the cover. Castro was named the top prospect in the Cubs' organization.

Baseball America also recognized the improvement made in the Cubs' farm system. The Cubs organization jumped from 27th in baseball to 15th in Baseball America's pre-season talent rankings.

Tuesday was a big day for information from Baseball America. Along with the prospect handbook, Baseball America released their list of the top 100 prospects in the game. The Cubs system placed five players in Baseball America's top 100, tied for second most in the game. As for homegrown talent, the Cubs system tied for third.

Starlin Castro (16), Josh Vitters (70), Brett Jackson (74), Andrew Cashner (95) and Jay Jackson (98) are considered the top prospects in the Cubs system, but there are 25 more names to pass along ...

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.

According to a report from Cubs.com, the Cubs inked 18-year old right-hander, Kim Jin-Yeong. The Korean high school pitcher's deal includes a $1.2 million signing bonus.

Kim Jin-Yeong reportedly has a 92 MPH fastball.

Historically the Cubs' system has not been known for producing position players. Outside of Shawon Dunston, Joe Girardi, Mark Grace and Ryan Theriot, the Cubs' organization has produced several one-year wonders and a catcher in Geovany Soto that the book is still out on.

Most that follow the Chicago Cubs know the name Starlin Castro ... the soon-to-be 20-year old shortstop that reportedly possesses all of the tools to be a solid shortstop at the big league level. But other than Brett Jackson, Josh Vitters and Kyler Burke, the top prospects in the Cubs' system are middle infielders.

The Cubs have depth up the middle with players such as Starlin Castro, Hak-Ju Lee, Darwin Barney, Junior Lake, Ryan Flaherty, Logan Watkins and DJ LeMahieu. These players could end up playing a role in the future of the Chicago Cubs, either on the field or in trades to improve the big league club ... but also the athleticism it takes to play up the middle could provide options for the Cubs down the road at other positions.

After being ranked as one of the worst farm systems in the game a year ago by Baseball America, the Cubs organization made a lot of improvement in 2009 ... and the industry is recognizing the strides made last season.

Starlin Castro was recently named the 22nd best prospect in the game by MLB.com. Castro will be in big league camp as a non-roster invitee this spring and many think the Cubs will give him every chance to make the team. Castro was the Cubs lone representative in MLB.com's Top 50 Prospects.

Keith Law ranked the Cubs' system as the seventh best in the game a day before he unveiled his list of the Top 100 prospects on Thursday. Four of the Cubs' top five prospects made Law's list ... and the fifth just missed and basically received an honorable mention.

Starlin Castro (12), Josh Vitters (30), Jay Jackson (50), Andrew Cashner (79) and Brett Jackson are the five best in an organization that has struggled in the past with producing quality players.

Baseball Prospectus' Kevin Goldstein released his list of the top 11 prospects in the Cubs' system. For the first time in several years the best of Cubs system did not receive a ranking below a three-star prospect.

Goldstein pointed out that despite a disappointing 2009 at the big league level, the Cubs farm system had unmitigated success last year. The Cubs organization is looking up and will be ranked higher in Baseball Prospectus' organizational rankings.

Josh Vitters and Starlin Castro topped Goldstein's list as the two five-star prospects in the system. Of the 11 top prospects, six are position players ...

The annual feature in the VineLine, "Fifty Names From The Farm" will be released in February's issue ... but as been the case in recent years, the Cubs' monthly publication handed out a preview before the Down on the Farm session last weekend.

Here's a look at the best in the Cubs system ... that might just include a few unfamiliar names.

Down on the Farm ... presented by the VineLine was the final session of the weekend. Mike Huang, editor of the VineLine hosted the session that featured Oneri Fleita (Vice President of Player Personnel) and Tim Wilken (Cubs Scouting Director) ... along with Andrew Cashner, Brett Jackson, James Adduci and Welington Castillo.

John Sickels released his list of the top prospects in the Cubs' organization on Tuesday. Sickels provides grades for each of the prospects he ranks ... and his annual Baseball Prospect Book is a must read to help keep track of the better prospects in the game.

Sickels made some positive points about the Cubs' system, which showed a lot of improvement in 2009. While a majority of the talent remains in the lower levels there appears to be better days ahead for an organization that has struggled mightily with developing talent ... especially position players.

Baseball America recently ranked the Cubs' system in the middle of the pack. After finishing near the bottom prior to the 2009 season being average is an improvement.

Here's another look at the Cubs' farm system ...

The Chicago Cubs announced their minor league managers and coaches last Thursday. Ryne Sandberg, who was promoted to Triple-A earlier in the month, will have Mike Mason and Von Joshua on his staff in Iowa.

Von Joshua replaced Gerald Perry, who is now in the Red Sox organization, as the Cubs hitting coach last year. After the final game of the year, Jim Hendry announced that Lou Piniella's staff would return for the 2010 campaign ... with the exception of Von Joshua. The Cubs hired Rudy Jaramillo not long after and Joshua agreed to stay in the organization.

After serving as the organization's minor league catching coordinator for a season, Jody Davis will return to the dugout in 2010 as the manager of the Boise Hawks.

Another former Cub, Jeff Fassero will serve as Davis' pitching coach.