The Cubs minor league system made positive steps forward last season, and the improved pre-season rankings back up that statement. While Theo Epstein and Jason McLeod still have a lot of work to do, there is what can be considered impact talent in the Cubs’ system.
Players such as Javier Baez, Jorge Soler, Dan Vogelbach and Albert Almora have garnered a lot of attention but it takes waves of talent to have a successful system. While the depth is being added, the upcoming season is an important one for the Cubs as the organization tries to develop the players into their projections.
Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus released their organizational rankings this past week. And while neither publication ranked them as high as Keith Law, the Cubs moved a couple of steps closer to having a top 10 system in the game.
The Cubs have several position players that project as Major League ballplayers and a handful that could have very good big league careers. The Cubs lack of pitching depth throughout the organization will be addressed in June’s draft as well as in the International market.
Baseball America ranked the Cubs as having the 14th best system in the game a year ago (16th in 2010) and 13th overall in the 2013 Prospect Handbook. The Cubs moved up a spot when the final pre-season rankings were released this past week. Baseball America likes the building blocks the Cubs have in terms of everyday players, but pointed out pitching remains a priority for the Cubs. Baseball America thinks Juan Carlos Paniagua could be the high-ceiling sleeper in the system. Paniagua is dealing with visa issues that have kept him from reporting to Spring Training.
The Cubs moved up eight spots in Baseball Prospectus’ pre-season rankings from a year ago. Baseball Prospectus correctly pointed out there are high-impact bats in the lower levels of the Cubs’ system but it thins out considerably in the higher levels.
Keith Law ranked the Cubs as having the fifth best system in the game prior to pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training while John Sickels of Minor League Ball thinks the Cubs have the tenth best system in the game.
Cubs Prospect Rankings for 2013
- The CCO’s Top 20 Cubs Prospects for 2013
- Keith Law’s Top 10 Cubs Prospects for 2013
- MLB.com’s Top 21 Prospects for 2013
- Baseball America’s Top 31 Cubs Prospects for 2013
- Baseball America’s Top 10 Cubs Prospects for 2013 with Scouting Reports
- Baseball Prospectus’ Top 10 Cubs Prospects for 2013
- FanGraph’s Top 15 Cubs Prospects for 2013
- Minor League Ball’s Top Cubs Prospects for 2013