Keith Law’s week long look at the minor league system continued Wednesday morning with his list of the top 100 prospects in the game and to no surprise the Twins’ Byron Buxton topped his ranking.
Six of the top players in the Cubs’ system made it into his ranking of the top prospects in the game. Javier Baez (7), Kris Bryant (15), Jorge Soler (26), Albert Almora (28), C.J. Edwards (67) and Arismendy Alcantara (71).
Each player moved up in Law’s ranking from a year ago. Javier Baez jumped into the top 10, 24 spots ahead of last year. Jorge Soler moved up 16 spots from 42 and Albert Almora slid up five spots. C.J. Edwards was not ranked and Law mentioned Arismendy Alcantara as one of his sleepers a year ago.
While the prospect lists and rankings dominate baseball conversation this time of year, it is always good to read the different views of the Cubs’ system. No one knows how the players will perform, when or if, they make it to the big leagues. Players are ranked based on projections which what makes Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus’ player profiles must reads for those that follow the organization from the Majors all the way down to the Dominican and Venezuelan Summer Leagues.
The Cubs have several players that project as impact talent at the Major League level and others that project as everyday big leaguers. It is up to the Cubs’ front office to keep the players on track by hiring the right personnel that will guide the players’ development through the system. While the lists and rankings look good on paper and on the screen, it is only the beginning for many of these players and there is still a lot of work to do.
Here is how MLB.com and Baseball Prospectus ranked the players in the Cubs system with the rest of the top talent in the game.
Cubs Place Seven Payers on MLB.com’s Top 100 Prospects List
- #7 – Javier Baez, SS
- #9 – Kris Bryant, 3B
- #18 – Albert Almora, OF
- #42 – C.J. Edwards, RHP
- #49 – Jorge Soler, OF
- #89 – Arismendy Alcantara, 2B
- #100 – Pierce Johnson, RHP
Report: Cubs Place Seven Payers on MLB.com’s Top 100 Prospects List
Seven Prospects Ranked on Baseball Prospectus Top 101 List
- #4 – Javier Baez, SS
- #17 – Kris Bryant, 3B
- #25 – Albert Almora, OF
- #45 – Jorge Soler, OF
- #81 – C.J. Edwards, RHP
- #83 – Arismendy Alcantara, 2B
- #91 – Pierce Johnson, RHP
Report: Seven Prospects Ranked on Baseball Prospectus Top 101 List
Cubs 2014 Prospect Rankings
- Baseball America’s Top 10 Cubs Prospects for 2014
- Minor League Ball’s Top Cubs Prospects for 2014
- Baseball Prospectus Top 10 Cubs Prospects for 2014
- FanGraphs Top 15 Cubs Prospects for 2014