Keith Law released his ranking of the top 50 prospects in the game at the midway point of the season. And Keith Law ranked Kris Bryant as the best prospect in the game. Four Cubs prospects ended up in the top 50, three in the top eight and Arismendy Alcantara was not eligible due to his recent promotion to the majors.
After Kris Bryant at No. 1, Addison Russell (4) and Javier Baez (8) were ranked within the top eight prospects along with Byron Buxton (2), Carlos Correa (3), Corey Seager (5), Francisco Lindor (6), Jonathan Gray (7), Archie Bradley (9) and Carlos Rodon (10).
Jorge Soler was the fourth Cubs prospect on Keith Law’s list and he checked in at No. 28.
Keith Law bumped Kris Bryant up from a pre-season ranking of 15 all the way to the top spot on his list. Law thinks Bryant “is so close to Major League ready that his value at this moment is at least as high as that of Byron Buxton.” According to Law, Bryant “has power, he’s capable at third base and his eye and approach continue to improve.” Law added that a “pessimistic forecast” of Bryant is just a .260-.270 hitter but “he’ll still be a MVP-caliber bat who hits 30-40 homers and gets on base at a solid clip.”
Addison Russell slipped one spot from third in the pre-season to fourth. And even with the hamstring injury that cost Russell the first half of his season, Law is still very high on him and pointed out even with the injury that cost him time “he hasn’t lost anything at the plate or in the field.” Law has no doubts he could stick at short and he sees “a high-average hitter with a strong OBP and 10-15 homers” if not more that “plays above-average defense at shortstop.”
Javier Baez, like Russell, dropped one spot in Law’s ranking from seventh in the preseason to eighth at the midway point. Law pointed out Baez “still has the minors’ best bat speed” but he is “still rough around the edges at short, agile enough to play but lacking the finesse or the focus to do so at the Major League level.” Law added there may be a makeup concern with Baez but he thinks Baez “has the raw ability to become a 30-40 homer guy at second or third base.”
Even with the multiple hamstring injuries, Jorge Soler moved down two spots from 26 in the preseason rankings to 28. Law said Soler “is a monster if he can just stay on the field.” Soler “has electric bat speed, plus-plus raw power and the athleticism and arm to play an above-average or better right field.” Soler has gotten “bigger and stronger since signing in 2012.” If Soler is able to stay on the field, Law sees Soler as a top 10 prospect in the game.
Minor League Ball recently ranked Kris Bryant as the top prospect in the game with Addison Russell (5), Javier Baez (15), Jorge Soler (24), Arismendy Alcantara (34) and Albert Almora (57) in John Sickels’ list of the top 75 prospects in the game.
Four of the top young players in the Cubs system were ranked in Baseball America’s top 50 list: Kris Bryant (2), Addison Russell (5), Javier Baez (7) and Arismendy Alcantara (33). And five of the young Cubs cracked Baseball Prospectus’ mid-season top 50: Kris Bryant (3), Javier Baez (5), Addison Russell (6), Arismendy Alcantara (18) and Albert Almora (37).
- Kris Bryant Ranked No. 1 on Minor League Ball’s Mid-Season List of Top Prospects
- Cubs Land Four Player in Baseball America’s Top 50 Mid-Season Prospect List
- Baseball Prospectus Ranks Five Cubs in Mid-Season Top 50 Prospect List