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Baseball America’s Top 31 Cubs Prospects for 2015

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BryantBAProspect2015CoverOnlyBaseball America’s 2015 Prospect Handbook arrived Thursday with the Minor League Player of the Year, the Cubs’ Kris Bryant, on the cover.

Baseball America posted its list of the top 10 prospects last month. Kris Bryant, Addison Russell, Jorge Soler, Kyle Schwarber and C.J. Edwards comprise the top five. And Billy McKinney, Albert Almora, Gleyber Torres, Pierce Johnson and Duane Underwood round out the top 10.

John Manuel is on record saying that each of the top 30 prospects in the Cubs system has a legitimate shot of not only making it to the majors but being contributors at the highest level in the game.

The Cubs system is known for the position player talent and potential impact bats at every level. Of the 31 players ranked by Baseball America, 15 are pitchers and include young arms such as Jen-Ho Tseng, Jake Stinnett, Rob Zastryzny, Trevor Clifton, Justin Steele, Carson Sands, Paul Blackburn and James Norwood.

PrintWith the promotions of Javier Baez, Arismendy Alcantara and Kyle Hendricks and the talent added in the draft and in trades, there are 15 new names on this year’s list.

Baseball America thinks Kris Bryant will be the Cubs top rookie during the upcoming season and Jake Stinnett could be the organization’s breakout prospect of the year. As for Baseball America’s sleeper pick, keep an eye on Juan Carlos Paniagua. Baseball America thinks he could take off this season with the move to the bullpen.

Here’s how the Cubs’ young players fared on Baseball America’s individual top 50 lists:

  • John Manuel – Kris Bryant (1), Addison Russell (3), Jorge Soler (10), Kyle Schwarber (21), C.J. Edwards (35)
  • Matt Eddy – Kris Bryant (3), Addison Russell (4), Jorge Soler (15), Kyle Schwarber (23), C.J. Edwards (40)
  • J.J. Cooper – Kris Bryant (1), Addison Russell (4), Jorge Soler (13), Kyle Schwarber (28), C.J. Edwards (45)
  • Ben Badler – Kris Bryant (2), Addison Russell (3), Jorge Soler (4), Kyle Schwarber (15)
Cubs Top 31 Prospects for 2015

2014 Ranking in Parenthesis (NA – Not Available, NR – Not Ranked)

BA Grade and Risk Factor in Parenthesis – Click Here for an explanation of Baseball America’s grade and scale and risk factor

  1. Kris Bryant, 3B (2, 75, Medium)
  2. Addison Russell, SS (NA, 70, Medium)
  3. Jorge Soler, OF (5, 65, Medium)
  4. Kyle Schwarber, C/OF (NA, 65, High)
  5. C.J. Edwards, RHP (3, 60, High)
  6. Billy McKinney, OF (NA, 55, Medium)
  7. Albert Almora, OF (4, 50, Medium)
  8. Gleyber Torres, SS (23, 55, High)
  9. Pierce Johnson, RHP (6, 55, High)
  10. Duane Underwood, RHP (NR, 60, Extreme)
  11. Jen-Ho Tseng, RHP (NR, 50, Medium)
  12. Jake Stinnett, RHP (NA, 55, High)
  13. Victor Caratini, C (NA, 50, High)
  14. Rob Zastryzny, LHP (20, 50, High)
  15. Mark Zagunis, C/OF (NA, 50, High)
  16. Corey Black, RHP (15, 50, High)
  17. Jacob Hannemann, OF (17, 50, High)
  18. Paul Blackburn, RHP (12, 50, High)
  19. Justin Steele, LHP (NA, 50, Extreme)
  20. Eloy Jimenez, OF (16, 50, Extreme)
  21. Bijan Rademacher, OF (NR, 45, High)
  22. Eric Jokisch, LHP (NR, 40, Low)
  23. Trevor Clifton, RHP (NR, 50, Extreme)
  24. Jeimer Candelario, 3B (8, 45, High)
  25. Dan Vogelbach, 1B (9, 45, High)
  26. Carson Sands, LHP (NA, 50, Extreme)
  27. Kevonte Mitchell, OF (NA, 50, Extreme)
  28. Dylan Cease, RHP (NA, 50, Extreme)
  29. James Norwood, RHP (NA, 45, High)
  30. Daury Torrez, RHP (NR, 45, High)
  31. Daniel Lockhart, INF (30, 45, High)
Baseball America’s Grade Scale and Risk Factors

BA Grade Scale

  • 75-80: Franchise players and No. 1 starters
  • 65-70: No. 2 starters and perennial all-stars
  • 55-60: First-division regulars and No. 3 starters and elite closers
  • 45-50: Most players reside here. The high end (50s with lower risk) are second-division regulars with higher peaks, eighth-inning relievers and fourth starters on playoff teams. The lower end are platoon/utility players, back-end starters and relievers.
  • 35-40: Players with fifth starter or utility/backup catcher upside, or relief pitchers. It will be rare for a 35 to make the book.

Risk Factors

  • Safe: Has shown realistic ceiling in big leagues
  • Low: Likely to reach realistic ceiling, certain big league career barring injury
  • Medium: Still some work to do to turn tools into Major League-caliber skills
  • High: Most draft picks in their first seasons, players with plenty of projection left
  • Extreme: Teenagers in Rookie ball or players with significant injury histories
Cubs Source of Top 31 Talent
  • Homegrown players – 26 (College – 9, Junior College – 1, High School – 10, Non-Drafted Free Agents – 0, International – 6)
  • Acquired – 5 (Trades – 5, Rule 5 Draft – 0, Independent Leagues – 0, Free Agents/Waivers – 0)
Best Tools in the Cubs System
  • Kyle Schwarber – Best Hitter for Average
  • Kris Bryant – Best Power Hitter
  • Mark Zagunis – Best Strike-Zone Discipline
  • Jacob Hannemann – Fastest Runner
  • Matt Szczur – Best Athlete
  • Duane Underwood – Best Fastball
  • C.J. Edwards – Best Curveball
  • Jake Stinnett – Best Slider
  • Jen-Ho Tseng – Best Changeup
  • Jen-Ho Tseng – Best Control
  • Victor Caratini – Best Defensive Catcher
  • Carlos Penalver – Best Defensive Infielder
  • Kris Bryant – Best Infield Arm
  • Albert Almora – Best Defensive Outfielder
  • Jorge Soler – Best Outfield Arm

MLB Pipeline is scheduled to release its list of the top 30 players in the Cubs’ system in March. And we will release our ranking of the top 21 Cubs prospects before the Cactus League games begin.

2015 Cubs Prospect Rankings
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