MLB Pipeline released its updated prospect lists for all 30 teams earlier this week. And the Cubs prospect ranking looks a lot different from the pre-season list that was posted in March.
With Kris Bryant, Addison Russell and Jorge Soler part of the Cubs’ everyday lineup, the three players that started the season headlining the top system in the game are not long eligible. And it is only a matter of time before Kyle Schwarber can no longer be considered a prospect.
C/OF Kyle Schwarber is the best prospect in the Cubs’ system according to MLB Pipeline with SS Gleyber Torres, OF Billy McKinney, RHP Carl Edwards Jr. and RHP Duane Underwood Jr. rounding out the top five.
MLB Pipeline’s updated list includes four players (Ian Happ, Donnie Dewees, Bryan Hudson and Darryl Wilson) that were selected in last month’s draft. And according to MLB Pipeline, 15 of the top 30 prospects in the Cubs organization are pitchers.
The most notable addition to the MLB Pipeline’s ranking is C Willson Contreras.
Contreras has quietly put together an excellent season. Contreras’ offense has caught up with his receiving skills this year. Contreras has hit .317/.397/.478 in 88 games for Double-A Tennessee with 24 doubles, four triples and six home runs for a .875 OPS. Teams are asking about Contreras when taking to the Cubs about potential deals prior to the deadline.
Willson Contreras has also improved his stock within the organization.
Jaron Madison recently told the Sun-Times that Contreras “just pure catch-and-throw-wise is probably as good as we have.” According to the report, “some evaluators believe Contreras might be ready to compete for a big-league job by next spring.”
The Cubs may not have the top system in the game as Theo Epstein recently said. But the Cubs’ farm system is still considered one of the best in baseball. There is a lot of talent throughout the organization at every minor league affiliate.
Cubs Top 30 Prospects – Midseason 2015
Final Ranking for 2014 and Pre-Season 2015 Ranking in Parenthesis (NA – Not Available, NR – Not Ranked)
- Kyle Schwarber, C/OF (6, 5)
- Gleyber Torres, SS (14, 7)
- Billy McKinney, OF (7, 9)
- Carl Edwards Jr., RHP (5, 4)
- Duane Underwood Jr., RHP (19, 8)
- Albert Almora Jr., OF (3, 6)
- Ian Happ, OF/2B (NA, NA)
- Pierce Johnson, RHP (8, 10)
- Donnie Dewees, OF (NA, NA)
- Mark Zagunis, OF (NR, 18)
- Willson Contreras, C (NR, NR)
- Dylan Cease, RHP (NR, 21)
- Dan Vogelbach, 1B (9, 16)
- Eloy Jimenez, OF (12, 12)
- Bryan Hudson, LHP (NA, NA)
- Justin Steele, LHP (NR, 17)
- Jen-Ho Tseng, RHP (13, 11)
- Carson Sands, LHP (18, 14)
- Corey Black, RHP (16, 20)
- Jeimer Candelario, 3B (11, 15)
- Jake Stinnett, RHP (NR, 13)
- Christian Villanueva, 3B/1B (17, 24)
- Victor Caratini, C (10, 19)
- Rob Zastryzny, LHP (NR, 23)
- Darryl Wilson, OF (NA, NA)
- Trevor Clifton, RHP (NR, 29)
- Jacob Hannemann, OF (NR, 22)
- Daury Torrez, RHP (NR, 25)
- Jeremy Null, RHP (NR, NR)
- Ryan Williams, RHP (NR, NR)
• Baseball America’s Midseason Top 10 Cubs Prospects