FanGraphs posted its look at the Cubs organization on Thursday. And Dan Farnsworth included a ranking of the top prospects in the system in his report.
The Cubs have a loaded farm system. Even with last season’s promotions it is still considered one of the 10 best in the game.
Gleyber Torres tops FanGraphs list of the Cubs top prospects with Ian Happ, Duane Underwood, Dylan Cease and Billy McKinney rounding out the top five. FanGraphs is higher on Dan Vogelbach and lower on Willson Contreras and Jeimer Candelario than most. Ryan Williams could help the big league team this year, according to FanGraphs, depending on how he fares against more advanced hitters at the Triple-A level.
For a system known for its bats, FanGraphs included 16 pitching prospects in the Cubs’ top 34 prospects.
Dave Cameron contributed to FanGraphs look at the organization. And he was extremely complementary of the Cubs. Cameron said, “No team is in a better position for the present or future than the Cubs. If they’re not the best team in baseball, they’re very close to it, and they’ve built a juggernaut around a young core that is the envy of the game.” Cameron went on to say it is “hard to find any real flaws with this team” other than it lacking “a real centerfielder and it wouldn’t hurt to add another reliever to the bullpen pile.” Cameron admitted he is nitpicking at that point.
Cameron wrapped his overview by saying, “The Cubs have rebuilt their organization about as well as a club can be built from the ground up, and with their additions this winter, they’re poised to be a dominant force for the foreseeable future.”
Click here to read Dan Farnsworth’s write up on the players. Most of the information matches with what Chicago Cubs Online has learned about the prospects, especially Willson Contreras, Jeimer Candelario and several of the pitchers. Plus, Farnsworth uses our video of Oscar De La Cruz.
FanGraphs Top Cubs Prospect List for 2016
(2015 Ranking in Parenthesis – NA – Not Available, NR – Not Ranked)
- Gleyber Torres, SS (9)
- Ian Happ, OF/2B (NA)
- Duane Underwood, RHP (7)
- Dylan Cease, RHP (20)
- Billy McKinney, OF (10)
- Dan Vogelbach, 1B (11)
- Oscar De La Cruz, RHP (NR)
- Mark Zagunis, OF (NR)
- Willson Contreras, C (NR)
- Albert Almora, OF (5)
- Ryan Williams, RHP (NR)
- Jeimer Candelario, 3B (16)
- Jake Stinnett, RHP (14)
- Carl Edwards Jr., RHP (6)
- Pierce Johnson, RHP (8)
- Rob Zastryzny, LHP (31)
- Eddy Julio Martinez, OF (NA)
- Bryan Hudson, LHP (NA)
- Eloy Jimenez, OF (12)
- Darryl Wilson, OF (NA)
- Christian Villanueva, INF (24)
- Donnie Dewees, OF (NA)
- Justin Steele, LHP (26)
- Chesny Young, INF (NR)
- Jen-Ho Tseng, RHP (19)
- Carson Sands, LHP (17)
- Victor Caratini, C (13)
- Corey Black, RHP (22)
- Trevor Clifton, RHP (NR)
- Jacob Hannemann, OF (28)
- Daury Torrez, RHP (29)
- Paul Blackburn, RHP (21)
- P.J. Higgins, 2B/3B (NA)
- Jeffrey Baez, OF (25)
More Cubs Prospects
- Bijan Rademacher, OF
- Cael Brockmeyer, C
- Jonathan Martinez, RHP
- Jose Paulino, LHP
- Jason Vosler, 3B
• Evaluating the 2016 Prospects: Chicago Cubs
Baseball America posted its ranking of the prospects in November. And Baseball America’s list of the Cubs best young players looks a little different: Gleyber Torres, Willson Contreras, Ian Happ, Duane Underwood, Dylan Cease, Albert Almora, Billy McKinney, Oscar De La Cruz, Eloy Jimenez and Jeimer Candelario.
• Baseball America’s Top 10 Cubs Prospects for 2016