Ian Happ takes over top spot in MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 Cubs prospect list
Just over a week after MLB Pipeline released its midseason ranking of the best players in the Cubs system, there is a change at the top of the list.
Ian Happ moved into the top spot of MLB Pipeline’s list of the top prospects in the Cubs’ organization. As was the case with Albert Almora Jr., Willson Contreras lost his eligibility due to his Major League service time. Happ was expected to spend the off-season as the No. 1 prospect in the Cubs’ system on most lists.
Ian Happ and Eloy Jimenez are considered the best players in what is still a deep Cubs’ system that lacks the impact talent that made it the consensus No. 1 organization in the game before the 2015 season.
2B/OF Ian Happ, OF Eloy Jimenez, 3B/1B Jeimer Candelario, RHP Dylan Cease and OF Mark Zagunis are the top five prospects in the organization according to MLB Pipeline.
Ian Happ is batting .279/.316/.408 with 10 doubles and three home runs for a .725 OPS in 38 games with the Smokies. Happ started the season with High-A Myrtle Beach. After 69 games and reaching base at better than a 40 percent clip, the Cubs bumped Happ up a level. Happ hit .296/.410/.475 with 16 doubles, three triples and seven home runs for a .885 OPS. Happ showed improvement in the field at second base while he was with the Pelicans but he’s played more outfield than second base of late with Double-A Tennessee.
In 107 games combined between High-A Myrtle Beach and Double-A Tennessee, Happ has a .289/.377/.450 slash line and a .827 OPS. Happ has 112 hits in 387 at bats with 26 doubles, three triples, 10 home runs and 56 walks and 99 strikeouts.
MLB Pipeline added LHP Jose Paulino to the Cubs’ top 30 with Willson Contreras graduating from the list.
Cubs Top 30 Prospects
2016 Pre-Season Ranking in Parenthesis (NA – Not Available, NR – Not Ranked)
- Ian Happ, 2B/OF (2)
- Eloy Jimenez, OF (10)
- Jeimer Candelario, 3B (7)
- Dylan Cease, RHP (8)
- Mark Zagunis, OF (18)
- Duane Underwood Jr., RHP (4)
- Oscar De La Cruz, RHP (9)
- Trevor Clifton, RHP (21)
- Jose Albertos, RHP (NR)
- Bryan Hudson, LHP (13)
- Donnie Dewees, OF (12)
- D.J. Wilson, OF (14)
- Eddy Julio Martinez, OF (15)
- Carl Edwards. Jr, RHP (16)
- Thomas Hatch, RHP (NA)
- Victor Caratini, C/1B (25)
- Jake Stinnett, RHP (22)
- Pierce Johnson, RHP (11)
- Ryan Williams, RHP (19)
- Jacob Hannemann, OF (28)
- Rob Zastryzny, LHP (NR)
- Jose Rosario, RHP (NR)
- P.J. Higgins, C (NR)
- Justin Steele, LHP (17)
- Carson Sands, LHP (18)
- Felix Pena, RHP (NR)
- Jen-Ho Tseng, RHP (24)
- Corey Black, RHP (27)
- Chesny Young, INF/OF (NR)
- Jose Paulino, LHP (NR)
Jose Paulino began his season with Short-Season Class-A Eugene. And it started to click for the 21-year old left-hander. Paulino made eight starts for Eugene before being promoted to Low-A South Bend. Paulino was 4-0 in six starts for the Emeralds with a 0.51 ERA and 0.63 WHIP. Paulino allowed three runs, two earned, on 19 hits with three walks and 37 strikeouts in 35 innings.
Jose Paulino was promoted to South Bend on July 25.
After a solid debut with Low-A South Bend (three runs, five hits, two walks, four strikeouts, five innings), Paulino did not allow an earned run in seven innings against Great Lakes in his next start. Paulino was charged with two unearned runs on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts in seven innings.
Paulino is 1-0 in two starts with a 2.25 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with Low-A South Bend.
In eight games, all starts, between Eugene and South Bend, Paulino is 5-0 with a 0.96 ERA and 0.77 WHIP (eight runs, five earned, 29 hits, seven walks, 45 strikeouts, 47 innings).
• MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 Cubs Prospect List
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