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***funkster*** · 07-17-2014, 11:33 AM

Holy shit, Keith Law ranked Bryant #1 in his midseason rankings. Shocked at that one.

VanSlawAndCottoCheese · 07-17-2014, 01:17 PM

hansman · 07-17-2014, 01:46 PM

I wonder how that is weighted:

1. Bryant is an offensive stud with only 1 red flag

2. Bryant is expected to stick at 3B, at least for the time being

3. Buxton has been hurt for a good chunk of the season

4. The nickname "Sparkle"

***funkster*** · 07-17-2014, 01:48 PM

Quote:So does Sickels.

Yeah, but Law has always seemed very bearish on the Cubs prospects.

vitaminB · 07-17-2014, 01:52 PM

Even Keith Law cannot deny 31 HRs at the break is fucking massive.

Coldneck · 07-17-2014, 01:55 PM

1. Kris Bryant, 3B | Chicago Cubs
[Image: chc.gif]

Age: 22 | Current Level: Triple-A (Iowa)

Preseason Ranking: 15

While there are players in the minors who offer higher ceilings -- notably the next two guys on this list -- Bryant is so close to major league ready that his value at this moment is at least as high as that of Buxton, who's playing now but has been hurt most of the year, or Correa, who's out at least until the Fall League. Bryant has power, he's capable at third base, and his eye and approach continue to improve. Even if he's just a .260 to .270 hitter -- probably a pessimistic forecast -- he'll still be an MVP-caliber bat who hits 30-40 homers and gets on base at a solid clip.

Coldneck · 07-17-2014, 01:56 PM

4. Addison Russell, SS | Chicago Cubs
[Image: chc.gif]

Age: 20 | Current Level: Double-A (Tennessee)

Preseason Ranking: 3





Russell will be the best prospect to change hands this season, going from the Oakland Athletics, who took him with the 11th overall pick in 2012, to the Cubs in the deal that sent Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel to the A's. A torn hamstring robbed Russell of most of April and May, but he's healthy now and hasn't lost anything at the plate or in the field. He has outstanding hands and plenty of arm for a shortstop, which makes up for slightly limited range. His footwork has improved in the past year, so I don't really doubt that he can stay at the position. Those great hands also serve him well at the plate, helping him to accelerate his bat quickly and get good loft in his finish to create line-drive power. I see a high-average hitter with a strong OBP and 10-15 homers -- maybe even a few more -- who plays above-average defense at shortstop.

Coldneck · 07-17-2014, 01:56 PM

8. Javier Baez, SS | Chicago Cubs
 [Image: chc.gif]

Age: 21 | Current Level: Triple-A (Iowa)

Preseason Ranking: 7

Baez still has the minors' best bat speed, with great wrist and forearm strength that translates into huge all-fields power, which you saw in his homer in the Futures Game off a hanging breaking ball. He's still rough around the edges at short, agile enough to play but lacking the finesse or the focus to do so at a major league level. That same Futures Game performance also saw him lollygagging on a ground ball to short and delivering a lazy throw when he needed to fire one over to first base. Makeup may be the biggest concern here. Otherwise, Baez has the raw ability to become a 35-40 homer guy at second or third base.

Coldneck · 07-17-2014, 01:56 PM

28. Jorge Soler, RF | Chicago Cubs
 [Image: chc.gif]

Age: 22 | Current Level: Double-A (Tennessee)

Preseason Ranking: 26

Soler is a monster if he can just stay on the field. He has electric bat speed, plus-plus raw power and the athleticism and arm to play an above-average or better right field. He's gotten bigger and stronger since signing in 2012, and in the 15 games he's managed to play in Double-A this year, he has hit .400/.456/.880 with 14 extra-base hits in 57 at-bats (tiny sample size caveat applies), indicative of his crazy strength. While he's been injured too often for me to rank him higher, he has the raw offensive ability to be a top-10 prospect if he gets the at-bats to work on his recognition of offspeed stuff.

Coldneck · 07-17-2014, 01:57 PM

No Alacantara because of the following, I presume.

Quote:

Players who have already passed the cutoff for rookie of the year eligibility are not included here, nor anyone currently on a major league roster.

***rok*** · 07-17-2014, 02:29 PM

The Almora snub is probably partly explainable by his slow start, but still a bit confusing. I assume Law was never that high on him to begin with.

chshdsck · 07-17-2014, 02:35 PM

Surprised Law didn't bring up Baez's strikeouts.

Very encouraging though. I can't wait for the ball to get rolling on these prospects in Chicago. For the first time in awhile....it'll be fun again.

chshdsck · 07-17-2014, 03:43 PM

Cubs sign 16-year-old Venezuelan righthander Emilio Ferrebus .

Imagine what you could do with $250,000 at 16?

***funkster*** · 07-17-2014, 03:54 PM

Quote:Surprised Law didn't bring up Baez's strikeouts.

Very encouraging though. I can't wait for the ball to get rolling on these prospects in Chicago. For the first time in awhile....it'll be fun again.

If he was overly concerned about it, I would presume he would have said something.

***jstraw*** · 07-17-2014, 03:55 PM

"The Cubs have signed 16-year-old Venezuelan righthander Emilio Ferrebus for $250,000. Ferrebus pitched at Major League Baseball’s international showcase in Januayr in the Dominican Republic, where he struck out three in two scoreless innings with two walks."

No copy editors I get. No spellchecker?

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