Post by Peter - Boston Red Sox on Jun 9, 2018 12:47:45 GMT -5
Well the 2046 season did not go according to plan for the Chicago Cubs. The team finished the season a dismal 64-98. While the ML team struggled this season, there were some bright spots down on the farm that should, at least in part, brighten the hearts of many a Cubs fan and leave them with a bit of optimism for the future. Currently, the Cubs system ranks #13 in the PBL. Here are some names of prospects/youngsters to keep an eye on for 2047 and beyond:
#1 CF Vicente Hernandez - 22 y/o - Nutley, NJ - ** / ****
Spent most of the 2046 season at AA Tennessee where he hit a respectable .268/6/27 in 72 games. Hernandez possesses blazing speed (rated a 10) and outstanding defense (rated 10) to complement his hitting ability. Ranked #16 in the PBL, Hernandez is poised to make a leap to AAA and beyond in 2047. 2047 Outlook: Start the season at AAA Iowa but a mid-season call-up is a definite possibility.
#2 LF Tae-sang Ch'oe - 19 y/o - Seoul, South Korea - * / ****
Ch'oe, in just his first professional season, split time between the Cubs' AZL-R team where he hit .246/4/19 in 33 games and low A Boise where he played in 32 games hitting .278/4/14. This kid can hit! Already ranked #66 in the PBL top 100 prospects. Cubs officials believe he can easily become a better than .300 hitter at the ML level with a bit more seasoning under his belt. Ch'oe possesses lightening speed which helped him swipe 18 bags last season between Boise and AZL. The one knock on him is that he really hasn't shown much in terms of defense. At Boise he had a ZR rating of -6.2 out in LF. Club scouts believe that as he matures and develops his defense should improve. 2047 Outlook: Promotion to A South Bend with a possible move to A+ Daytona depending on his performance at South Bend.
#3 RP Tsutomu Sasaki - 23 y/o - Nagoya, Japan - *** / ***
Acquired in a trade with the Rockies this past June, became a big contributor to the Cubs bullpen. Appearing in 25 games, 51.2 IP, Sasaki had a fine 2.79 ERA with 56 K's in those 51.2 IP. He has a fastball that sits between 98-100 and combines that with a nasty slider. He wants to start but the Cubs feel his best role, for now, is in the bullpen. 2047 Outlook: Bullpen role for the Cubs
#4 2B Pok-Too Wu - 23 y/o - Panchaio, Taiwan - **** / *****
A rule V selection from the Detroit Tigers organization, Wu has the makings of a solid 2B. Most Rule V players sit on the bench all season but not so with Wu. The team played him in 52 games (84 ABs) where he managed to hit a solid .274 with 9 steals in 10 attempts. Wu's greatest asset is speed (rated 10) and along with his bat where he already has a strong contact (6/6), eye (8/9), and ability to avoid K's (6/6). Wu's weakness is his inability to field well (-1.5 ZR rating in 2046). He just doesn't have the range (4) or the arm (4) to field 2B as efficiently as Cubs mgmt. would like. Perhaps a move to a different position would do him well but he has shown a lack of drive in the past and this may prevent him from developing like the club would like. 2047 Outlook: A spot on the ML roster probably a bench role.
#5 SP Stephen McDonald - 23 y/o - Indiana, PA - * / *****
McDonald has all the tools to succeed at the ML level. He owns a nice 93-95 Mph fastball (7/8) and a wicked changeup (10/10). He appeared in 31 games this season, his first full season at the ML level, starting 22 games. He was 4-10 with a 4.97 ERA and 7 QS. He was 4th on the team in strikeouts. Lefties hit him especially hard (.312 and 13 homers). Manager Peter Cacciamani moved McDonald to the bullpen late in the season and this seemed to help him improve his overall numbers (30 IP; 3.30 ERA; 31 K's in 30 IP; 1-0 record). He has the talent to be an effective contributor to the club but has yet to fully realize it. 2047 Outlook: spot on the ML roster likely in the bullpen.
2047 Prospect Spotlight:
1B Sifaks Ben Hassi - 18 y/o - Nairobi, Kenya - * / *****
This kid is LOADED with potential (skillset 7/9/8/5/8). With the potential to hit well over .300 combined with tremendous raw power, this guy could hit 40 HRs a season and help erase the memories of when the Cubs traded a similarly built young kid named Jose "The Fly" Vera to the Reds. Cubs officials are salivating when they consider what this kid could do as he matures and develops. At 6'3" and 200lbs he has the frame to add more muscle and be a monster at the ML level. Needs to work on his footwork around the bag to improve his defense but club officials are not too worried about his defense, they will find somewhere for him to play. 2047 Outlook: AZL-R and possible move to low A Boise by mid-season.