GOTC - Chicago Cubs 2014 Top 15 Prospects

#15

Brett Jackson – OF
Date of Birth: August 2, 1988
Height/Weight: 6’2″/220 lbs
Acquired: 1st round (31st overall) of the 2009 draft

2013 Stats:

Analysis: Jacob says: “Jackson has widely fallen out of favor with Cubs management and fans alike due to his widely-noted struggles during his career and several reports indicate that this is his last shot to make a statement. Last season, he appeared at the big league level briefly, but spent the majority of the season splitting time between Double and Triple-A ball, where he hit just .210/.296/.330. This is a make-or-break season for Jackson, and all signs point to his tenure with the Cubs coming to a close relatively soon.”

Scouts still think that Jackson has major league potential as well as the ability to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases. He strikes out far too much but if he can get his contact hitting under control, he just might have a shot.

2014 Prognosis: Jackson will either be with the Cubs to break camp or in Triple-A Iowa.

#14

Alberto Cabrera – RHP
Date of Birth: October 25, 1988
Height/Weight: 6’4″/210 lbs
Acquired: International free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2005

2013 Stats:

Analysis: Jacob says, “The right-hander began the year with Double-A Tennessee and before the season was up, he was on the hill for the Cubs as a reliever. In the minors last season, he went a combined 10-6 with a 3.79 earned run average, making 33 appearances – 18 as a starter. In 133 innings, he allowed 128 hits while punching out 126 batters.”

Cabrera has struggled with injuries but has seemed to find his groove. He projects as a two-pitch pitcher with a very good fastball that touches 98 mph and a decent slider that could be another plus pitch for him.

2014 Prognosis: More from Jacob: “He could prove to be a nice middle relief man for Chicago as early as this season. If he struggles in Spring Training, he’ll likely get more time in the minors, probably with Triple-A Iowa.”

#13

Matt Szczur – OF
Date of Birth: July 20, 1989
Height/Weight: 6’1″/195 lbs
Acquired: 5th round of the 2010 draft

2013 Stats:

Analysis: Jacob says, “A former two-sport athlete at Villanova, Szczur was once one of the top talents in the Chicago organization. He has taken some time to mature, though, and continues to work his way toward the Friendly Confines. Last year in Double-A, he batted .281/.350/.367 while adding 27 doubles and 22 steals, as well. He could still prove to be a valuable asset moving forward for the Cubs.”

Szczur has great speed as well as a solid hit tool and he couples that with a great understanding of the strike zone which enables him to get on base a lot. He’s a decent defender although his speed makes up for the fact that he’s still working on his routes to the ball. He appears to have some more power than he’s shown (according to Bernie Pleskoff) but it hasn’t shown up in the games yet.

2014 Prognosis: Triple-A Iowa for Szczur.

for the rest of the list... http://gradingonthecurve.com/2014/02/07/chicago-cubs-2014-top-15-prospects/