The Rundown: FanGraphs Releases Extensive Look at Cubs Prospects
With no playoff games until the Giants and Royals meet in Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday, it’s a painful reminder that we’ll be without baseball for a long time starting soon. Which is a bummer.
But to cheer us up a bit and keep us busy, FanGraphs’ Kiley McDaniel wrote a very comprehensive look at the Cubs’ farm system.
Here are some highlights:
* Addison Russell (who was rated second overall) would likely play third base as opposed to second, if, that is, he’s ever permanently moved off shortstop.
* Kyle Schwarber (fourth overall) played a lot of outfield after being drafted to save his legs after a full load of catching in college. In 2015, likely starting in Double-A, Schwarber is expected to start at catcher four to five times per week while DHing or playing outfield on other days. Schwarber didn’t call games at Indiana, so he has a lot to learn at catcher.
* Shortstop Gleyber Torres, signed in 2013 as a top international free agent, comes in at No. 9 as a 17-year-old. Nice.
* Eloy Jiminez, the other top international free agent signed in 2013, is No. 12. McDaniel said the outfielder still has some work to do, but could live up to Jorge Soler-type potential.
* Perhaps surprisingly, Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2014 Jen-Ho Tseng comes in at No. 19. Only 20 years old, Tseng could end up as a back-of-the-rotation starter, according to the article.
There’s a ton more to go through here, and I’d recommend checking the article out.
Other notes
* Baseball America has released initial grades for the 2014 draft. The Cubs’ overall report card isn’t complete yet, but Kyle Schwarber was named the best pure hitter and best power hitter of the draft. Schwarber also was rated with the second best pro debut among college players (behind the Royals’ LHP Brandon Finnegan). The Cubs’ 2014 draft was graded fourth best overall.
* The Arizona Fall League has been experimenting with a pace-of-play initiative to help shorten games. One of the measures is a pitch clock. I remain skeptical that a pitch clock would ever be used in MLB, but here are some results so far:
A bit more context:@MLBazFallLeague game times with pitch clock:
Game 1: 2:14
Game 2: 2:28
Game 3: 3:12 (11 innings)2013 avg: 2:51
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) October 18, 2014
* The Mesa Solar Sox on Friday won 5-3, but it was a relatively quiet day for Cubs prospects. Dan Vogelbach was 0-for-3 with a walk and a run, while Jacob Hannemann went 0-for-4. Gerardo Concepcion pitched one scoreless frame.
* If it’s something you’re into, you can bid on authentic rooftop flags from Wrigley Field.