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Organizational Talent Rankings via Baseball America
2012 (14) | 2011 (16) | 2010 (14) | 2009 (27) | 2008 (18)

2012 Affiliate Records
MLB: [61-101] NL Central
AAA: [53-87] Pacific Coast League – Iowa
AA: [72-68] Southern League – Tennessee
A+: [59-74] Florida State League – Daytona
A: [63-75] Midwest League – Peoria (Kane County beginning 2013)
A(ss):  [37-39] Northwest League — Boise

Arizona Fall League PlayersMesa Solar Sox
Dae-Eun Rhee (RHP); Kevin Rhoderick (RHP); Nick Struck (RHP); Tony Zych (RHP); Logan Watkins (2B); Rubi Silva (OF); Matt Szczur (OF)

Graduated Prospects
Anthony Rizzo (1B); Steve Clevenger (C); Welington Castillo (C)

The Run Down
Since Theo and his gang arrived, it’s been evident that the Cubs are on a better track.  They traded for Anthony Rizzo, they signed Jorge Soler, they drafted well (it seems that way, at least), and they’ve added much-needed depth to their farm system via deals with Atlanta and Texas.  In just one year’s time, it’s quite impressive how improved this system is.  Of course, it doesn’t hurt when 2011 draftees, Javier Baez and Dan Vogelbach, break out with huge statistical years.  Still, the bottom-up impact that the Epstein-Hoyer regime has had on this organization cannot be denied.  If it’s lacking anywhere, it’s in the starting pitching department — there simply aren’t many high-profile arms coming up.  But the Cubs have ample dough to work around that shortcoming with signings at the big league level.  It might be a few more years until they’re contenders in the NL Central, but it’s clear that that they’re headed in that direction.  Oh, and there’s quite a bit of fantasy impact in the names below too.

Top Ten Prospects
1.  Javier Baez, SS:
  In 57 games at Low-A Peoria, Baez posted a .979 OPS, along with 12 homers and 20 steals.  He was quite clearly the most advanced hitter in the Midwest League at that point, so the Cubs bumped him to High-A Daytona, where regression took hold.  During his 23-game stint in the Florida State League, Baez hit .188/.244/.400, leading some baseball folks to question his approach.  For me, though, the poor stretch is nothing more than a minor blip — lots of guys struggle out of the gate at a new level; lots of guys struggle down the stretch of their first full season.  He might ultimately end up at third, and as he fills out physically, the stolen bases will dwindle, but Baez will hit, and he’ll hit for plenty of power.  The 20-year-old will likely return to High-A to begin 2013, but expect to see him in the upper levels at some point this year.  ETA:  2015

2.  Albert Almora, OF:  The 5-tool 18-year-old went 6th overall to the Cubs last June.  Scouts raved about the polish he showed in a brief but impressive pro debut (.321/.331/.464 in 33 games between instructional and short-season ball).  Almora will move up to Low-A in 2013, making his full-season debut with Kane County, the Cubs new Midwest League affiliate.  ETA:  2016

3.  Jorge Soler, OF:  I wrote a brief scouting report on Soler shortly after he was signed by the Cubs.  You can read that here.  Enormous power potential is the main attraction.  The soon-to-be 21-year-old will likely join Almora at Low-A this April.  I imagine Kane County — just 45 minutes or so outside Chicago — will draw very well with that duo in the outfield.  ETA:  2015

4.  Dan Vogelbach, 1B:  Vogelbach is a bad-bodied (read:  tubby) 1B with big time potential at the plate.  In 283 PA between instructional and short season ball, he hit .322/.423/.608 with 41 XBH (17 HR).  He’s a prospect in the mold of Matt Adams.  There’s a Prince Fielder-type ceiling, but there’s little room for error, as he won’t be able to play anywhere but first.  Vogelbach will likely join the aforementioned dudes in Kane County for his full-season debut.  ETA:  2015

5.  Brett Jackson, OF:  Grey went over his Brett Jackson fantasy back in November.  He writes, “I could see a June call-up and a line of 25/9/30/.230/15 in 300 ABs.  Definitely worth a NL-Only and keeper league flyer, but in most mixed leagues, we’ll wait until June to grab him off waivers.”  Seems on point to me, but do keep an eye on the Cubs CF battle this spring.  ETA:  2013

6.  Matt Szczur, OF:  Szczur hit .295/.394/.407 with 34 stolen bases in 352 PA at High-A before a rough 34-game stint at Double-A.  The tools are real, but some scouts wonder if he’ll be able to put it all together, despite his outstanding makeup.  If he can, he’ll end up as a gap-power guy with plus-plus speed.  ETA:  2014

7.  Arodys Vizcaino, RHP: Vizcaino missed all of 2012 to Tommy John.  The Cubs will allow him to return to full-strength before summoning him to the bigs, but once he’s up, he’ll serve as a quality late innings guy, and could find himself in the closer role if Chicago can swing a deal for Marmol in-season.  ETA:  2013

8.  Pierce Johnson, RHP:  Johnson was the 43rd overall pick last June out of Missouri State.  An injury-riddled history is cause for concern, but the 21-year-old brings good size and a nice fastball-curve combo has gives him mid-rotation potential.  If he can stay healthy, he’ll climb the ladder quickly.  ETA:  2015

9.  Dillon Maples, RHP:  Along with size and athleticism, Maples brings a deadly fastball-curveball combo.  Like Johnson, though, Maples is an injury risk.  Also, the 20-year-old is yet to pitch above the instructional level.  2013 will be an important year for Maples as he tries to stay healthy and reach full-season ball.  ETA:  2016

10.  Kyuji Fujikawa, RHP:  He’s 32.  Had to get that outta the way early, because he’s thirty-friggin-two, for chrissake.  Brett Jackson is the next oldest guy on this list at 24, which is basically ancient for prospect purposes.  Still, Fujikawa put up some exciting numbers in Japan (1.36 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 12.4 K/9), and he’s primed to serve as the Cubs’ set up guy to begin the season.  He could come in handy in fantasy leagues if the K-rate is healthy, or if he happens to fall into some save situations.  ETA:  2013