re: Chicago Cubs Super Prospect Futureboner Sploosh Emporium Thread | Maddon Thread

CJ edwards back on the mound in a little over a week.

Kris Bryant the new no. 1 on Keith Law's top prospect list

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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.

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Addison Russell no. 4, Baez at no. 8, and Soler no. 28

Javi Baez (15) (Javi also started at 2B for the first time ever), Kris Bryant (31!!!) (#sparkle), Jorge Soler (7), Addison Russel (soon to be promoted to Iowa) (1), Christian Villanueva (3) and Dan Vogelbach (9) all homered last night.

No homers for Kyle Schwarber at Daytona, but he did add two hits.

Dallas Beeler, Marcus Hatley and Armando Rivero combined on a four-hit shutout for Iowa. Beeler went 7 innings and gave up only three hits, K'd four and walked two.

Duane Underwood struck out 3 over 6 scoreless innings. He allowed a walk and just 3 hits. Kyuji Fujikawa and Gerardo Concepcion completed the shutout.

Catcher prospect and 2014 third rounder Mark Zagunis had two hits and so far on the season is hitting .324/.444/.473/.917 with 3 2B, 2 3B and 1 HR with a 13/14 BB/K (!!!). What may happen here is that Zagunis is the catching prospect that Schwarber isn't. Schwarber will likely rocket through the minors like Kris Bryant and eventually move to the OF.

Eloy Jiminez went 2 for 4 for the AZL Cubs. Eloy was one of the Cubs' many big international signings from last year. I think he was the #1 rated player from that crop.

The Cubs return to action to day as the second half of the season starts up. Edwin Jackson (blegh) takes the ball against the D'Backs in Arizona.

As it stands now, Arismendy Alcantara is still up with the Cubs. There are only three starting pitchers on the MLB roster at the moment, so it looks like after this series with the Diamondbacks there will be some roster shuffling with a reliever (Rosscup) and possibly a position player being removed from the 25-man. Two starters will have to be added, likely Kyle Hendricks and Dallas Beeler.

The rub? Will Alcantara remain with the MLB team? Who knows, because Emilio Bonifacio is also going to be activated soon and he'll need to be showcased before the trade deadline. But do you really need to showcase him? Or Darwin Barney? No, not at all. Look for those two to not be on the team much longer in my opinion.

You keep 'mendy and send lake or olt to iowa if you can't move one of the meh trade pieces before then.

I want to see Olt go down. He really needs to be taking 3-4 at bats every single day. Rotting on the bench in Chicago is not doing him a bit of good. Even when he starts he gets lifted for Valbuena.

Lake needs to just take a break for a while. Dude breaks his bat every night. That dude is so lost right now.

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The problem with sending Olt down is that he has nowhere to play unless he plays 1B and DH's, but you really want him to get defensive time at his position.

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I agree. One thing they could do is shift Bryant to the OF though and then let Olt get the PT at third and Bryant gets some OF experience.

I would be too. Just depends on what their future plans are for these guys though. I would love to see a 2B-SS-3B combo that includes Castro, Russel and Baez though. Then you have the possibility of an OF that could include Bryant, Alcantara and Soler.

All just depends on where they want to stick these guys in the future. They can do a lot of different things with these guys. That's why they like having so many guys that are good athletes.

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you can't stunt the 3B aspect of Bryant's game.

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Not right now and not for Mike Olt. The only place for Olt to play 3B is in Chicago.

Bryant and Baez HR porn.

Two things: I'd love to see Bryant's career HR spray chart and Baez's HR made me laugh out loud it went so stupidly far.