Chicago Cubs: After solid spring, prospects start minor league season

It was a good Spring Training camp for the Chicago Cubs. MLB players eased into the season and many prospects impressed. Where are those prospects now?

Spring Training was one of the best fans of the Chicago Cubs witnessed in a long time. Maybe it was the excitement or disbelief of the team winning the World Series. Or, quite possibly, the charismatic charm and baseball acumen of the team drew writers and experts to predicting another successful season. Regardless, it seems that the Cubs bandwagon is a bit more full.

There was another aspect of the Cubs camp that forced drew the watchful eyes of the baseball world. Many of the prospects in the system played their way into the conversation. Now, teams around the league are aware of the full-scale of the team’s talent. They now face the arduous task of stopping the reigning champions.

Even so, none of those prospects that garnered our attention currently find themselves on the 25-man roster. So, where are they now?

Giving Iowa a try

As you would expect, many of the prospects that excelled in camp for the Chicago Cubs are in Iowa. And, if they keep up the production provided in Mesa, a Pacific Coast League title is well within reach. The full roster is on the Iowa Cubs website, but here are names you may know.

Catchers Victor Caratini and Taylor Davis; Infielders Ian Happ, Jeimer Candelario, and Chesny Young; Outfielders John Andreoli and Mark Zagunis

Pitchers Jake Buchanan, Eddie Butler, Brian Duensing, Dylan Floro, Pierce Johnson, Alec Mills, Felix Pena, Jose Rosario, Ryan Williams, and Rob Zastryzny

The season for the Iowa Cubs opened up on Thursday with a win over the Oklahoma City Dodgers. The lone run of the game came on a wild pitch allowing Caratini to score. While the bats were mostly quiet, the pitching staff was lights out. Butler threw 5.2 scoreless innings, allowing six hits, striking out six and walking two. The rest of the staff (Floro, Duensing, Johnson, and Pena) allowed only three baserunners the rest of the night.

Double your pleasure

Many other players find themselves on the roster for the Double-A Tennessee Smokies who opened their season with a 1-4 loss in Pensacola. Notable players on the roster include pitchers Duane Underwood Jr., Trevor Clifton, and outfielders Jeffrey Baez, Charcer Burks, and Jacob Hahnemann.

And, finally, several other of the Top 30 prospects in the Chicago Cubs organization find themselves in lower levels of the minors. Thomas Hatch, P. J. Higgins, and Carlos Sepulveda are all members of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Highly touted players Dylan Cease and D. J. Wilson find themselves on the South Bend Cubs roster.

Next: Early season fears are already too much to deal with

One name is missing from this list. Eloy Jimenez. The top prospect in the farm system is still on the disabled list and is not expected back for another two-to-three weeks. He suffered a bone bruise during camp. It is not known where he will start the season; however, it is safe to say it will be in Iowa or Tennessee.

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