Chicago Cubs’ Down on the Farm: Jorge Soler

Nov 2, 2013; Surprise, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Jorge Soler against the West during the Fall Stars Game at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

What’s going on fellow Cubs fans? I’d like to welcome you back to our preview of the teams top prospects who should be with the club within the next couple of years.

Now we’re inching closer and closer to Spring Training, which means Chicago Cubs baseball is just around the corner.

But before you check out this piece on outfielder Jorge Soler, be sure to check out our previous articles posted by Cubbies Crib editor Jacob Misener.

He’s posted a couple articles over the last couple of days about some guys we all should be excited about.

You can check out his articles by clicking here and here for an excellent look at Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, C.J. Edwards and Albert Almora.

#5 Prospect – Jorge Soler – Outfielder

When I heard about the Cubs pursuing Soler, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I didn’t know much about him, so I had to look up some stuff on the kid who was getting so much buzz across the league.

When he was with the Cuban National Team, Soler posted a beautiful batting line of .304/.500/.522 before defecting in 2011 in hopes of a career in Major League Baseball.

During his first year with the Cubs farm system, he played 34 games between the Mesa Cubs and the Peoria Chiefs. Soler appeared in 14 game for the Mesa Cubs but only hit two home runs, 10 RBI’s with a batting line of .241/.328/.389. Things picked up when he arrived in Peoria as he hit three home runs, 15 RBI’s and posted a much better batting line of .338/.398/.513.

Things started to pick up for Soler before he suffered a stress fracture in his shin which limited him to just 55 games. Jorge started off the year with the Solar Sox and appeared in just 20 games. He hit one home run, 14 RBI’s while batting .271/.311/.376 before being moved up to the Dayton Cubs.

Soler’s bat showed a little bit of power as he hit eight home runs with 35 RBI’s and his batting line numbers improving yet again as he hit .281/.343/.467.

He later joined Albert Almora and Kris Bryant with the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League just a couple months ago but had his play over shadowed by his fellow Cubs teammates. His bat was pretty fair but his power wasn’t really a factor. I guess he didn’t need to unleash his power with Almora and Bryant helping out in that category.

He still managed to pick up 23 hits in 20 games while hitting one home run, driving in 14 RBI’s and putting up a .271/.311/.376 line.

There isn’t much of a report on him considering the injured he suffered. But he should come back stronger and better than the last couple of years going into 2014.

The soon to be 22 year old (February 25th birthday) could be compared to Chicago Cubs’ great Sammy Sosa when it comes to his play. His power isn’t always on display when he steps up to the plate, but if this kid gets a hold of a ball then everybody who happens to be playing defense needs to just sit back and watch how far it will fly.

If you don’t remember, he homered in his first ever Spring Training at bat last Spring which was a tape measure shot to left field.

Not everything is perfectly tuned or else he would have been called up by now. But even if he was close to being called up, a little bit more time in the Minor’s wouldn’t hurt him. He flashed his temper once in April of this year which resulted in him being ejected.

I would hate to see Soler end up becoming like Yasiel Puig in a way. I know Puig is a great player, but he’s gotten himself into some trouble over the last year with the police. I understand these guys are human, but you should have your act together when you’re representing a professional team. No matter what sport you’re in.

But with all this being said, I think he’s going to be a great outfielder and will compliment Junior Lake and Albert Almora just fine. Well, whenever Albert is brought up to the big leagues. Which shouldn’t be that far off.

I see Jorge possibly reaching the big league level during the summer of 2015, maybe Opening Day 2016.