Kris Bryant tops Fangraphs’ list of 2015 Cubs’ top rookies

Jun 15, 2013; Omaha, NE, USA; Indiana Hoosiers runner Kyle Schwarber (10) is tagged out in the third inning by the Louisville Cardinals catcher Shane Crain (41) during the College World Series game at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

5. Kyle Schwarber, C/OF

Now, working backward, we begin with Schwarber, the Cubs’ first-round pick from the June draft out of Indiana University. While his future behind the plate remains a question, to some, for the time being, he is being groomed primarily as a backstop within the Chicago farm system.

"Calculating a projection for Schwarber presents some difficulties insofar as (a) he’s clearly more valuable at catcher than left field, presuming he’s an average defender at both, but also (b) he’s probably not an average defensive catcher. His offensive profile, complemented by the benefit of a catcher’s positional adjustment, would conspire to create an impressive major leaguer."

Recently, Baseball America, which ranked the Cubs’ 2014 draft as the fourth-best amongst all 30 big league clubs, named Schwarber as the best pure hitter and best pure power hitter from this year’s draft class, after many scratched their heads after Chicago selected him fourth overall. He did not disappoint, hitting a collective .344 with a .428 on-base percentage across 72 games with short-season Class-A Boise, Class-A Kane County and Class-A Advanced Daytona. In those 72 games, he blasted 18 home runs and drove in 53 runs.

He is set to begin next season with either the Cubs’ new Class-A Advanced affiliate in Myrtle Beach or Double-A Tennessee.