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What can we expect from Chicago Cubs youngsters in 2015?
Mar 16, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs base runner
Javier Baez(70) high fives batter
Jorge Soler(68) after hitting a home run in the second inning during a spring training game against the Kansas City Royals at HoHoKam stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Hilderbrand-USA TODAY Sports
Last season, the promise of the Chicago Cubs farm system finally began to pay dividends at the big league level, with the likes of Javier Baez, Jorge Soler and Arismendy Alcantara making their respective big league debuts – and that’s not to mention the standout pitching the team received from young right-hander Kyle Hendricks, who went on to finish seventh in the National League Rookie of the Year balloting.
So after both Soler and Baez showcased their power and Alcantara learned center field on the fly at the big league level, what can incoming manager Joe Maddon and Cubs fans alike expect from the team’s youngsters in 2015? Throw in the likes of highly touted infield prospect Kris Bryant and the team could have a young core unlike any other in the game today.
Let’s take a look back at each player’s 2014 campaign and also what we can realistically expect from each in the upcoming season.
Sep 14, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Chicago Cubs shortstop Javier Baez (9) fields a ground ball against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Javier Baez – #9 – Second Base/Shortstop
There was no arrival more hyped last season in all of Major League Baseball than that of Javier Baez, who has long been regarded as the best player in the Chicago Cubs organization. After crushing his way through virtually every level of the farm system, topped off with a .260/.323/.510 slash line in 104 games with Triple-A Iowa early last season, in which he hit 23 home runs and drove in 80 runs.
He got the call on Aug. 5 against the Colorado Rockies, and he promptly lit the fire under Cubs fans watching, hitting a home run in his big league debut on the road against the Colorado Rockies. Two nights later, he recorded the first multi-homer game of his career, going 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs and 4 RBI. However, from the word ‘go,’ he struggled to make contract en route to a horrendous .169/.227/.324 line in 52 games with Chicago – including a staggering 95 strikeouts in just 229 plate appearances.
Oftentimes, Baez would get caught reaching on breaking pitches out of the zone, taking massive hacks when the situation would suggest a shorter, more compact stroke would be a better approach. This offseason, the 22-year-old is supposed to be working on his poise at the plate in the Puerto Rican Winter League, but, thus far, his numbers are little improved.
In an admittedly small sample size of 11 games (43 at-bats), Baez is batted just .233/.306/.442 – with 21 strikeouts. He’s also hit a pair of home runs, but his high strikeout numbers will no doubt be a concern for the organization heading into 2015, when the young infielder is expected to be a big part of the team’s offense.
According to Steamer projections on FanGraphs, the Cubs prospect will produce at the big league level next season, although his line leaves plenty to be desired. Estimated to bat .225/.279/.419, Baez is projected to hit 23 home runs and drive in just under 60 runs – although he’ll strike out over 150 times in 516 plate appearances – which, should be noted, is a marked improvement over his performance last season.
Cutting down on his Waveland-or-bust approach and learning to lay off bad pitches will be key for Baez in 2015. If he can cut down on the strikeouts and focus on putting the ball in play, his numbers could be better than projected. However, if he fails to make adjustments, don’t expect him to be the offensive force Cubs fans are anxiously awaiting.
Aug 27, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Chicago Cubs right fielder Jorge Soler (68) hits a solo home off Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher
Mat Latos(not pictured) in the second inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Jorge Soler – #68 – Outfield
Answering the call to the big leagues in a big way, Chicago Cubs outfielder Jorge Soler, who was often overshadowed by the likes of Baez when working his way up through the system, clubbed a home run in his first big league at-bat – setting the tone for the remainder of the season, when he was one of the most consistent, productive bats in the lineup on a daily basis.
Although he appeared in just 24 games after being called up on Aug. 27 against the Cincinnati Reds, Soler put together a very impressive month-plus for Chicago, batting .292/.330/.573 with five home runs and 20 RBI to go along with his eight two-baggers. Heading into 2015, he appears to be a near-lock to man right field for the Cubs – which is hardly a surprise.
Prior to his call-up to The Show last season, Soler spent time with the Cubs’ Rookie, Double-A and Triple-A affiliates, and to say he was effective would be a vast understatement. The 22-year-old slugger was an offensive terror with the Tennessee Smokies across 22 games, batting an unthinkable .415/.494/.862 with six home runs and 22 RBI, which quickly earned him a promotion to Iowa, where he was still impressive, hitting eight homers and driving in 29 runs in 32 games, during which he slugged .618.
While he likely won’t put up that kind of production in his first full season in Chicago, it’s already abundantly clear that Soler is one of the premier young outfielders in the game today. Projections for next season have him slated for a .266/.326/.466 mark, with that slugging percentage trailing only first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who is projected at 31 home runs and a .501 slugging percentage in 2015.
A healthy, productive Soler will be one of the biggest keys to the Cubs’ success in 2015. If he can continue to get on base and drive the ball into the gaps, the outfielder, coupled with Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo, will form a formidable heart of the order.
Sep 15, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs center fielder Arismendy Alcantara catches a fly ball hit by Cincinnati Reds second baseman Kris Negron (not pictured) during the eighth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Arismendy Alcantara – #7 – Outfield/Second Base
Before the likes of Javier Baez and Jorge Soler arrived in Chicago last season, speedster Arismendy Alcantara was already bringing his talents to the Friendly Confines. Much less-hyped than either of the aforementioned names, Alcantara relies more on his legs to get things done – both in the field and the batter’s box.
His promotion was certainly well-warranted after he dominated the scene at Triple-A Iowa, batting .307/.353/.537 in 89 games with the Cubs, also swiping 31 bases (caught just six times), slapping 36 doubles and hitting 10 home runs. However, that success did not carry over to the Windy City, as Alcantara, who entered 2014 as the 89th-best prospect in baseball per Baseball Prospectus, struggled down the stretch for Chicago.
In 300 plate appearances, the switch-hitting utilityman barely kept his head above the Mendoza Line, batting .205/.254/.367 across 70 games. He struck out 93 times and his speed, which made him so dangerous in the Minors, was largely a non-factor. He swiped eight bases, but was caught five times – although he did add 11 doubles and 10 homers for Chicago. Outside of his offensive woes, some credit has to be given to Alcantara, who learned center field on the fly last season, spending the majority of his time in the outfield after appearing in just 11 games there in his Minor League career.
Heading into next season, Steamer projections show a marked improvement at the plate for Alcantara, who also played second base at times for the Cubs last summer, with a line of .245/.295/.392 with 14 long-balls, 59 RBI and 24 doubles. His speed could play a larger role on the basepaths – something Chicago sorely lacked last season, as he his slated for 20 steals next year.
If Alcantara can get on base at a respectable clip and take advantage of his speed, he could be a very valuable weapon for Joe Maddon at the top of the order ahead of the likes of Soler, Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro.
Mar 10, 2014; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant prior to the game against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Kris Bryant – #17 – Third Base
The Messiah. The Chosen One. The One to end the Drought.
There are plenty of ways Cubs fans refer to Kris Bryant, who is ranked as the team’s second-best prospect (scary thought, isn’t it) behind shortstop Addison Russell, but one thing is for sure – he is believed to be the best talent to come out of the Chicago farm system in years – if not ever.
Last season, Bryant dominated pitching at both Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa, combining to bat .325/.438/.661 across 138 games, leading all of Minor League Baseball with 43 home runs and 110 runs batted in, not to mention his 34 doubles. After finishing the year strong with the I-Cubs, fans were left clamoring for a September call-up, but Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer opted to allow Bryant to end the year on a high note after earning several Player of the Year awards.
Now the attention turns to the spring, when Bryant may very well look to force the Cubs’ hand on promoting him with a strong showing in Spring Training. Currently, the club has the likes of Luis Valbuena and Mike Olt prepared to man the hot corner, but with the addition of Jon Lester and some big league experience under the belt for Javier Baez and Jorge Soler, Bryant could be another asset for a club hoping to contend.
The biggest issue is, essentially, whether or not the Cubs want to start Bryant’s service time clock early, thus losing a year of team control down the road. With Bryant as a client of Scott Boras, it appears the team will let him start the year at Iowa, then promoting him to Chicago after that threshold is passed. Once that day comes, Steamer projects him to appear in 70 games, racking up around 300 plate appearances. His power is anticipated to translate to the big leagues, as he’s slated to hit 15 home runs and drive in 41 runs, adding 14 doubles to go alone with a .260/.341/.485 slash line.
It appears that next year, it’s a matter of not if, but when, we will see Kris Bryant at the Friendly Confines. At long last, the feared slugging prospect may be ready to leave his mark on the game at the highest level.