Cubs’ Dan Vogelbach ranked eighth among first base prospects

With the 2015 prospect watch officially underway, two position prospects within the Chicago Cubs minor league system have found themselves included in separate top-1o lists.

Just in case you missed it, last years first round draft pick, Kyle Schwarber, was ranked third among active catching prospects in the league.

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After the organization failed to produce a top-1o caliber left or right-handed prospect, they did however manage to squeeze their way into the mix of the leagues finest first base prospects.

According to MLB Pipeline, big left-handed hitter Dan Vogelbach was ranked eighth among top first base prospects.

Vogelbach, 22, weighs in at 250 pounds and once hammered a 502-foot home run during a high school home run derby back in 2009. Pretty impressive if you ask me.

Chicago’s second round pick during the 2011 draft found played the entire 2014 season with the Daytona Cubs. Through 132 games, Vogelbach hit 16 home runs, 76 RBIs, 28 doubles, 129 total hits with 66 walks and 91 strikeouts with a .268/.357/.429 clip.

Now this may not be a big deal, but we all know that Chicago has put the future of this position in the hands of Anthony Rizzo. So if the Cubs have no plans on replacing Rizzo anytime soon or at all, what will happen to Vogelbach? Simple, he becomes a valuable trade piece.

With this team hoping to make a serious post-season push, they’re going to need every possible trade chip available in order to pick up extra help when needed before the deadline.

There’s a slim chance that they part ways with guys such as Jorge Soler, Javier Baez, Albert Almora, Addison Russell, or even C.J. Edwards, leaving Vogelbach as the odd-man out.

You would have to assume that if or when the Cubs are ready to trade for some extra help, it would have to be pitching related. Considering his size, Vogelbach could end up being used as a designated hitter if he finds himself being traded anywhere in the American League.

He did however struggle during the Arizona Fall League just a couple months ago as he finished with a .261/.389/.319 batting line.