Chicago Cubs: Top 30 Prospects- No. 10 to No. 1

#5 Albert Almora (OF)

2015 Season (Tennessee Smokies)

.272/.327/.400, 6 HR, 46 RBI, 32 BB, 26 2B, 106 G

Almora was drafted by the Cubs in the first round of the 2012 draft (6th overall). Still just 21-years-old, Almora set the record for playing with six U.S. National teams before signing with the Cubs.

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He is one of the most advanced position players to come out of high school in recent years but his pro career hasn’t gone quite as smoothly. He has been hit with both hamate and groin injuries and he struggled for much of 2014, despite reaching Double-A at just 20-years-old.

Almora is very aggressive at the plate and lines the ball all over the field. He’s a career .294 hitter through three pro seasons, but rarely walks and really hasn’t tapped into his raw power yet. With the Tennessee Smokies in 2015, Almora had a bounce back year with a .272 average, but only a .327 on-base percentage.

He hit just six home runs in 106 games but did have 26 doubles and only 47 strikeouts. If Almora can develop a more patient approach at the plate, he could be upwards of a .280 hitter with 15+ homers a season.

Almora already looks like a future Gold Glove outfielder with well above average defense and a strong arm. He is not the fastest guy around but that hasn’t slowed him down in the outfield. Almora is also #89 on MLB’s Top 100 Prospects list.

We could very well see Almora start the year with the Triple-A team and he could be a late season or September call up if all goes right for him. Again, with a crowded outfield, finding a home for him in the everyday lineup in 2017 will be tough.

Next: No. 4 - P Duane Underwood