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

#3 Carl Edwards Jr (P)

2015 Stats (Tennessee Smokies, Iowa Cubs, Chicago Cubs)

Minors: 5-3, 2.77 ERA, 36 G, 55.1 IP, 75 K, .139 OPP AVG.

Edwards was drafted in the 48th round of the 2011 draft by the Texas Rangers. He quickly became one of the top prospects in the Rangers farm system before being traded to the Cubs in July 2013 in the Matt Garza trade.

He missed most of the 2014 season with a strained right shoulder and the Cubs proceeded to handle it very cautiously but he did appear to be at full strength in the Arizona Fall League.

Edwards has a low 90s fastball that has reached 97 mph at times. While his velocity might be a little low, his fastball does some natural cut which makes it his top pitch.

A very impressive stat for Edwards is that he has allowed just two home runs in 237 innings pitched in the minors, signaling that hitters rarely make contact with his heater. He has two solid secondary pitches, a curveball, and a changeup, with the curveball being the better pitch.

He has two solid secondary pitches, a curveball, and a changeup, with the curveball being the better pitch.

Edwards’ strong 2015 season with the Smokies and Iowa Cubs led him to a September call-up with the Cubs. In limited duty, Edwards pitched in 5 games, compiling a 3.86 ERA and holding opponents to a .188 batting average.

With a crowded bullpen, Edwards will likely start the season with Triple-A, but will likely see some time with the Cubs again in 2016. He is #57 on the Top 100 Prospects list as well.

Next: No. 2 - OF Billy McKinney