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Chicago Cubs: Keeping track of the Cubs’ top prospects

By Corey Francis

Mar 26, 2017; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Jeimer Candelario (7) hits an RBI single against the San Diego Padres during the third inning at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2017; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Jeimer Candelario (7) hits an RBI single against the San Diego Padres during the third inning at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Minor League season is a month old, and many of the Chicago Cubs top prospects are performing well. Here is what you need to know.

The Chicago Cubs are flush with talent that we already know. Keeping that talent may be difficult with large contracts and the team’s need to improvement in a few areas. And while the trading deadline is two months away, eyes are on the team’s prospects.

We know that many of the prospects need work, hence the word “prospect.” As the season continues, talk will heat up regarding who the team will keep, call up, or allow other teams to snipe in a trade. With that in mind, let’s take a look at how the top 20 prospects in the Cubs’ system are performing this season.

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Top 20 Stats

Here is a look at the stats for the top 20 prospects.

  1. Eloy Jimenez: Has not played due to injury
  2. Ian Happ (AAA): .263/.336/.589, 9 HR, 23 RBI, 11 BB, 25 K
  3. Dylan Cease (A): 1-1, 6 games, 1.88 ERA, 28.2 IP, 16 BB, 43 K, .179 BAA, 1.15 WHIP
  4. Jeimer Candelario (AAA): .340/.443/.649, 4 HR, 22 RBI, 16 BB, 26 K
  5. Oscar De La Cruz (A): 2-2, 6 games, 3.68 ERA, 29.1 IP, 8 BB, 26 K, .293 BAA, 1.43 WHIP
  6. Mark Zagunis (AAA): .212/.380/.412, 5 HR, 18 RBI, 20 BB, 29 K
  7. Trevor Clifton (AA): 3-1, 6 games, 2.25 ERA, 32.0 IP, 11 BB, 28 K, .235 BAA, 1.22 WHIP
  8. Jose Albertos: Assigned to Arizona Fall League
  9. D.J. Wilson (A): .221/.295/.400, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 10 B, 41 K
  10. Eddy Martinez (A): .235/.299/.337, 3 HR, 16 RBI, 9 BB, 13 K
  11. Thomas Hatch (A): 0-3, 6 games, 4.85 ERA, 26.0 IP, 16 BB, 24 K, .245 BAA, 1.50 WHIP
  12.  Victor Caratini (AAA): .361/.397/.537, 3 HR, 24 RBI, 7 BB, 13 K
  13. Chesny Young (AAA): .273/.311/.306, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 7 BB, 20 K.
  14. Jose Paulino (A): 1-0, five games, 5.32 ERA, 23.2 IP, 11 BB, 16 K, .267 BAA, 1.48 WHIP
  15. Duane Underwood (AA): 2-1, 5 games, 3.96 ERA, 25.0 IP, 7 BB, 20 K, .245 BAA, 1.20 WHIP
  16. Aramis Ademan: Assigned to Dominican Summer League
  17. Carlos Sepulveda (A): .200/.280/.219, 0 HR, 7 RBI, 11 BB, 18 K
  18. Isaac Paderdes (A): .219/.281/.324. 1 HR, 11 RBI, 7 BB, 16 K
  19. Jose Rosario (AAA, on DL): 0-0, 6 games, 18.00 ERA, 4.0 IP, 7 BB, 1 K, .389 BAA, 3.50 WHIP
  20. Felix Pena (AAA): 0-0, 8 games, 1.86 ERA, 9.2 IP, 6 BB, 11 K, .212 BAA, 1.34 WHIP

Noteworthy items

When looking at the numbers, there are a few things that pop out. First of all, Triple-A Iowa has plenty of quality offense. 21 of the teams 29 home runs are held between Happ, Candelario, Zagunis, and Caratini. Both Candelario and Caratini are among the leaders of the Pacific Coast League in on-base percentage.

The overwhelming concern for the club is pitching, and it is showing in the minors. While the offense is performing above average, the pitching in Triple-A has the third lowest team ERA. Dylan Cease is showing well so far in Single-A, and Felix Pena and Duane Underwood are coming into their own.

Next: Team should give Floro a chance at starting

Don’t be shocked if Theo Epstein makes a move with some of these players to acquire pitching. With depth in the majors blocking several players, being trade bait is an option.

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