Chicago Cubs Minors: Checking in with talent down on the farm

Oct 18, 2016; Mesa, AZ, USA; Mesa Solar Sox outfielder Eloy Jimenez of the Chicago Cubs reacts against the Scottsdale Scorpions during an Arizona Fall League game at Sloan Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2016; Mesa, AZ, USA; Mesa Solar Sox outfielder Eloy Jimenez of the Chicago Cubs reacts against the Scottsdale Scorpions during an Arizona Fall League game at Sloan Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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Feb 25, 2017; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs right fielder Eloy Jimenez (68) and Jhondaniel Medina (84) before a spring training game against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2017; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs right fielder Eloy Jimenez (68) and Jhondaniel Medina (84) before a spring training game against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Eloy Jimenez, OF

Outfielder Eloy Jimenez was ranked as the Cubs’ top prospect by mlbpipeline.com coming into the 2017 season. Despite beginning the campaign on the DL with a shoulder injury, Jimenez has jumped out to a nice start thus far.

In eight games for the Cubs’ Single-A Advanced affiliate, Jimenez is slashing .333/.438/.556 with two home runs and five RBI.

This quick start for the 20-year-old Jimenez could entice the Cubs to start gauging other team’s interest in the prospect. Even though Jimenez is ranked as the Cubs’ top talent, there may never be room for him at the major league level. With young guys like Kyle Schwarber, Albert Almora and Ian Happ already in the majors, the future of Jimenez in a Cubs’ uniform does not look promising.

If Jimenez can keep knocking the cover off the ball like he is doing now, expect his already high trade value to continue to climb. Expect the Cubs to potentially take advantage of that trade value this July.

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