Chicago Cubs: How well is pitching prospect Alex Lange settling in?

We’ve witnessed some great prospects emerge from the Chicago Cubs’ farm system over the years. Who could be part of the next group to follow footsteps of those who came before?

One thing I love about baseball is the minor league circuit. A place where young hopefuls or struggling veterans can make adjustments and prepare themselves for the big leagues. Who within the Chicago Cubs’ system could be their next big thing?

Dating back to the arrival of Starlin Castro and first baseman Anthony Rizzo, things have been quite exciting on the North Side. Guys such as Kyle Schwarber, Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, Darwin Barney, Kyle Hendricks, C.J. Edwards, Ian Happ, Albert Almora Jr., Addison Russell, and Jorge Soler graced us with their talents.

And think about this, most of the names listed above are now World Series champions. Not only champions but have proved to be some of the most dangerous players’ in the game.

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You’d have to excuse me if I allowed a couple of names to slip my mind. It has been wild with all the headlines and debuts; it’s nearly a workout in order to keep up with everything.

Now, with most of Chicago’s top hitting prospects already on the big league roster, the future caters to the mound. Let’s face it; homegrown pitching feels amazing when it begins to piece itself together.

Tiger settling in with Cubs

For instance, take 2017 first round draft pick, Alex Lange for example. Lange, 22-years-old, was Chicago’s 30th pick in last years selection. The hard-throwing right-hander also appeared in the College World Series shortly after.

Entering the season as the No. 5 ranked prospect, his curveball was graded a 65 — which is above average. I was able to watch his start against FSU 2017 where I noticed several first-pitch changeups.

Now, this year, Lange is slowly beginning to find his footing with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Chicago’s Class-A Advanced affiliate. In two starts this season, Alex has surrendered three earned runs on eight hits across nine innings of work.

One stat that stands out when looking at his brief time as a pro ball player is his K/BB ratio which stands at 21/8 dating back to his time with the Eugene Emeralds. Oh, and he has yet to allow an opposing hitter to go yard.

Timetable and placement?

There is no clear timetable on when he could be called up to the show. As of right now, the Chicago Cubs appear to be set with their rotation for the next several years. Depending on how well Tyler Chatwood works out or when Jon Lester decides to call it, Lange has plenty of time to develop.

Next: Russell is what he is - nothing more

However, when it is, indeed, his time, he’ll serve as a solid follow-up for Hendricks, Yu Darvish, and Jose Quintana. Can’t wait to watch him grow as a talent and human being.