Chicago Cubs: Checking in with the top prospects

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When it comes to the average age of the Chicago Cubs active roster, they find themselves middle of the road. Dissimilar to many other teams, a majority of the clubs “top prospects” are firmly entrenched as starters, and have been for awhile. That being said, its time to check in on the rest of the prospects.

Adbert Alzolay, RHP, No.1 overall

Alzolay is the top overall pitcher in the Cubs system. At just 23 years old, he has worked his way up to Triple-A, and could, in theory, find himself called up in September. First, however, Alzolay needs to see more consistency.

Last season at Double-A, Alzolay started seven games, posting a very respectable 3.03 ERA. His 3.82 xFIP was solid enough, and he also did not allow a single home run. Strangely enough, Alzolay did not record a single win in any start.

Now at Triple-A, Alzolay has made seven starts so far this season. Unfortunately, it has not gone as planned. He has pitched to a 5.03 ERA and a disastrous 5.75 xFIP. His strikeout rate is down significantly, and his walk rate is still an issue.

Over his last four starts, Alzolay is 0-3 with an 8.20 ERA. He has also given up three home runs in that span. His previous start, Alzolay pitched just five innings, giving up five earned runs and three walks. Since his excellent start against the Storm Chasers on the last day of April, Alzolay has failed to surpass five innings. Cubs fans will undoubtedly keep their eyes on Alzolay as he continues to progress and hope he can find his groove soon. His ETA is 2018

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Oscar De La Cruz, RHP, No.3 overall

As the former Cubs top overall prospect, De La Cruz has been working his way through the system, making his way to Double-A this season. De La Cruz has been in the Cubs system since signing as an international free agent back in 2012.

Like Alzolay, the Cubs hope, and expect De La Cruz to turn into a front of the rotation starting pitcher who will contribute for the next decade. Thus far, De La Cruz has been relatively up and down. This season at Double-A, De La Cruz is 4-5 with a 5.83 ERA.

Positively, De La Cruz’ strikeout percentage has increased, going from 20.3% last season at High A to 22.5% in 2018. Unfortunately, his walk percent has also seen a substantial increase, nearly doubling from 5.6% to 10%. It has also led to an increased WHIP.

De La Cruz is still young at just 23 years old and has not hit his stride. Over his last five starts for Tennessee, De La Cruz is 3-2 with a very respectable 3.67 ERA. He has also struck out 29 batters in a span of 27 innings.

While it will still be awhile until he makes his jump to the Show, De La Cruz is developing nicely into a guy who can hopefully become a staple in the Cubs rotation moving into the future. His ETA is 2019.

Alex Lange, RHP, No.5 overall

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It may be difficult to fully figure out Alex Lange as he has just twelve career games under his professional belt. However the Cubs first-round pick in last seasons amateur draft has been solid.

Drafted out of LSU, Lange is just 22 years old and shows signs as another excellent addition to the starting rotation a few years down the road. Currently, Lange is in High A, where he has made eight starts this season, pitching thus far to a 2-2 record with a 3.64 ERA.

Rewind to the previous season, Langes first year, where he started four games and finished with a 0-1 record and 4.82 ERA. What is great about the course of those starts for Lange was his strikeout percentage. He posted a 31.7% clip.

This season there have been positives for Lange. First and foremost, his ERA is down considerably, at 3.64 ERA. Langes xFIP has seen a slight uptick from 3.01 to 3.49, however still respectable. The downside is, and this is something to be expected, his strikeout rate is down exponentially to 21.6%, a drop-off of nearly 10%. Lange is walking fewer people, though, which is a positive.

The last two of his starts have been superb. Lange is 1-0 with a 0.82 ERA. In those two games and eleven innings, Lange has struck out twelve, walking only one batter. As Alex Lange continues to develop, Cubs fans can get excited about this guy and what his future brings to the organization. His scheduled ETA is 2019.

Aramis Ademan, SS, No.2 overall

First off, Ademan is very young. He is just 19 years old. Second, Ademan projects to be a terrific defensive shortstop who will hopefully become a staple at the position down the line for the Cubs.

The Cubs selected and signed Ademan in 2015 for $2 million, and according to Ben Badler of Baseball America, Ademan offers in as a future solid contributor. Cubs nation hopes this to be the case as well.

Working his way from Rookie ball from a couple of years ago, to High A, Ademan is slashing .240/.329/.328 with a respectable .311 wOBA. His wRC+, however, is an uninspiring 85. He also has 1 home run and 16 RBI.

Since his first season, two stats jump out: walk rate and strikeout rate. When Ademan first made his professional debut, he walked at a ridiculous 13.7% while striking out 11.3% of the time. As the competition has become stronger, Ademan’s walk percentage is down to 8.9%, and the strikeout rate sits at a ridiculous 26%.

Fans need to remember that Ademan is still a teenager so that it will be a few years of course before his MLB debut, yet should be a nice addition when the time comes. In his last game, Ademan went 3-3. In his last ten games, Ademan is at a more than respectable .290 average with just eight strikeouts in thirty-six at-bats. He also has two stolen bases as well.

Ademan is, as mentioned, a couple of years from making his jump, however, keep an eye out for him as he continues to progress. His scheduled ETA is 2020.

D.J. Wilson, OF, No.8 overall

Wilson feels like of the less talked about prospects in the Cubs organization. A fourth-round pick in 2015, Wilson is just 21 years old but does possess the skills to one day be a productive major leaguer.

Standing at just 5’8″, Wilson has surprising pop in his bat. His consistency has not shined through, however, as he has been pretty up and down since making his professional debut. So far in 2018, Wilson is slashing .244/.404/.317 without a home run or run batted in, in twelve games spanning fifty-three plate appearances.

A positive aspect of his game, however, has come with his wOBA and wRC+. Wilson currently has an impressive .358 wOBA and much respectable 116 wRC+.

Another note, Wilson is hitting .368 over his last 5 games, including four walks. The strikeouts are a concern, as he is striking out at a 30.2% rate, up from 25.6% last year. However, with the ever-increasing competition, this is to be expected. Whether or not Wilson can put it together is something entirely different. Wilson’s walks are also through the roof at 20.8%, meaning he is seeing more pitches as well as showing more patience.

The outfield is typically a depth-heavy position. Before making that jump, Wilson must find more consistency. Thankfully, he has plenty of time to do it. It would be surprising, to say the least, if Cubs fans saw Wilson up before his 2020 ETA.

Miguel Amaya, C/1B, No.10 overall

Amaya rounds out the Cubs top ten prospects and is the final prospect to be discussed here. During the 2015-16 international prospect signing period, the Cubs signed Amaya for $1 million, from Panama.

At just 19 years old, Amaya can develop into something special in the future. The Cubs are stock full of catching prospects, it seems, and of course, Contreras will be the starter for the future. That being said, a few years down the road, it would not be a big surprise to see Amaya as a reliable major league producer.

According to his scouting report, Amaya has above receiving and framing skills for his age. Amaya also threw out 41% of baserunners in the NWL.

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The teenager is having a nice season so far at High A, slashing .272/.349/.476 with 6 HR and 20 RBI. Amaya has also posted a .372 wOBA and 127 wRC+, both excellent for his age. Over his last ten games, Amaya is batting .324 with 1 HR and 4 RBI.

Cubs fans should get excited about Amaya as his ETA is 2021. If Amaya can put it together, and he is indeed on that path, he will be a great piece for many years to come.

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