Chicago Cubs: Checking in with the top prospects

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.