Chicago Cubs: Working our way up the organizational top prospect rankings

In the first part of this mini-series we brought you a look into the back end of the Chicago Cubs’ top fifteen prospects. Diving further down the pipeline, it’s time to spring into the clubs’ top ten guys to watch for in 2020.

The back end of the top fifteen Chicago Cubs prospects included a bevy of up-and-coming young arms, which should excite fans. Now, getting into the meat and potatoes, the next group up include mainly position players, some who are already making an impact.

In a fascinating article by Ken Schultz over at Baseball Prospectus (subscription required), he examined the fall from grace Chicago has suffered since their World Series championship three short seasons ago. In reading that piece it became apparent the need for hitters became more important than a need for pitching.

Within the past couple of years, Theo Epstein and company have definitely shifted that focus. By doing so, it has led to the organization to adding offensive talent and thus focusing on the future with a majority of the current core hitting free agency within the next couple of years. That being said, let’s jump into this next group of hopeful major league talent.

Chicago Cubs: Nelson Maldonado, 1B

A much surprising choice to many fans, most likely, Nelson Maldonado flies in under-the-radar at number 10 overall in the pipeline heading into 2020. Not considered by any means as a top prospect, Maldonado has quietly torn it up in the system and its time to recognize its significance.

Maldonado is part of the newest draft class, selected in the 21st round by Chicago. Impressively, Maldonado has done a fantastic job of moving through the pipeline quickly and efficiently. In his first professional season alone, Maldonado made the leap from Rookie ball to Class-A South Bend.

His time at Rookie ball began his showcase of talent and what he can bring to the Cubs in the future. In 8 games, Maldonado slashed .278/.333/.500 with a .377 wOBA and 121 wRC+. Maldonado was keen at the plate, striking out just 15.4 percent of the time while simultaneously posting a .222 ISO.

Leaping to Class-A Short Season, Maldonado excelled. In 66 plate appearances, he slashed a ridiculous .414/.470/.534 with a 187 wRC+. The strikeouts were also cut down as Maldonado showed great patience in registering a higher walk rate.

Following another promotion to South Bend, Maldonado saw a significant sample size increase to his production. He slashed .313/.348/.409 in 141 plate appearances. The power was not so much displayed. However, Maldonado still managed a 118 wRC+. As a prospective first baseman of the future, it is exciting to see what Maldonado will do in 2020.

Chicago Cubs: Chase Strumpf, 2B

Rolling in at number nine is the Cubs’ 2019 second-round selection out of UCLA, Chase Strumpf. Strumpf is one of my favorite picks in recent years, and I do believe he will become something special at the big league level.

Strumpf began his professional career at Rookie ball. Playing only seven games before jumping up, the 21-year-old slashed .182/.406/.318 with an RBI and a 117 wRC+. While the average wasn’t there, other parts of his game did shine through positively.

Chicago then moved him from Rookie ball to Class-A Short Season Eugene. There, Strumpf played a majority of his games, registering 111 plate appearances. He turned that into a .292/.405/.449 slash line with two home runs and 14 RBI. Most notably, Strumpf improved his wRC+ up to 146.

Strumpf earned his way up to South Bend towards the end of the season. Unfortunately, Strumpf struggled out of the gate, slashing .125/.214/.292 in 28 plate appearances. Positively, his ISO did increase by a small margin, and his strikeout rate dropped a tiny bit.

While there is much more development ahead of Strumpf, what he showed in his first year at the professional level and what his potential brings leads him into the top ten of Cubs’ prospects. It’ll be exciting to see how Strumpf can improve and make an impact in 2020.

Chicago Cubs: Vimael Machin, 2B/3B

More infield depth and another surprising prospect is gracing this list. In at number seven is 26-year-old infielder Vimael Machin. Seemingly not well known by many fans, Machin has garnered great success throughout his minor league career.

A former 10th round selection by Chicago in 2015, Machin has worked his way to Triple-A and hopefully soon to the majors. Of many prospects who could legitimately contribute for the Cubs in 2020, Machin is one at the top of the list.

Last season between Double-A Tennessee and Iowa, Machin slashed .295/.390/.412 with a .802 OBP. While in Tennessee, Machin displayed some power, keeping his strikeouts down and posting an impressive 129 wRC+. At Iowa, Machin destroyed many of his offensive stats from the year previous, slashing .320/.452/.560 with a 144 wRC+.

Throughout the year, Machin was a guy I expected to be called up. Through the uncertainty with Addison Russell as well as the infield carousel, it was strange Machin never did get the call. Performing at the level he did, however, Machin should be seriously considered as a top prospect to make an impact for the Cubs in 2020.

Chicago Cubs: Cole Roederer, OF

To close the middle part of prospects who could make an impact in 2020 is 20-year-old Cole Roederer. Apart from a guy whose surname is fun to repeat, Roederer has impressed in his first couple of seasons of professional baseball.

The Cubs selected Roederer in the compensatory round of the 2018 Amateur draft. His first season began in Rookie ball as a teenager, where Roederer impressed. He slashed .275/.354/.465 with 13 stolen bases and posted a 129 wRC+.

This year, Roederer found his power game. He hit nine long balls at South Bend, stealing 16 bases and still managed a 101 wRC+. During a week-long stretch in August, Roederer slashed .375/.474/.594 with a 1.097 OPS and a .219 ISO.

For Roederer, the talent is there. There is still a ton of time to help him develop into a top-level talent, His production, even in small sample sizes, is something that should excite fans. Roederer could find himself in the top echelon of Cubs prospects in 2020 and also should make an impact next year once again.