Cubs: Prospects who you might not have heard of–but you will

The Chicago Cubs have a few prospects you haven’t heard in a while. I’m looking to change to that by looking at the bottom of the Top 30.

The Chicago Cubs at the bottom of the Top 30. I know that’s not a particular spot to scope out, but I’m ready for it. It’s a group of guys in ‘High-A’ ball or better that know how to play, according to scouts. But let us be clear. They haven’t made it yet. That’s why there at the bottom of the Top 30. But Eloy Jimenez, Dylan Cease and a few other guys made it to the top. Who else will make it?

So what are the parameters for the list? There is none. Lol. This was supplied by my ‘gut’ and nothing more. But I took the stats, data, etc. and looked at it and went from there. I also went with the outlook and seeing where they would be in one or two years. Now, COVID-19 could affect this. This is a pandemic, and I don’t know how it will go.

So let’s start off the list. The first one we have is the bottom of the Top 30.

No. 30 – Nelson Velazquez, Outfielder

Nelson Velazquez was declared ineligible for his senior season at Lake Worth High (Fla.) in 2017. So he moved back to native Puerto Rico, and he got noticed. The Cubs (Edward Guzman) with one of the few with a full-time scout on the island.

Guzman fell in love with him, signing for an over-slot of $400,000 in the fifth round. He toiled for a time in full-season ball. But he turned it around in 2018, although he missed two months to an oblique injury.

Velazquez had good speed when he came up. But filling out has it’s drawbacks, and now its an average runner, at best. He played all three outfield positions, spending the most time in right field. He has the physique to play the corner outfield positions, and he’s got the arm to match in right field.

Velazquez, a right-handed hitter, creates raw power to all fields. Plus, his combination of strength and bat speed provides excellent exit velocities. He won’t take advantage until he tones down on his aggressive approach. He didn’t swing for the fences, which made him stay behind the ball better.

No. 25 – Rafael Morel, Shortstop

After signing Christoper Morel in the 2015 Draft, the Cubs added his younger brother, fellow Dominican shortstop Rafael Morel in 2018. When Morel was an amateur, scouts ended up deciding if he’d end up at shortstop of center field. He will easily be in a utility role, as he has the tools to play anywhere on the diamond.

Morel has a sweet swing from the right side and makes solid contact. He also makes consistently hard contact and shows a propensity to lift the ball into the air.  He broke into the pros with a .821 OPS, 25 extra-base hits and 23 steals in 60 games in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League.

Speed-wise, he’s excellent. He has plus-speed to make him a threat on the bases. Whether or not he ‘fills out’ is to be determined.

No. 22 – Tyson Miller, RHP

The Cubs took 16 pitchers in their 18 picks in 2016. Tyson Miller went in the fourth round to become the first NCAA Division II selection that June, beating Trevor Oaks, out of Califonia Baptist. He had a great year in 2018, leading the Class-A Advanced League in strikeouts (126), average (.220) and a WHIP (1.09). He continued that in Double-A before getting hustled in Triple-A, allowing 7.58 ERA (July).

He’s had more progress with shelving his two-seam fastball the last two years in favor of the four-seam. He throws in the vicinity of 90-95 mph with high spin raters and natural cutting action. His mid-80s slider works well. But when both those pitches dropped, he got hammered.

He has a changeup–but only in theory. His control is better than his command, equaling more left-hander bats who don’t miss in the strike zone. His ability to maintain his stuff over time will find out if he’s a back-of-the-rotation guy or a reliever.

Chicago Cubs: There’s your four

There you have it. Four guys that will be on top after a few years, or gone by the wayside. Remember Jimenez. Please remember Jimenez. I’ll admit, with the coronavirus eating up the chunk of the season–or canceled–has MiLB teams holding their breath.

The decision will come in a few days. They either will cancel the season or give it the college try–meaning a shortened season. But the MiLB season ends before the MLB season. And the ‘call-ups’ that are supposed to happen would not.

The MiLB and MLB have some dirt to sort out.