4 Chicago Cubs prospects who have been on a tear recently

This past week has been all over the place for the minor league squads of the Chicago Cubs. Despite the wins and losses, there has been a crop of young guys stepping up over the past week in a big way. Looking at each level, we have touched on some of these guys more than others. However, it is still essential to bring to light what is going on with our lower-level guys.

Of the names on this list, some are relatively close to reaching the majors. One guy, who is just 20 years old, has a ton of potential and provides more depth at a much-needed position. As I have discussed before, the Cubs have one of the more underrated farm systems in baseball.

They are not a top ten system in any regard. However, what they miss in flashy talent outside of their top names makes up for in depth.

Chicago Cubs: Tennessee – Grayson Byrd, 1B

We have not talked about Grayson Byrd much if all here, and he is someone who can be in line as a future option at first base in the post-Rizzo era, whenever that comes. Byrd was a 2019 draft pick, a mid-20th round selection out of the SEC, having spent his collegiate days at LSU and Clemson, two baseball powerhouses.

Byrd got some time in during the 2019 season, at rookie ball and Low-A. The pandemic wiped his 2020 season out, but now he is back in 2021, at Double-A, and is tearing it up for the Smokies. Over the past week, Byrd has slashed .296/.345/.407 with a 135 wRC+ over his past ten games. He has also worked an 11.1 percent walk rate.

Byrd’s father, Paul Byrd, enjoyed a successful 14-year major league career. He retired in 2009 with a career 4.41 ERA. The younger Byrd hopes to replicate that success in his career as he works his way up the ladder. So far, it’s wings up for the Smokies’ first baseman.

Chicago Cubs: South Bend – Tyler Durna, 1B

I wrote about Tyler Durna a couple of years back as a potential option who could one day take first base over. After a strong 2019 campaign, Durna has held his own in 2021 and currently holds a 114 wRC+ over his first 21 games. Durna finds himself on this list as, over the past week, the 24-year-old has slashed .381/.435/.571, posting a 1.006 OPS and a 181 wRC+.

He has managed a 14.8 percent walk rate to just an 11.4 percent strikeout rate and has just one game in the past ten days without a hit, including a pair of three and four-hit games. Durna carried South Bend on Sunday in a significant way, as he went 4-for-5 with a home run and three RBI.

Durna has time to continue to develop. The rest of this year at South Bend will be telling where he goes in the future, but there is a ton of potential for the first baseman, and the hope remains he will build on his streaks and find a level of consistency this year and beyond.

Chicago Cubs: Myrtle Beach – Pablo Aliendo, C

The last name on this list is a 20-year-old backstop who is now three seasons into his professional career. Pablo Aliendo  has vastly improved from his first year and even held his own as a 17-year-old after signing in 2018.

A few years later and Aliendo is at Myrtle Beach, slashing .294/.390/.353 with a 120 wRC+. Power, again, is not a concern as Aliendo is consistent with his ability to put the bat on the ball. Unfortunately, the biggest issue is the 33.9 percent strikeout rate, but that comes with increased levels of competition, and hopefully, he will work it out.

Aliendo has spent 92 2/3 innings behind the plate defensively but has also spent a bit of time at the hot corner and shortstop. Aliendo will continue to grow, and it remains to be seen what he will do in the future.

He has slashed an insane .579/.619/.684 over the past week and, in his past ten games, has hit .424/.500/.485 with a 183 wRC+. He strongly represents the depth of quiet talent in the organization and will be one to follow for the next few years into the mid-2020s.