Chicago Cubs: After deadline moves, prospects are again the focus

Finally, the stress and anxiety over pondering the future of the core has come to a close. After Chicago traded away the stars that would brighten our nights, a darkness has been cast that now overshadows the future of Chicago Cubs baseball. Simultaneously, a sigh of relief can ensue as we can start to put the past behind us, breathing in new life as we look onward toward tomorrow.

Where do we sit after the trade deadline? Before we get into that, we all need to acknowledge this team was not World Series-caliber even with Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo Javier Baez and Craig Kimbrel. However surreal you find it, the reality is that the 11 1/2 game deficit the team currently faces in the NL Central was just too big of a hill to climb at this point in the season.

Regardless, when you have so many impending free agents that unfortunately haven’t led the team as envisioned, this is what happens. Jed Hoyer, as upset as we are, deserves a lot of credit for securing the level of talent we received for players that most likely wouldn’t be here next year anyway.

Take all the time you need as fans to get over what has happened in recent days. No one can fault you for “not wanting to hear it right now” but it needs to be said: The future is bright. If you are in search of optimism, look no further. The prospects the Cubs already had in the system have been making their presence felt, plus the numerous players we have just acquired via trade, provides a glaringly bright light at the end of the tunnel.

No one can be happy that KB, Rizzo and Javy are gone. The memories they gave us will never leave and I am thankful for the six greatest years in franchise history. As the dust starts to settle, let’s start looking ahead at this plethora of prospects we have obtained, in no particular order.

Chicago Cubs Prospects:  Outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong

Pete Crow-Armstrong is a phenomenal pickup for the Chicago Cubs moving forward.  Crow-Armstrong was drafted 19th overall in the first round of the 2020 draft right out of high school. Sliding himself into the #6 spot on the Cubs’ prospect rankings upon arrival, it’s easy to see why. He was off to a fantastic start this year in Low-A Southeast, slashing .417/.563/.500 in a small sample size of six games before a torn labrum in his shoulder required season-ending surgery.

When he returns next season, I’m willing to bet he will be in Double-A Tennessee before the year’s up. First round picks straight out of high school are first round picks for a reason; their ceiling is astronomically high. Once healthy it will be extremely exciting to see what this kid can do.

Chicago Cubs Prospects:  Pitcher Bailey Horn

The left-hander was taken in the fifth and final round of last summer’s shortened MLB draft by the White Sox following a standout season at Auburn. In 2020,  Horn put up a 3-1 record with a 2.08 ERA in 17 innings pitched with a remarkable 14 strikeouts per nine innings. Had he had a chance to showcase that more before the 2020 college season was cut short, he would most likely have been drafted higher with a longer run of consistency.

Moving on to Low-A ball with the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, the 23-year-old from Waco, TX continued to roll with a 1-2 record and 2.63 ERA over 27 1/3 frames across six games started and a pair of relief appearances, fanning 10.5 per nine. Moving up to High-A for the Winston-Salem Dash, he seems to have lost control a little, pitching to the tune of a 13.09 ERA in only six appearances, four of which were starts but maintaining a 10.6 strikeouts per nine mark.

The struggles have mainly come from a lack of control, walking a batter an inning – evidenced by a 2.091 WHIP in his time in High-A. Given the success he has shown in the past, he’s far from a lost cause. However, being 23 in High-A,, he will have to figure it out as quickly as possible if he wants to see big league action at a reasonable age. The potential, though, is very much there.

Chicago Cubs Prospects:  Infielder Nick Madrigal

Though not a prospect any longer as he had played in the big leagues all season for the crosstown rival Chicago White Sox, Nick Madrigal will still be an integral part of the lineup moving forward. Pairing Madrigal with Nico Hoerner will give Chicago a solid duo up the middle. Also bitten by the injury bug after tearing his hamstring, he too will miss the remainder of the year and come back to start at second base in 2022.

Since making his big league debut last year, he has slashed .317/.358/.406 in a grand total of 303 at-bats between two seasons. That is no small sample size anymore. Madrigal has great contact tools and puts the ball in play where it needs to go. Before being selected fourth overall in the 2018 MLB Draft, the former Oregon State Beaver batted .361/.422/.502 during his collegiate career.

Over time it would be nice to see either Hoerner or Madrigal slide into the leadoff spot as that is something the Cubs have truly been lacking since Dexter Fowler left. Having Madrigal moving forward will be a solid pick-up. With his high contact bat and given he won’t reach free agency until 2027, we can expect good things from our new team-friendly second baseman.

Chicago Cubs Prospects:  Pitcher Codi Heuer

Also part of the Craig Kimbrel deal is relief pitcher Codi Heuer. Heuer was drafted in the sixth round of the 2018 draft by the White Sox out of Wichita State. In his minor league career, the 25-year-old right-hander posted a 2.82 ERA with the High-A Winston-Salem Dash before putting up even better numbers, a 1.84 ERA in 29 1/3 innings with the Double-A Birmingham Barons.

In 2020 he was added to the big league roster, going straight to the Majors where he quickly made an impact.

Fast forward to 2021, he has struggled this year with a 5.12 ERA in 38 2/3 innings. That being said, it’s important to note his FIP only sits at 3.67, implying that some of the runs he has surrendered have been due to spotty luck. Looking back to his rookie season in 2020, his numbers were more to his potential.  He posted a 1.52 ERA in 23 2/3 frames.

I will not be paying attention to the current 5.12 as I have seen what Heuer can do and fully believe it is just a blemish on an otherwise remarkable start to a professional career. I’m very excited about the return for Craig Kimbrel.

Chicago Cubs Prospects: Alexander Vizcaino

Alexander Vizcaino came to the Cubs via the heartbreaking Anthony Rizzo trade with the New York Yankees, along with fellow prospect Kevin Alcantara.

At just 18 years old, the Yankees signed the international prospect back in 2016. Across five seasons between Rookie ball and High-A, Vizcaino has a career 4.95 ERA in a total of 265 1/3 innings pitched to go along with a 9.1 strikeouts per nine. He is another pitcher who you really want to see get his command down and learn to control his breaking pitches better.

He carries a plus fastball and plus change-up, both with a 65 grade on a 20-80 grading scale. Very promising in that department. His slider has lacked, although it’s shown some improvement as of late.

Vizcaino is a guy who, should he get his slider and control down, can definitely ascend the ranks of the minors as a starting pitcher with two great pitches and the makings of a third to keep hitters guessing. He’s already on Chicago’s 40-man and is the Cubs’ eighth-ranked prospect.

Chicago Cubs Prospects: Kevin Alcantara

Part two of the ever-so-devastating Rizzo trade comes an outfielder currently in Rookie ball in Kevin Alcantara. Between 2019 and 2021, his only two years in the minors, he has slashed .269/.325/.382. Though more importantly, it seems he is finding his stroke more this year and he is currently batting .360/.448/.520 in a small sample size of 25 at-bats.

Turning only 19 here in July, there isn’t much video on Alcantara. The .325 on base percentage is encouraging enough though again, in a small sample size of 203 total plate appearances. At 6’6″ and 188 pounds, Alcantara has a smaller frame than you would think. The power will increase over the years as he continues to find his swing. Alcantara has slid into the #11 prospect spot overall in the Cubs farm system.

Chicago Cubs Prospects: Bryce Ball

After recent events of dismantling the core, it all but seems forgotten that Joc Pederson was traded in the first of many moves for prospect Bryce Ball. In one season at Dallas Baptist University after transferring from North Iowa Area Community College, Ball slashed an encouraging .325/.443/.614 before being drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 24th round of the 2019 draft. In the Braves system, Ball put up an impressive .329/.395/.628 in 2019 between Rookie ball and Low-A.

Now in High-A in 2021, Ball has struggled thus far putting up .197/.342/.361 between the Rome Braves and South Bend Cubs. Looking at his numbers between college and his first year of pro ball, I wouldn’t judge him with his recent stats alone. We all know baseball is a game or readjustments and I am eager to see what the first baseman can put together here.

At 23 years old like Bailey Horn, he will have to put it together rather quickly. He will need to showcase that he can crush it in High-A because obviously, if he can’t here at 23, it will not be an optimistic situation moving forward.

Chicago Cubs Prospects: Anderson Espinoza

In the Jake Marisnick deal, the Chicago Cubs received Anderson Espinoza from the San Diego Padres organization. Espinoza was a top prospect for the San Diego Padres in 2016. Until 2021, he hadn’t pitched in a game since. What happened? Espinoza wound up having Tommy John surgery twice, in 2017 and 2019 and is thankfully ready to get back to action after a long hard road of recovery.

He is yet to return to form in 2021, posting a 5.02 ERA in 28 2/3 innings in High-A thus far. Back in 2015, Espinoza was absolutely lights out before getting traded to the Padres system from Boston. He owned a 1.23 ERA in 28 1/3 innings.

After a pair of Tommy Johns, it will be interesting to see what he can do now. At 23, his potential of the past is still there but he will need to piece it together soon. There is no doubt what he is capable of. The upside will be well worth the dealing of Marisnick should he return to form.

Chicago Cubs Prospects: Alexander Canario

In part of the last minute Kris Bryant deal, the Cubs received two promising prospects. First, in the form of Alexander Canario. The 6’1,” 21-year-old outfielder has secured a spot on the Cubs 40-man roster, sliding into the #7 spot upon arrival. He is currently slashing .235/.325/.433 in Low-A.

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Drafted internationally by the Giants in 2016, Canario put up a solid year in the Dominican Summer League hitting .294/.391/.464 in 235 at-bats. But it wasn’t until 2019 that this kid really showed what he could do – batting .318/.377/.623 with 16 homers and 54 RBI between multiple levels.

Though not off to the hottest start this season, his potential is very high and should he find his swing again, it won’t be long before he continues to move up.

Chicago Cubs Prospects: Caleb Kilian

Caleb Kilian comes to us as the second part of the Kris Bryant deal. The right-hander moves directly to Double-A with the Tennessee Smokies and is already the #16 prospect in the Cubs organization.

His repertoire consists of a fastball that he has recently added new life to, topping out at 98 MPH, a curveball, cutter and change-up. His fastball and curveball stand out the most. In college at Texas Tech he went a career 23-6 with a 3.61 ERA over three seasons before getting drafted in the eighth round of the 2019 Draft by the San Francisco Giants.

Off to a red-hot start in 2019 in the Arizona Fall League and in Low-A, Kilian posted a 0.00 ERA over 16 innings pitched. Unfortunately, that run would ultimately be stopped due to the season-shuttering pandemic in 2020. Now in Double-A in 2021, Kilian has posted a still well above average 3-2 with a 2.43 ERA in 63 frames. Prior, before the promotion to Double-A, Kilian went 3-0 with a 1.25 ERA in 21 23 innings of work for the Eugene Emeralds, San Francisco’s High-A West affiliate.

Looking at his numbers, these may be the most encouraging on this list. It would be nice to see the righty get promoted to at least Triple-A Iowa this season and find his way to the bigs in 2022.

This trade deadline was a fierce reminder of just how quickly things can change in the business that is baseball. Though Cubs fans are saddened by the moving on of their favorite players, you can find serenity in knowing there is light at the end of the tunnel.