Chicago Cubs Prospects of the Week include a potential September call-up

Cubs A+ Hitter of the Week: SS Matt Shaw (21 Years Old)

.455/.455/.864 2 HR, 1 3B, 1 2B, 5 R, 6 RBI

This is the last week we can write about Matt Shaw tearing up High-A as he was just called up to AA. However, it can’t be overstated just how much he was tearing up High-A. Since being drafted, Shaw has hit .402/.450/.685 with as many extra-base hits (13) as strikeouts. He’s also stolen nine bases and walked at a decent clip.

Matt Shaw may not be Nolan Schanuel, but that’s not due to a talent discrepancy, it’s due to an organizational difference in mindset. If Matt Shaw found himself in the Los Angeles Angels organization I have no doubt that he’d already be with the major league club and he’d likely be an upgrade over what they're sending out in the infield. Luckily for the Cubs, he’s not with the Angels and much like Horton, he could find himself in Chicago before the end of next season at this rate. 

Cubs A+ Pitcher of the Week: RHP Yovanny Cruz (24 Years Old)

2 G, 3.1 IP, 2.70 ERA, 3 H, 2 BB, 1 R,  7 K

Yovanny Cruz was solid this week. The Cubs need as many bullpen pieces as they can get that miss bats and can turn in multiple performances per week and Cruz managed to do both of those things this week. He was second on the team in terms of strikeouts but he faced fewer batters than Connor Noland did and also gave up three fewer runs. 

There’s a little to be desired when it comes to Cruz’s frame at a reported 6’0 and 180 pounds, that being said there have been smaller pitchers to be successful in the big leagues. The biggest thing that he has going for him is that he’s now a full-time reliever. He’s played in 13 games this year and started zero. When the Cubs were using him as a starter his career ERA was 3.52 and this season he’s at 1.69. There might be something here for the middle innings moving forward.