Cubs Prospect Watch

[Trendy Bastard]

And apparently Latos was butthurt and beaned Bryant later on.

[Trendy Bastard]

How Baez has started his AAA campaign might be the most depressing thing about being a Cubs fan since 2009

[DMBZeppelin]

Midseason Top 50 Prospect Rankings

Baseball America

2. Kris Bryant (3B) - Power has been just as advertised, while his defense has been better than expected.

5. Addison Russell (SS) - Missed half the year with a hamstring problem; remains an elite all-around shortstop prospect with his new team

7. Javier Baez (SS) - Long-term potential is still as an elite regular, but he has to moderate his swing-from-the-heels approach.

33. Arismendy Alcantara (2B) - Hard not to like an athletic middle infielder who can play short in a pinch and has power and speed.

Baseball Prospectus

3. Kris Bryant (3B) - Bryant continues to launch home runs, rack up strikeouts, rake at an eye-popping clip, and show a discerning eye at the plate. Through 371 plate appearances between Double A and Triple A, Bryant is slashing .357/.453/.717 and finds himself knocking on Wrigley’s door. He has proven himself without question to be the loudest bat in the minors and a potential impact mainstay in the middle of the Cubs order for the foreseeable future. –Nick Faleris

5. Javier Baez (SS) - Baez has the best bat speed in the minors, and it’s not even close for me; a lethal weapon that could make him the premium power bat in the game. But his approach is below average, and he routinely puts himself in bad hitter’s counts and conditions. With more refinement, the ceiling is cathedral but the risk is still quite high despite the fact that the 21-year-old is more than holding his own at the Triple-A level. –Jason Parks

6. Addison Russell (SS) - From a skill-set perspective, Addison Russell has the most well-rounded profile at the shortstop position in the minors, with above-average chops in the field (including double-plus hands), and impact potential with both the hit and power tools. Russell has lost half a season to injury, but could challenge for the top spot in the minors with a strong second half. The ultimate upside is a perennial all-star at a premium spot, and the future could start as early as 2015. –Jason Parks

18. Arismendy Alcantara (2B) - I’ve always liked Alcantara, but I was too low on him coming into the season, despite a skill set that has three-way impact potential at the highest level (hit/glove/run). Now that the 22-year-old has taken his talents to Triple-A, and exceeded expectations at the plate and on base, the future first-division player has jumped the list and emerged as a top 20 prospect in the game. -Jason Parks

37. Albert Almora (OF) - Almora’s had a rough start to his season. His lack of production in half a season at High-A as a 20-year-old shouldn’t obfuscate the tools he still has. Almora makes loud, consistent contact and plays a very good center field due to his ability to make early reads off the bat. The baseball IQ is high and it helps the other tools play up. He’s not the sexy name in the Cubs system, but don’t forget about him. – Mauricio Rubio

Kyle Schwarber (C/OF, Cubs)
Where he fits: Somewhere after Hunter Renfroe (44th)
Schwarber was the most advanced collegiate bat in the draft class, with an ability to hit for plus in-game power without sacrificing average. He puts together professional at bats, shows well against top competition, and has a general knack for finding his pitch and driving it. At present he’s being permitted to feast upon heavily overmatched Low-A arms, and likely won’t face his first real professional challenge until Double-A (or perhaps the Arizona Fall League if he finds a spot on the taxi squad). The BP Prospect Team loves catchers, so his ranking on the Top 101 might be largely dictated by the position at which the Cubs elect to stick him. If it looks like he is destined for first base, he won’t debut on the Top 101 as high as organization mate Kris Bryant (17th last winter), but he could fit comfortably in the Top 60 or so with a solid 2014 pro showing.

[DMBZeppelin]

It's exciting to see the first of the big prospects tomorrow. Arismendy Alcantara is getting called up for two days while Barney is on paternity leave. I imagine if they can find a way to deal Barney before the deadline he'll be back up in no time.

Kyle Hendricks (acquired via the Dempster trade) will start tomorrow. He's a legit prospect as well, but doesn't have star potential.

[DMBZeppelin]

Oh and it should be pointed out Bryant has hit 30 homers in the minors (AA and AAA) this season. He may have a shot to get 50.

[Trendy Bastard]

Soler to AAA

Almora to AA

That puts Bryant, Baez, and Soler in the lineup. Possibly Manny too...

[Trendy Bastard]

Hendricks had a great start tonight.

[Trendy Bastard]

Baez has 3 HRs in 3 games!

Hendricks is still pitching well.