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| Monday, February 5 | |||||
| Cubs minor-league report Special to ESPN.com | |||||
| System overview Is this really the Cubs' farm system? While the major-league team suffered through a miserable 2000 season, the minor-league organization made huge strides. Thanks to farm director Jim Hendry and other scouts and coaches brought in by the MacPhail regime, the Cubbies actually have a thriving farm system, which must now be considered one of the best in the game. Let's start with Corey Patterson and Hee Seop Choi, two of the absolute best prospects in baseball. I rank them No. 1 and No. 3 in all of baseball in the STATS Minor League Scouting Notebook (which should be hitting the shelves in a couple of weeks) Top 50 prospect list. Also available are Ross Gload, Julio Zuleta, Ryan Gripp, Bobby Hill, Eric Hinske and several others. They range from "contributor" types to possible future stars, but there are quite a few of them on the way up. I must also praise the Cubs for acquiring and promoting catcher Mike Mahoney, a childhood friend of mine, who would make a solid reserve catcher. Then there is the pitching. The Cubs have potential ace starters in Ben Christensen and Juan Cruz, plus several others with very live arms who could turn into special talents. The system could use a bit more depth underneath the top tier, but given their increased emphasis in Latin America, solid inroads in Asia, and newfound willingness to spend money in the draft, it's a good bet that depth will increase rather than retreat. Provided, of course, that the Cubs don't engage in more ill-advised prospect-for-veteran trades, such as the infamous 1998 Matt Karchner-for-Jon Garland transaction. Unless they find a way to mess it up, the Cubs have a great future ahead of them. Hang tight, Wrigleyville. 2000 Minor League W-L Percentage: .513 (12th overall) 2000 amateur draft The only good thing about being a lousy team is that you get to sign hot draft picks (if you have the budget). Picking third in '00, the Cubs grabbed Luis Montanez, a high school shortstop from Miami. Montanez hit .344 with power and speed in rookie ball; he can also field, and is basically an outstanding all-around prospect who could advance more quickly than people expect. In the second round, the Cubs picked Scott Boras Client (tm) Bobby Hill, who had been playing in the Atlantic League. He came to terms this fall, and scouts think he could be in the majors within a year. Hill is a prototype leadoff guy with lots of speed and lots of patience. He'll move to second base, considering that Montanez is clearly the shortstop of the future. Villanova lefty Aaron Krawiec, drafted in the third round, was impressive in the Northwest League, and adds immediate pitching depth from the left side. Fifth-round pick Gary Banks and sixth-round choice J.J. Johnson are high school infielders who also did well in their debuts, Johnson especially. There is no need to rush them, but both have a chance to be solid. Fourth-round choice Todd Wellemeyer, from a small college in Kentucky, hits 94 mph. Seventh-round pick Ryan Jorgensen, from LSU, is an excellent defensive catcher with a chance to hit. If this sounds like a good draft to you, you're right. It was probably one of the best efforts of the year. Top prospects 1) Corey Patterson, OF: People are disappointed that he didn't hit .378 with 87 homers and 234 steals. As it stands, he hit 22 homers in Double-A at age 20. He needs a year of Triple-A to hone his strike zone judgment, but I still think he's the best prospect in baseball. He won't dominate if they rush him to the majors this year. 2) Hee Seop Choi, 1B: Mark, who? Choi is a monster hitter, with tremendous power and patience. He's also pretty slick with the glove. His bat will be ready before Patterson's, but his overall ceiling isn't as high. 3) Ben Christensen, RHP: Ace-type stuff, with good control. Only worries are minor arm troubles, which are probably nothing to worry about unless you believe in hubris. 4) Juan Cruz, RHP: Pitched poorly in April, but something clicked in late May, and he was almost unhittable at times in the second half in Class A. Throws 95 mph with a nasty slider and good control. 5) Wilton Chavez, RHP: 1.69 ERA, 103 strikeouts in 90 innings in the Northwest League at age 19. Uses 92-mph fastball and fine breaking pitch. Others of note Ross Gload, 1B: Would make a fine platoon first baseman with Julio Zuleta until Choi is ready. Likely pushed to the bench by Matt Stairs, however, showing that the Cubs still don't quite trust their youngsters. Ryan Gripp, 3B: Hit .333 with 20 homers and good strike zone judgment in Midwest League. A bit old for the level, but I suspect he'll keep hitting. Bobby Hill, 2B: See draft commentary. Luis Montanez, SS: See draft commentary. Carlos Zambrano, RHP: Certainly has the stuff to be a top-notch closer (95-mph heater, decent slider), but he needs better control and consistency. Other names to know: Scott Chiasson, RHP; Jim Deschaine, SS; Nate Frese, SS; Jeff Goldbach, C; Eric Hinske, 3B; Gary Johnson, OF; David Kelton, 3B; Yoon-Min Kweon, C; Mike Mallory, OF; Mike Meyers, RHP; Joey Nation, LHP; Jorge Piedra, OF; Steve Smyth, LHP; Nate Teut, LHP; Mike Wuertz, RHP; Julio Zuleta, 1B. John Sickels is working on the STATS 2001 Minor League Scouting Notebook. You can e-mail your questions to him at JASickels@AOL.com. | ALSO SEE Hot Stove Heaters: Cubs ESPN.com's Hot Stove Heaters | ||||