Chicago Cubs outfield prospect Eloy Jimenez made a big splash at the Future Stars game last season. What’s in store for 2017?
Player Profile
The Chicago Cubs signed Eloy Arturo (Solano) Jimenez as part of their big 2013 July 2nd international free agent class along with shortstop Gleyber Torres.
That pair of signings gave the Cubs the #1 and #2 rated players in that season’s class by Baseball America, a rare feat for a team to sign the top two players in the same class.
Jimenez made his professional debut with the Cubs’ Arizona Rookie League team in 2014. He hit .227/.268/.367 with 3 home runs and 3 stolen bases, posting a 6.1% walk rate and 19.51% strikeout rate.
The Cubs jumped Jimenez up to their short-season A-ball team in the Northwest League at Eugene in 2015. He hit .284/.328/.418 with 7 home runs and 3 stolen bases. He posted a 6% walk rate and a 17.2% strikeout rate.
2016 was Jiminez’s breakout season. He spent the entirety of the 2016 regular season with the Cubs’ low-A affiliate in the Midwest League at South Bend. He hit .329/.369/.532 with 14 home runs and 8 stolen bases. Jimenez also slapped 40 doubles and posted a 5.39% walk rate and 20.26% strikeout rate.
Jimenez played in the postseason with South Bend, but once South Bend was eliminated in the Midwest playoffs, he was promoted to high-A Myrtle Beach to help in their playoff run. Combined, he hit .273/.407/.273 with a 5/6 BB/K ratio in 6 games.
Jimenez played in the Arizona Fall League, with basically fellow former teammate Torres as the only player younger than Jimenez in the AFL. In 15 AFL games, Jimenez hit .255/.323/.491 with 3 home runs. He also posted a 6/11 BB/K ratio in 55 at bats.
After not being ranked nationally before the 2016 season by the major ranking websites, Jimenez got plenty of notice in rankings after the season, ranking #13 by MLB Pipeline, #14 by Baseball America, and #9 by Baseball Prospectus.
I had him ranked #6 here at Call To The Pen when I did my top 125 early in January.
Next: Jimenez's scouting report