4. Jose Albertos, RHP
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 11/7/1998 (19)
2017 teams/levels played for: Arizona Rookie League Cubs, short-season A-ball Eugene Emeralds
2017 Stats: 10 GS, 43 IP, 3.14 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 9.3% BB, 26.2% K
Info: One of the most-awaited performances in 2017 in the Chicago Cubs minor league system was Albertos, who was originally signed out of Mexico in 2015 for $1.5 million but had struggled to get on the mound due to injury in 2016.
The best pitch in Albertos’ arsenal is a change that is an easy plus and could end up a double-plus
While he made just 10 starts, there was plenty of positive to take away from the season for Albertos. More than anything, he showed an easy, clean delivery and remained healthy all season, and that will be key moving to forward as this could be a very special arm.
Albertos worked at 93-94 in 2017, but his scouting reports were that he would sit mid-90s and bump triple digits. He may have been dialing back some to work on command/control, due to rust, or to try to play up his change even further, but he does have more in the tank, with excellent late life on the pitch.
The best pitch in Albertos’ arsenal is a change that is an easy plus and could end up a double-plus. He has some of the best arm deception of any pitcher in the minors on the pitch, and then the pitch has late life that typically mimics his fastball as well, giving him a true deception pitch. If there is an issue with the change, it’s over-reliance on the pitch, which could reduce its effectiveness in the long run if he’s not careful.
While his slider has excellent tilt and good fastball deception out of hand, Albertos needs to develop more trust in the pitch and, frankly, simply use it more. It has the chance to be a plus pitch in its own right.
With less than 50 professional innings in, the Chicago Cubs are going to be very careful with Albertos’ arm still. It would not surprise if he opened the season at extended spring, but he will likely be sent to low-A South Bend when he is sent out from camp.
3. Victor Caratini, C
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 8/17/1993 (24)
2017 teams/levels played for: AAA Iowa Cubs, MLB Chicago Cubs
2017 Stats: Minors: .342/.393/.558, 326 PA, 10 HR, 1 SB, 27/48 BB/K; Majors: .254/.333/.356, 66 PA, 1 HR, 4/13 BB/K
Info: Originally from Puerto Rico, Caratini was selected by the Braves out of Miami-Dade JuCo in the 2nd round in 2013. The Braves didn’t seem to know what to do with Caratini defensively, shifting him between third and catcher, but his bat always played.
The Chicago Cubs acquired Caratini in a 2014 deadline deal and they’ve primarily utilized him behind the plate or at first base when they want to keep his bat in the lineup, but because is athletic enough to do it, the team worked with Caratini at third base and the corner outfield positions to allow him to be more flexible at the big league level off the bench.
Defensively, Caratini’s arm is only average behind the plate, but he does show quality in his ability to block and is a quick study on framing and reportedly develops rapport quickly with his pitchers.
His skills behind the plate are not will make a major league career for Caratini, though wearing the tools of ignorance will certainly help. Caratini has a quick, powerful stroke from both sides of the plate that results in more gap power than home run power, but does barrel up plenty of balls.
The Chicago Cubs signed Chris Gimenez to a minor league deal, and he will likely get the backup role, but Caratini could end up on the bench as well with his ability to play other positions and switch-hit as well as offer a third catching option, the type of player Joe Maddon loves to have at his disposal.
Next: #1 and #2