Chicago Cubs third baseman David Bote (13) celebrates after hitting his grand slam to win the game in the bottom off the ninth inning against the Washington Nationals on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Ill. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – MAY 18: Justin Hanccock #54 of the Chicago Cubs pitches in the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on May 18, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Cubs won 8-1. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
While the Chicago Cubs certainly have one of the lower-rated farm systems in the game, there were still excellent performances across the system in 2018.
As part of our continuing coverage at Call to the Pen of the minor leagues, we will be covering each organization’s top players for 2018. The coverage will go in reverse order of record. Today, we will look at the Chicago Cubs.
We are going to review the system’s leaders for each organization statistically, then choose one hitter and one pitcher to honor for every team. This will be primarily based on statistical performance, though some “age relative to level” could come into play, so a very impressive season from a 28-year-old in AA will rank below a nearly as impressive season from a 20-year-old at the same level.
After we review each organization’s hitter and pitcher of the year, we will close out October with Call To The Pen’s Minor League team of the year. That will lead into November starting our team top 10 prospect lists. In other words, there will be plenty of minor league content on the way at CTTP, so keep coming back for more each day this offseason!!
Chicago Cubs minor leagues
The Chicago Cubs minor league system is truly torn down at this point and will likely rank as one of the 2-3 worst in all of baseball when rankings come out. The Cubs used their system to fuel a championship in 2016, and as flags fly forever, the condition of their farm system currently would be accepted by a Cubs fan anyday for that win.
However, after seeing their division catch up in a hurry over the last two seasons and even losing out on the NL Central division title in 2018, the Chicago Cubs may be pumping harder into that system to build it back up again to have those reinforcements in-house.
Before we offer up awards on the season, let’s take a look at the system’s statistical leaders:
Canadian Jared Young was originally drafted in the 15th round of the 2017 draft by the Chicago Cubs out of Old Dominion University. He originally played second base in his draft season, but he moved to primarily playing first base and left field in 2018 in his first full season in the Cubs system.
Young has a strong left-handed swing, capable of generating tremendous power, but also of above-average contact as well. Young is a quality athlete that could move quickly up the Cubs system and his positional versatility could make him quite valuable. He’ll most likely open 2019 in AA.
Runners-up
Rochest Cruz was a late signee by the Chicago Cubs and played his first full season in the Dominican Summer League in 2018 at 19. He had a tremendous line overall, hitting .302/.420/.404 with 56 stolen bases and a 43/29 BB/K ratio over 278 plate appearances. He will move stateside in 2019, and he could be pushed up the system quickly due to his age.
Outfielder Roberto Caro was signed out of the Dominican in 2011, and he spent three seasons in the DSL before coming stateside and just played his first year of full-season ball in 2017. Fighting off injury, he repeated A-ball levels in 2018, posting a .317/.420/.438 line in 82 games, stealing 36 bases. Caro was tried on the mound this season and tossed 3 scoreless appearances. At 25, he may have more of a future on the mound.
A 16th round selection out of Northeastern University in 2014 by the Chicago Cubs, Jason Vosler has shown plenty of power, but he’s struggled with contact over his minor league career. His 2018 season was no different, as he worked across AA and AAA, hitting .251/.330/.467, with 29 doubles and 23 home runs. The third baseman should open at AAA in 2019, but he could get a look or two at the big league level by the end of the season.
Chicago Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Year: Cory Abbott
Righty Cory Abbott was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2017 draft out of Loyola Marymount after throwing a perfect game in his draft season. Abbott did not show well in his draft season, showing wear from his collegiate season, so the Chicago Cubs were cautious with his innings in the 2018 season.
Abbott worked on his slider before his final year of college and developed a hard, biting slider that is near the same velocity as his low-90s fastball, working in the upper-80s. Abbott worked on his change coming into 2018 and throughout the season, and that improved third pitch could give him a solid chance as a mid-rotation starter. He will open 2019 in AA and work to build his innings.
Drafted in the 9th round by the Chicago Cubs in 2016 out of Dartmouth, 6’6″ righty Duncan Robinson has been leaning on his hard stuff low in the zone during his career thus far. His strikeout rate isn’t great, but he’s been able to handle heavy innings and could be a backend starter quickly, likely opening in Iowa in 2019. He combined in AA and AAA in 2018 for a 3.11 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and a 24/119 BB/K ratio over 141 2/3 innings.
The Chicago Cubs drafted Matt Swarmer in the 19th round in 2016 out of small Kutztown University. He struggled in 2017, but earned his way into a full-time starting gig by the end of the season. He spent the whole 2018 season in the rotation between high-A and AA, tossing 128 2/3 innings, allowing a 3.22 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and a 21/135 BB/K ratio over the season. He could open 2019 in AAA.
A big, 6’5″ righty from California Baptist, Tyson Miller has moved step-by-step through the Chicago Cubs system, pitching in low-A in 2017 and high-A in 2018. He tossed 127 innings for Myrtle Beach with a 3.54 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and a 35/126 BB/K ratio. He will take that next step to AA in 2019.
Next. Indians minor league awards. dark
Though the Chicago Cubs do not have a great minor league system, do not underestimate the ability for the Cubs to find production from some of the less-heralded minor leaguers and work their way back to the top in 2019!
