Spring coaching usually marks the primary alternative to see a corporation’s rising expertise play alongside big-leaguers.
When the Chicago Cubs kick off spring coaching Wednesday, many of the key spots on the opening-day roster shall be in place. But prospects shall be among the many 72 gamers in major-league camp, and listed below are 4 particularly price watching.
OF Pete Crow-Armstrong
Crow-Armstrong earned a non-roster invitation coming off a robust 12 months between Low-A Myrtle Beach and High-A South Bend. The Cubs’ No. 1 prospect, who turns 21 subsequent month, shortly turned a standout within the minor-league system in his first full season.
“I don’t pay attention to it,” Crow-Armstrong mentioned final month about prospect rankings. “I don’t know when I get moved in the rankings. I don’t really care.”
Crow-Armstrong’s protection in middle discipline particularly bears watching throughout camp. His vary and nice capacity to learn the ball off the bat permits him to cowl lots of floor and make spectacular performs.
Offensively, the left-handed hitter confirmed a mixture of energy — 16 dwelling runs, 20 doubles and 10 triples in 101 video games — and getting on base at an environment friendly clip (.312 batting common and .376 on-base share).
“This offseason was about managing my reps. Don’t do too much,” Crow-Armstrong mentioned. ”The greatest factor is trying to find the consistency.”
OF Brennen Davis
The greatest query surrounding Davis coming into camp: Can he keep wholesome?
Back points value him many of the 2022 season, most notably vascular surgical procedure in his again that prompted him to overlook greater than three months. A stress response in his again ended his time on the Arizona Fall League after simply 5 video games.
Davis mentioned final month on the Cubs Convention he has centered on increase his physique and making a base that can maintain him via the season.
“It‘s just getting back to where I was and where I know I can be athletically and physically,” Davis mentioned.
Still one of many Cubs’ prime prospects, Davis, 23, wants to remain on the sector to get at-bats and expertise. Since 2019, he has performed in solely 153 video games with 630 plate appearances, slowed by the misplaced COVID season in 2020 and accidents.
If Davis can begin robust and keep on the sector, he might make his big-league debut this season, aided by already being on the 40-man roster.
RHP Ben Brown
The 23-year-old Brown reached Double A for the primary time in his skilled profession, making the soar after the Cubs acquired him in August from the Philadelphia Phillies. Brown, who went on the 40-man roster within the offseason to guard him from the Rule 5 draft, posted a 4.06 ERA in seven begins with the Tennessee Smokies, placing out 44 and strolling 13 in 31 innings.
Brown provides to the up-and-coming pitchers within the Cubs system. He’s ranked because the staff’s No. 6 prospect by Baseball America and No. 7 by MLB.com. He misplaced most of his 2019 season after Tommy John surgical procedure and didn’t get again right into a minor-league recreation till 2021 due to the canceled 2020 season.
Brown depends predominantly on a fastball, curveball, slider mixture, although he began throwing a changeup throughout bullpens between begins final 12 months.
“I do believe my stuff right now plays at the next level, but also I’m not looking to just skate by,” Brown instructed the Tribune in September. “I want to make sure I have the best opportunity to do as well as I’m capable of doing.”
OF Kevin Alcántara
The 6-foot-6 Alcántara shall be inconceivable to overlook on the sector. Beyond his measurement, Alcántara’s uncooked abilities and potential make him the Cubs’ No. 3 prospect behind Crow-Armstrong and Davis. Alcántara has labored to seek out extra consistency together with his swing whereas harnessing his body and energy.
“I’ve always thought that I have the physical ability and the tools with my swing and what I’m doing,” Alcántara mentioned final spring. “For me, the big thing is when I’m in the batter’s box making sure that mentally I’m in the right state and I’m following through on what I should do because I believe I have the talent to have the right swing.”
Being in a position to preserve his swing extra compact might result in huge numbers for the 20-year-old Alcántara, who produced a .273/.360/.451 slash line in 112 video games at Myrtle Beach final 12 months.
Other prospects to look at
- 1B Matt Mervis (non-roster invitee)
- RHP Ben Leeper (non-roster invitee)
- RHP Ryan Jensen
- C Miguel Amaya
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Source: www.bostonherald.com