Within a span of only several years, the Cubs have turned a putrid farm system into the finest in baseball. Even having graduated two of their “Big Four” to the big leagues, the farm is still loaded with potential difference makers, and is still likely the deepest that baseball has seen in some time. The Cubs system has been knocked for a lack of pitching in recent years, though they have acquired a wealth of pitching in recent drafts.
Cubs Farm System Becoming an Embarrassment of Riches
Recently Graduated: The first pick in Theo Epstein’s tenure as Cubs President of Baseball Operations, Javier Baez allowed his prodigious, Gary Sheffield-esque bat speed to carry him through the minor league system. Though he has recently struggled, this is nothing new to the middle infielder with light-tower power. He has struggled mightily at the start of every level, before figuring things out, flipping the switch and dominating. Jorge Soler made it to The Show recently, as well. Soler signed a nine-year, $30 million deal with the Cubs as an international free agent, and his minor league career made him look like a mistake. When the injuries weren’t taking away playing time, Soler was involved in scuffles that threw up red flags in terms of his character. One such incident came when he was seen swinging a bat at a player in an opposing dugout. In 2014, Soler has managed to put an end to all of those concerns, though, and played well enough in Triple-A Iowa to be promoted. He has been dominant ever since, notching five doubles and three home runs in his first nine games. Less talked about than either Baez or Soler, though, is Kyle Hendricks. Likely the Cubs’ biggest surprise thus far in ’14, Hendricks has six wins and a 2.02 ERA in his first 10 starts in the Majors. Numbers such as those are sensational for anyone, though they become even more surprising when they come from a player that few outside of the organization had ever heard of. Hendricks was always viewed as a fringe-type prospect, with a ceiling of a back-end starter. If his torrid start is any sign of things to come, he will factor into the long term plans in a big way.
On The Way: No other team in baseball can graduate two top tier players like the Cubs have done, and still have the farm system talent to remain a top end system, let alone the best overall. The Cubs have done exactly that, though, as they still have future All-Star caliber talent yet to make the trip north. Kris Bryant is becoming a household name without ever having a Major League at-bat, as he has dominated every level so far. Between two levels (Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa) Bryant has amassed 43 home runs, good enough for best in Minor League Baseball. Addison Russell, widely considered the best defensive player in MiLB, has launched 12 home runs and hit .294 since being acquired by the Cubs in a deal for pitcher Jeff Samardzija on July 4th. Recent top draft pick Kyle Schwarber has been successful early in his Cubs career, and should factor into their plans come 2016, and CJ Edwards, whom the Cubs acquired in the 2013 Matt Garza trade with the Rangers, has been electric, allowing hitters a .180 average against him at Double-A Tennessee.
2015 Breakout Player: With the unmatchable talent of the Cubs farm system, a number of players have flown under the radar and had success (see Hendricks). Jen-Ho Tseng, a pitcher at Single-A Kane County, is one that no one seems to talk about. Tseng signed as an undrafted free agent with the Cubs in July of 2013, and struggled initially. The Cubs had seen enough to make a deal, and though he struggled initially, Tseng has had a strong 2014 season with the Cougars (2.4 ERA, 85 strikeouts over 105 innings pitched). In the words of Jonathan Mayo, “…he’s pitching with a consistent 90-95 mph fastball. He also can get swings and misses with his curveball. Tseng has advanced feel for his changeup and for finding the strike zone with all three of his offerings”.
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