Stock Up, Stock Down for Chicago Cubs' Top 10 Prospects for Week 8

After a solid 13-12 stretch pulled them out of the NL Central cellar two weeks ago, the Cubs scuffled again this past week with a 1-5 record. They now trail the Brewers by half a game for fourth place and are 19-30 overall.

While it was a poor week in Chicago, it was another positive one across the minor league ranks—especially at Low-A Kane County, where last year's top pick, Albert Almora, made his 2013 debut after battling a broke hamate bone this spring.

Here is an updated look at how the team's top prospects, including Almora, performed in the past week and whether their stock is trending up or down.

Note: Top Prospects According to Baseball America Prospect Handbook

*No. 4 prospect SP Arodys Vizcaino (Tommy John surgery recovery) is currently sidelined and will not be included until he's active.

*No. 9 prospect RP Kyuji Fujikawa is not included since he is currently playing at the major league level.

*No. 11 prospect SP Juan Carlos Paniagua is currently dealing with visa issues, according to Baseball America, and will not be included until he is stateside and playing.

No. 13 Prospect: SP Alberto Cabrera, Double-A Tennessee

2013 Stats

10 GS, 4-2, 3.92 ERA, 22 BB, 59 K, 59.2 IP

Overview

A reliever who made 25 appearances out of the bullpen in Chicago last season, Alberto Cabrera was shipped to Double-A to start the season to be stretched out as a starter.

He made two starts last week, allowing five hits and two runs over seven innings on Monday for the win, then giving up six hits and four earned runs in six innings on Saturday to take the loss.

Last Week's Stats

2 GS, 1-1, 4.15 ERA, 5 BB, 13 K, 13 IP

Stock

Up

No. 12 Prospect: 3B Christian Villanueva, Double-A Tennessee

2013 Stats

.247/.311/.392, 15 2B, 3 HR, 25 RBI, 16 R

Overview

The No. 100 prospect on the Baseball America preseason top 100 list entering last season, Christian Villanueva was acquired in the deal that sent Ryan Dempster to the Rangers at the deadline.

All told, he hit .279/.353/.427 between the two teams' High-A affiliates last season, with 24 doubles and 14 home runs. He's off to a slow start so far this year at Double-A, but if he turns it on, he could set himself up for a late-season audition in Chicago.

Last Week's Stats

5-for-26, 2 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R

Stock

Even

No. 10 Prospect SS Arismendy Alcantara, Double-A Tennessee

2013 Stats

.271/.338/.452, 11 2B, 7 HR, 25 RBI, 24 R, 14 SB

Overview

Signed as a 17-year-old out of the Dominican Republic, Arismendy Alcantara has improved each season as a pro. He hit .302 with seven home runs, 51 RBI and 25 steals in a full season at High-A last year.

Alcantara is hitting .382/.447/.824 with nine extra-base hits in 34 at-bats over his past 10 games, but he'll likely spend a full season in Double-A as he continues to develop his all-around game.

Last Week's Stats

8-for-22, 3 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 5 R, 1 SB

Stock

Up

No. 8 Prospect: 3B Jeimer Candelario, Single-A Kane County

2013 Stats

.254/.347/.364, 16 2B, 1 HR, 16 RBI, 24 R

Overview

Still just 19 years old, Jeimer Candelario is incredibly raw offensively, though he has shown good plate discipline and doubles power to this point in his pro career.

He could wind up at second base before all is said and done, but there's still a good amount of time before that decision needs to be made. Candelario is hitting .341 over his last 10 games, though he did close out the week 0-for-7 in his final two games.

Last Week's Stats

8-for-28, 1 2B, 6 RBI, 2 R

Stock

Even

No. 7 Prospect 1B Dan Vogelbach, Single-A Kane County

2013 Stats

.283/.351/.417, 10 2B, 5 HR, 30 RBI, 21 R

Overview

A second-round pick in 2011, Dan Vogelbach has been a force at the plate since the day he signed. And he has managed to quell any concerns about his weight to this point.

In 245 at-bats last season, he posted a 1.051 OPS with 21 doubles and 17 home runs, and he has some of the best raw power in all of the minor leagues. Vogelbach has gone homerless in his last 10 games and is hitting .279/.340/.372 over that span.

Last Week's Stats

9-for-31, 3 2B, 7 RBI, 5 R

Stock

Even

No. 6 Prospect: SP Pierce Johnson, Low-A Kane County

2013 Stats

9 GS, 3-3, 3.04 ERA, 14 BB, 53 K, 47.1 IP

Overview

Selected with the No. 43 pick in last year's draft, Pierce Johnson immediately became one of the Cubs' top pitching prospects upon signing. He's relatively polished and should wind up as a middle-of-the-rotation arm at worst.

The right-hander continues to dazzle after allowing six hits and five earned runs in 2.1 innings of work in his first start of the season. His ERA is an impressive 2.20 since then, with a 3-2 record and 9.8 K/9.

Last Week's Stats

1 GS, 6.2 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, W

Stock

Up

No. 5 Prospect: CF Brett Jackson, Triple-A Iowa

2013 Stats

.242/.324/.379, 5 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 14 R, 5 SB

Overview

The Cubs' top prospect entering last season, according to Baseball America, Brett Jackson has the tools to be a 20/20 player at the big league level.

However, an inability to make consistent contact has hampered his development, and he struck out a whopping 217 times in 527 at-bats last season. He's fanned 39 times in his first 124 at-bats so far this season, and until he shows signs of improvement, he's likely stuck in Triple-A.

Last Week's Stats

3-for-19, 1 3B, 2 R, 8 K

Stock

Down

No. 3 Prospect: RF Jorge Soler, High-A Daytona

2013 Stats

.298/.372/.523, 11 2B, 1 3B, 7 HR, 25 RBI, 29 R

Overview

The Cubs signed Jorge Soler to a nine-year, $30 million deal last June after he defected from Cuba. He has the tools to be a star in the middle of the order a few years from now.

Soler enters the week riding a modest seven-game hitting streak, and he is hitting .333/.409/.487 with eight RBI over his past 10 games. He has just one home run over that span, but there is no questioning his raw power as a 21-year-old.

Last Week's Stats

8-for-26, 2 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 4 R

Stock

Even

No. 2 Prospect: CF Albert Almora, Low-A Kane County

2013 Stats

.538/.586/.731, 5 2B, 4 RBI, 6 R

Overview

The Cubs' top pick, and the No. 6 selection overall last June, Albert Almora made his 2013 debut on May 22 after suffering a broken hamate bone this spring.

The 19-year-old hit .321/.331/.464 with 15 extra-base hits in 140 at-bats after signing last season, and given his wealth of experience for Team USA, he'll likely move faster than most high school prospects. If he keeps hitting like he did last week, he'll be in Daytona before the season is up.

Last Week's Stats

14-for-26, 5 2B, 4 RBI, 6 R

Stock

Up

No. 1 Prospect: SS Javier Baez, High-A Daytona

2013 Stats

.266/.305/.473, 12 2B, 4 3B, 6 HR, 25 RBI, 32 R

Overview

The No. 16 prospect in all of baseball entering the season, according to Baseball America, Javier Baez has terrific offensive potential thanks to some of the best bat speed in all of the minors.

He slowed down a few weeks ago after a hot start, but he is back hitting the ball well with a .366/.422/.512 line and five extra-base hits over his past 10 games. It remains to be seen how aggressively the Cubs will promote Baez this season, but the tools are certainly there.

Last Week's Stats

8-for-24, 3 2B, 2 RBI, 6 R

Stock

Up