Down on the Farm: AAA Iowa Cubs Hitters

As the Cubs struggle, there have been some bright young players bringing serious support to the Cubs roster. Starlin Castro, James Russell, Tyler Colvin and now Andrew Cashner have shown the recent trend in the Cubs organization.

I will break down the Cubs minor league teams by hitters and pitchers, based on who I feel, based on 2010 performance, could help the team, be it by their arrival in Chicago or as trade components. Starting it off in no particular order are my personal top five position players for the 2010 AAA Iowa Cubs.

SS-2B Darwin Barney

In his fourth season in the Cubs organization, 24-year-old Darwin Barney has already been to the NCAA World Series. Barney, who has mainly played shortstop with a little second base sprinkled in (with one cameo chance at third base in 2008 with AA Tennessee) is currently hitting .308 with the Iowa Cubs.

The 2007 fourth round pick out of Oregon State University has been mainly a singles hitter, with only 12 of his 62 hits going for extra bases. Also, his plate patience hasn't been phenomenal, at only .329. However, his solid bat control (he's only struck out 14 percent of his at bats this year) could be useful.

UTIL Matt Camp

Another fourth-year minor leaguer, Matt Camp has truly been a minor league utility man. He's played 127 games in center field, 101 at second base, 100 at shortstop, 43 at third base, 35 in right field and 32 in left field. At every position, he's looked good. Not a Gold Glove winner, but, solid defensively.

Camp is another low power guy, with his OBP currently higher than his SLG (.354 and .341, respectively). Camp's hitting .287 on the year, and has played five positions (2B, SS, 3B, LF, CF). Don't be surprised to see the 26-year-old up sometime soon in a super-utility role.

3B-1B Chad Tracy

Tracy was demoted earlier this year despite a .273 batting average. Since being sent to Iowa, he's hitting .424, and his OPS is 1.071.

Keep in mind that Aramis Ramirez is hitting .162 with a .496 OPS (Tracy in the show this year: .273 BA, .652 OPS). If Ramirez goes on the DL, my money's on Chad Tracy at third base.

1B-RF-LF Bryan LaHair

The 27-year-old LaHair spent part of 2008 up with the Mariners, hitting .250 with three homers and 10 RBI in 150 plate appearances over 45 games. Not bad for a 25-year-old 39th round draft pick. Since then, he's spent all his time at AAA, coming to the Cubs this season as a non-roster invitee in the spring.

LaHair's at .288/4/19 on the season for Iowa, playing mainly 1B and RF, with one game in left. However, he plays outfield and first base in an organization stacked with major-league caliber first basemen and outfielders.

OF Brad Snyder

Snyder was picked 18th overall by the Indians in the 2003 draft. He was ranked in Baseball America's Top 100 prospects twice (No. 84 in the pre-2005 edition, No. 71 in the pre-2006 edition). However, in his sixth year in the organization, Synder hit .246 in AAA, and the Indians decided to cut their losses.

The Cubs signed him, and he responded wonderfully, posting his best season in four years in 2009. This year, he's doing even better, currently at .305/7/30, and his OPS is at .961. However, he plays only outfield (primarily right and center field), so his chances aren't that great of playing with the Cubs. He's still having a solid season, and, at 28, it's what he needs to keep doing.