Stock Up, Stock Down for Chicago Cubs' Top 10 Prospects for Week 3

With the Cubs off to a 5-12 start, it appears as though the Northsiders are in for another trying season. However, there is plenty of reason for optimism in the minor league system.

In the past year alone, the farm system has emerged as one of the best in the National League, and the team has a number of players who profile as future impact big leaguers.

Here is an updated look at how the team's top prospects are performing. Be sure to check back here each Monday for an updated stock report on the Cubs' top prospects.

Top prospects according to Baseball America.

*No. 2 prospect Albert Almora and No. 11 prospect Juan Carlos Paniagua will start their season in Short-Season Class-A Boise on June 17, so until then they won't be included.

*No. 4 prospect Arodys Vizcaino is recovering from Tommy John surgery, and will not be included until he returns.

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

No. 14 Prospect: CF Matt Szczur, Double-A Tennessee

2013 Stats

.299/.364/.433, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 17 R, 6 SB

Summary

A former football player at Villanova, Matt Szczur was a raw prospect when the Cubs drafted him in the fifth round of the 2010 draft.

He hit .267/.360/.390 with 42 steals between High-A and Double-A last season, and as the 23-year-old continues to refine his skills, he could very well play his way past Brett Jackson on the organizational depth chart in the very near future.

Last Week's Stats

9-for-28, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 9 R, 1 SB

Stock

Up

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

2013 Stats

4 GS, 2-1, 4.63 ERA, 8 BB, 20 K, 23.1 IP

Summary

A starter throughout his minor league career, the Cubs moved Alberto Cabrera to the bullpen at the start of last season. Aafter posting a 3.11 ERA with 12.1 K/9 over 36 appearances he earned a big league call-up.

He made 25 appearances in Chicago, posting a 5.40 ERA and 11.2 K/9 in 21.1 innings, and the team opted to move him back into the rotation in Double-A this year.

Last Week's Stats

2 GS, 1-0, 4.77 ERA, 6 BB, 6 K, 11.1 IP

Stock

Down

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

2013 Stats

.203/.288/.339, 5 2B, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 8 R

Summary

Acquired from the Rangers in the Ryan Dempster deal last July, Christian Villanueva was ranked as the No. 100 prospect in baseball last season, according to Baseball America.

The 22-year-old hit .279/.353/.427 with 14 home runs in High-A last season. He could get a shot at being the team's third baseman at some point next season if he can build off of last season's success.

Last Week's Stats

5-for-26, 3 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R

Stock

Up

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

2013 Stats

.275/.354/.420, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 10 R, 8 SB

Summary

Arismendy Alcantara has moved up a level each season since signing as a 17-year-old back in 2009. The 21-year-old has held his own so far in his first taste of Double-A.

He had a four-steal game last week, and he should bring a good power/speed mix once he's fully developed. However, as a shortstop, it remains to be seen where he fits into the team's long-term plans.

Last Week's Stats

8-for-27, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 4 R, 6 SB

Stock

Up

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

2013 Stats

.288/.377/.390, 6 2B, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 8 R

Summary

In his first year of full-season ball, Jeimer Candelario has already flashed an advanced approach at the plate with nine walks and eight strikeouts over his first 59 at-bats.

Much like Arismendy Alcantara, it remains to be seen where he fits into the team's long-term plans, as the infield situation is a crowded one, but he has the upside to be an impact everyday player and you can never have too many of those.

Last Week's Stats

7-for-23, 4 2B, 5 RBI, 2 R

Stock

Up

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

2013 Stats

.311/.362/.377, 1 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 8 R

Summary

With some of the best raw power in all of the minors, the 6'0", 250-pound Dan Vogelbach mashed 17 home runs with a 1.051 OPS over just 245 at-bats last season.

He had a solid week at the plate with four multi-hit games, but all of his hits were singles and he failed to drive in a run. That's being nitpicky, but power is his ticket to the big leagues and he needs to keep flashing it.

Last Week's Stats

8-for-22, 5 R

Stock

Even

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

2013 Stats

3 GS, 1-1, 5.11 ERA, 4 BB, 14 K, 12.1 IP

Summary

Taken with the No. 43 pick in last year's draft, Pierce Johnson may not have the upside of being a potential ace, but he has a relatively high floor and should settle in as a solid middle-of-the-rotation guy once he reaches the big leagues.

His last start was by far his best of the season so far, and if the 21-year-old can string together a few more starts like that, he could be in line for an early-season promotion, as he has a fairly polished arsenal of pitches.

Last Week's Stats

1 GS, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 BB, 6 K, 5 IP

Stock

Up

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

2013 Stats

.262/.354/.381, 1 2B, 2 3B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 5 R

Summary

The Cubs' first-round pick in the 2009 draft, Brett Jackson has flashed 20/20 potential throughout his minor league career, but he continues to struggle making consistent contact.

He was limited to just two games last week, but he still managed to strike out twice and he's fanned 15 times in his first 42 at-bats this season. It's still way too early to write him off, but something has to change if he's going to be an everyday big leaguer.

Last Week's Stats

2-for-4, 2 R

Stock

Even

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

2013 Stats

.378/.477/.622, 3 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 8 R

Summary

Signed to a nine-year, $30 million deal last summer after defecting from Cuba, Jorge Soler has the offensive upside to be a superstar once he reaches Chicago.

He played just four games last week, serving his five-game suspension for an altercation that ended in him approaching the other team's dugout wielding a bat. Hopefully, he can put that behind him and get back to what was a terrific start to the year.

Last Week's Stats

4-for-14, 2 2B, 2 R

Stock

Even

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

2013 Stats

.208/.231/.431, 3 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 11 R

Summary

The Cubs' top prospect and the No. 16 prospect in all of baseball according to Baseball America, Javier Baez has all of the tools to be a superstar in the middle of the Cubs lineup a few years from now.

He's managed to boost his average up a bit from his .190 mark of last season, and he homered in back-to-back games last week, as he's starting to settle in at Daytona. It will be interesting to see how aggressively the Cubs promote him if he does get hot.

Last Week's Stats

7-for-30, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 6 R

Stock

Up