Stock Up, Stock Down for Chicago Cubs Top 10 Prospects for Week 11

As the Cubs work on signing their 2013 draft picks, their minor league system will get a shot in the arm, especially on the pitching side of things after they took a number of college arms in the first two days of the draft.

The debut of University of San Diego third baseman Kris Bryant will no doubt be closely monitored by Cubs fans as well after he was taken with the No. 2 overall pick.

For now, however, the Cubs' top prospect list remains the same as it did entering the season. So here is a look at how the team's top 10 prospects fared over this past week of play.

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

13 GS, 5-3, 3.94 ERA, 29 BB, 75 K, 77.2 IP

Overview

Being stretched out to a starter in Double-A after pitching out of the Cubs' bullpen in the second half of last season, Alberto Cabrera has given plenty of reason for optimism so far this season and could get the call to Iowa in the near future.

After a terrific start to the season, Cabrera was shelled for 10 hits and five earned runs two starts ago. He responded with one of his better outings of the seasno last week, so it's good to see him handle adversity well.

Last Week's Stats

1 GS, 7 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 7 K, ND

Stock

Up

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

2013 Stats

.261/.330/.427, 20 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 32 RBI, 25 R

Overview

What the future holds for Christian Villanueva following the Cubs' selection of San Diego third baseman Kris Bryant with the No. 2 overall pick remains to be seen, but for now, he's as close to the majors as any third base prospect in the system.

His defense at the hot corner has been decent, but his power is down a bit after he hit 14 home runs in High-A last season. The tools are certainly still there though, and, all in all, the 21-year-old has been sold considering this is his first go-around at Double-A.

Last Week's Stats

7-for-20, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 R

Stock

Even

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

2013 Stats

.285/.364/.471, 16 2B, 1 3B, 9 HR, 32 RBI, 32 R, 17 SB

Overview

After hitting .302 in a full season at High-A last year, 21-year-old Arismendy Alcantara moved into the Cubs' top prospect picture for the first time this season. He was signed as a 17-year-old back in 2009and has worked his way through the Cubs' system a year at a time, improving every step of the way.

He has settled in nicely at the Double-A level, and given the fact that he plays a premium position and looks to have the tools to stick at shortstop long term, he could wind up being a terrific trade chip if he doesn't factor into the team's plans down the line.

Last Week's Stats

6-for-22, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R

Stock

Even

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

2013 Stats

.265/.347/.384, 20 2B, 3 HR, 24 RBI, 29 R

Overview

He still has a ways to go as far as his offensive development is concerned, but with an advanced idea of the strike zone, 19-year-old Jeimer Candelario has plenty of upside.

He snapped a nine-game hitting streak with an 0-for-4 game last Monday and went just 1-for-19 last week aside from a 3-for-5, two-double game on Tuesday. He'll no doubt continue to have ups and downs and will likely spend the full season in Low-A, but he could make major strides in the second half.

Last Week's Stats

4-for-24, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 1 R

Stock

Down

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

2013 Stats

.265/.338/.444, 13 2B, 11 HR, 45 RBI, 31 R

Overview

With 21 doubles and 17 home runs in 245 at-bats in his pro debut last season, Dan Vogelbach flashed the sort of raw power that made him a second-round pick in 2011 and has already made him a household name among Cubs fans.

Named as the starting DH in the Midwest League All-Star Game, Vogelbach has shown solid power again in his first full season at Low-A, with 13 doubles and 11 home runs in 257 at-bats. His raw offensive game still needs some refining, but he has continued to show why he's so highly regarded.

Last Week's Stats

3-for-22, 3 RBI

Stock

Down

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

2013 Stats

13 GS, 5-5, 3.10 ERA, 22 BB, 74 K, 69.2 IP

Overview

The No. 43 pick in last year's MLB draft, Pierce Johnson is the type of high-ceiling pitcher that the Cubs targeted aggressively in this year's draft.

The right-hander has been terrific this season aside from a few bumps in the road, and this past week, he followed a sub-par start (4.2 IP, 7 H, 5 ER) with one of his best starts of the season (7 IP, 4 H, 0 ER). There is still plenty to work to do for Johnson, but he could move quickly after this season.

Last Week's Stats

2 GS, 1-1, 11.2 IP, 11 H, 5 ER, 5 BB, 9 K

Stock

Even

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

2013 Stats

.229/.307/.378, 6 2B, 3 3B, 6 HR, 22 RBI, 24 R, 7 SB

Overview

The Cubs' top prospect entering last season, according to Baseball America, Brett Jackson is looking more and more like a bust each week. He struck out 217 times last season and has already fanned 70 times in 201 at-bats this season. 

He had a solid week two weeks ago, but regressed again this past week and struck out in over half of his at-bats. After getting a late-season taste of the big leagues last year, he looks like he's miles away from returning at this point.

Last Week's Stats

5-for-27, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, 14 K

Stock

Down

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

2013 Stats

.281/.343/.467, 13 2B, 1 3B, 8 HR, 35 RBI, 38 R

Overview

The Cubs gave Jorge Soler a nine-year, $30 million deal after he defected from Cuba last June. That could wind up being an absolute steal before all is said and done.

The outfielder was chosen as a starter in the Florida State League All-Star Game and could be in line for a call-up to Double-A before too long. His offensive skills make him a potential future superstar, so the Cubs will continue to aggressively move him through the system as long as he continues to hit.

Last Week's Stats

5-for-16, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 R

Stock

Even

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

2013 Stats

.402/.434/.543, 8 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 16 R

Overview

Taken with the No. 6 pick in last June's draft, Albert Almora was sidelined to start this season with a broken hamate bone, but he's quickly shown why he was so highly regarded in the early going this year.

He's piled up 18 hits over the past two weeks alone and has been on an absolute tear since his season started on May 22. He's still just 19 years old, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him move quickly given how polished he is.

Last Week's Stats

8-for-25, 2 2B, 1 3B, 3 RBI, 3 R

Stock

Even

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

2013 Stats

.280/.335/.548, 17 2B, 4 3B, 13 HR, 44 RBI, 45 R

Overview

The No. 16 prospect in all of baseball entering the season, according to Baseball America, Javier Baez was named to the Florida State League All-Star team as the starting shortstop. He was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles in the game.

Aside from playing in the All-Star Game, Baez also enjoyed a huge game last Monday, when he went 4-for-4 with four home runs and seven RBI. He'll likely see Double-A at some point this season, and that could set him up for a 2014 debut.

Last Week's Stats

4-for-15, 4 HR, 7 RBI, 4 R

Stock

Up