Stock Up, Stock Down for Chicago Cubs' Top 10 Prospects in Week 21

The month of September means roster expansion and minor league call-ups across the league. While many of the Cubs top prospects are still in the low minors, we could see at least a few top guys make their debuts next month.

Shortstop Javier Baez is a long shot to be among them, but he's turned in a phenomenal season that could end in Minor League Player of the Year honors when all is said and done. Though, George Springer of the Astros still looks like the front-runner for that award at this point.

Baez is not the only Cubs farmhand having a solid year either, and here is an updated look at how each of the team's top 10 active prospects performed last week and whether their stock is up or down.

Top prospect rankings according to MLB.com Prospect Watch.

*No. 3 prospect RF Jorge Soler (fractured left shin) is currently sidelined and will not be included until he's active. He was hitting .281/.343/.467 with eight homers and 35 RBI at the time of the injury.

*No. 6 prospect SP Arodys Vizcaino (recovering from Tommy John surgery) is currently sidelined and will not be included until he's active.

*No. 9 prospect OF Junior Lake was recently called up to the majors, so he will no longer be included here. He was hitting .295/.341/.462 with four home runs and 18 RBI at the time of the call-up.

*No. 13 prospect CF Brett Jackson was demoted to Double-A upon returning from a strained quad and is hitting .218/.295/.341 with 90 strikeouts in 252 at-bats. He won't be included until he at least returns to Triple-A, as it's safe to assume his stock is down after being demoted.

No. 14 Prospect: 3B Christian Villanueva, Double-A Tennessee

2013 Stats

.259/.316/.454, 39 2B, 2 3B, 16 HR, 66 RBI, 56 R

 

Overview

Acquired from the Rangers in the Ryan Dempster trade last July, Christian Villanueva should get a crack at a September call-up as a member of the 40-man roster, and he could be auditioning for the 2014 third base job in the process.

His long-term spot with the team is a question with this year's top pick Kris Bryant and deadline pickup Mike Olt also at third base. Sliding the 22-year-old over to second base at some point could be an option, but first he'll have to prove his extra-base power plays at the big league level.

 

Last Week's Stats

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

 

Stock

Down

No. 12 Prospect: SP C.J. Edwards, High-A Daytona

2013 Stats

18 GS, 8-2, 1.83 ERA, 34 BB, 122 K, 93.1 IP at Low-A Hickory

5 GS, 0-0, 1.45 ERA, 6 BB, 28 K, 18.2 IP at High-A Daytona

 

Overview

A 48th-round pick in the 2011 draft, C.J. Edwards has seen his stock sky-rocket this season. He was picked up from the Rangers in the Matt Garza deal, and looks as though he may wind up being the best piece they acquired in that move.

They won't rush the 21-year-old, and he hasn't thrown more than five innings in a game for High-A Daytona since being acquired. However, it's hard to ignore his 1.45 ERA and 13.5 K/9 since joining the Cubs, even if it is over juts 18.2 innings of work. He'll likely get a chance to open next season in Double-A, and could be a part of the Cubs rotation by 2015.

 

Last Week's Stats

1 GS, 4 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 8 K, ND

 

Stock

Up

No. 11 Prospect: 1B Dan Vogelbach, High-A Daytona

2013 Stats

.284/.364/.450, 21 2B, 17 HR, 71 RBI, 55 R at Low-A Kane County

.286/.432/.486, 1 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 9 R at High-A Daytona (Promoted on August 13)

 

Overview

Bumped up to High-A two weeks ago after a solid campaign for Low-A Kane County, Dan Vogelbach continues to display some of the best raw power in all of the minors. It looks like he should be able to hit for a solid average and get on base at a good clip as well.

With Anthony Rizzo blocking him at first base long-term, he may wind up as a trade chip before he ever reaches Chicago, but he's a nice piece to have in the system regardless.

 

Last Week's Stats

2-for-8, 1 RBI, 2 R

 

Stock

Even

No. 10 Prospect: CF Matt Szczur, Double-A Tennessee

2013 Stats

.278/.347/.368, 27 2B, 4 3B, 3 HR, 41 RBI, 72 R, 21 SB

 

Overview

It's been another solid step forward for the athletic Matt Szczur this season, as the former two-sport star has come a long way since being taken in the fifth round of the 2010 draft.

With David DeJesus traded, Brian Bogusevic is seeing the bulk of the playing time in center field right now, but the team could give Szczur a chance at some significant at-bats down the stretch if he winds up called up when rosters expand.

 

Last Week's Stats

6-for-25, 4 2B, 6 R

 

Stock

Even

No. 8 Prospect: 2B/SS Arismendy Alcantara, Double-A Tennessee

2013 Stats

.269/.350/.443, 34 2B, 3 3B, 14 HR, 66 RBI, 62 R, 30 SB

 

Overview

The most pleasant surprise of any Cubs' prospect this season, Arismendy Alcantara has shown a great mix of power and speed this year in his first action at the Double-A level.

He may not earn a call-up this September, but he could get a long look next spring for a shot at the everyday second base job. Offensively-challenged second baseman Darwin Barney may find it more difficult to hold onto his job next year.

 

Last Week's Stats

7-for-23, 4 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 4 R, 3 SB

 

Stock

Up

No. 7 Prospect: SP Pierce Johnson, High-A Daytona

2013 Stats

13 GS, 5-5, 3.10 ERA, 22 BB, 74 K, 69.2 IP at Low-A Kane County

9 G, 7 GS, 6-1, 2.36 ERA, 21 BB, 47 K, 45.2 IP at High-A Daytona (Promoted on June 20)

 

Overview

The Cubs chose Pierce Johnson with the No. 43 pick in last year's draft, and he immediately became one of the top arms in a system thin on pitching talent. He's continued to boost his stock this season, and while his ceiling may be as a middle-of-the-rotation arm, he looks like a safe bet to make a big league contribution.

Weather limited the Daytona team to just three games last week, so Johnson did not wind up taking the hill, and he'll make his next start on Monday night against the Dunedin Blue Jays.

 

Last Week's Stats

Did Not Pitch

 

Stock

Even

No. 5 Prospect: 3B Mike Olt, Triple-A Iowa

2013 Stats

.333/.333/.750, 2 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R at Double-A Frisco

.213/.317/.422, 15 2B, 11 HR, 32 RBI, 37 R at Triple-A Round Rock 

.156/.227/.284, 3 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 10 R at Triple-A Iowa

 

Overview

Acquired from the Rangers in the Matt Garza trade, Mike Olt put up fantastic numbers last season, posting a .977 OPS with 28 home runs and 82 RBI in Double-A before earning a late-season call-up. However, the 24-year-old slugger has struggled mightily this season.

By all accounts, last week was the best of Olt's short time with the Cubs so far. If he can build off of that with another strong performance this week, a September call-up is a very likely possibility.

 

Last Week's Stats

7-for-22, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 3 R

 

Stock

Up

No. 4 Prospect: 3B Kris Bryant, High-A Daytona

2013 Stats

.167/.143/.333, 1 2B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 R at AZL Cubs

.354/.416/.692, 8 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 16 RBI, 13 R at short-season Boise

.368/.400/.684, 3 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 6 R at High-A Daytona (Promoted on August 12)

 

Overview

Taken with the No. 2 pick in this year's draft, Kris Bryant hit .329/.493/.820 with an NCAA-high 31 home runs and 62 RBI in 62 games at the University of San Diego this year.

He's moved quickly since signing, and he may get an opportunity to open next season at the Double-A level. That could set up a late-2014 debut and position him for an everyday job hitting in the middle of the Cubs lineup by 2015.

 

Last Week's Stats

5-for-13, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 2 R

 

Stock 

Even

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

2013 Stats

.329/.376/.466, 17 2B, 4 3B, 3 HR, 23 RBI, 39 R

 

Overview

Ranked as the No. 16 prospect in the game in Baseball America's Midseason Top 50 list, Albert Almora has dealt with some injuries this season, but he's shown why he was thought so highly of entering last year's draft.

A groin injury has sidelined him since August 4, and the team could very well opt to just shut him down for the season rather than risk further injury. Regardless, his development likely won't be all that effected. He could play in the Arizona Fall League to make up for lost at-bats.

 

Last Week's Stats

Did Not Play (groin injury)

 

Stock

Even

No. 1 Prospect: SS Javier Baez, Double-a Tennessee

2013 Stats

.274/.338/.535, 19 2B, 4 3B, 17 HR, 57 RBI, 59 R, 12 SB at High-A Daytona

.302/.357/.641, 14 2B, 0 3B, 17 HR, 44 RBI, 33 R, 8 SB at Double-A Tennessee (Promoted on July 6)

 

Overview

The Cubs likely won't call up Javier Baez this September, but that's more a result of them not wanting to start his service clock rather than him not being deserving.

The 20-year-old has hit a combined .285/.346/.576 with 34 home runs, 101 RBI and 20 steals between High-A and Double-A. His approach still needs refining, evidenced by his 138/38 K/BB ratio, but there is no reason to think he'll be anything but a superstar in the middle of the Cubs order for years to come.

 

Last Week's Stats

11-for-28, 2 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 4 R

 

Stock

Up