Today, we name a second baseman, shortstop and third baseman to the third annual Sports Bank Chicago Cubs’ minor-league All-Star team. Previously, we added pitchers and a catcher and first baseman to the squad.
Culling the ranks for a viable starting second baseman was not challenging.
- Chesny Young: A 14th round selection in the 2014 draft, the right-handed hitting Young, 22, had a brief stint with Low A South Bend before being promoted to High A Myrtle Beach.
In 130 games combined between the two levels, including 47 appearances at 2B, Young batted .320 in 574 plate appearances with 23 doubles, five triples, one homer, 44 RBI and 88 runs. His .321 average for Myrtle Beach earned Young the Carolina League batting title.
Young achieved the rare feat of walking more than he fanned (57 to 51), added 21 stolen bases in 29 attempts, produced a .778 OPS and, for Myrtle Beach, generated the sixth-highest WRC+ (133) among Carolina League qualifiers.
Though Young is not a switch-hitter like Ben Zobrist, his defensive versatility–he played multiple games at 1B, 3B, LF and RF in addition to 2B–resembles that of super-utility player currently of the Kansas City Royals but who wore many hats for Cubs’ manager Joe Maddon during their nine-year stint together with the Tampa Bay Rays. .
Two other Cubs farmhands merit Honorable mention at second-base.
2) PJ Higgins: A 12th round selection in the 2015 draft, Higgins, 22, split the season between the rookie and half-season A levels. In 36 games, including eleven at second base, Higgins amassed 148 plate appearances. The right-handed hitter, who also played shortstop and third base, averaged .299 with eight doubles, three triples, two homers and 15 RBI while producing a gaudy OPS of .797. His WRS+ for Eugene of the Northwest League was also a solid 118.
3) Arismendy Alcantara: The switch-hitting Alcantara, 23, was demoted to AAA Iowa on April 21 after playing 81 games and batting a paltry .194 and producing a meager .594 OPS bridging the end of last and the beginning of this season.
While the former top prospect struggled at Iowa, hitting .231 with a .683 OPS in 499 plate appearances and fanning an obscene 125 times, he deserves credit for notching double digit doubles (20), triples (10), homers (12) and stolen bases (16). Alcantara, who appeared in 120 games, including 74 at second base, could be in jeopardy of being designated for assignment (if he is not traded) to make room on the 40-man roster for a Rule 5 eligible player.
Choosing a shortstop was very difficult. We debated between a player, Javier Baez, whose production was other-worldly but who was limited to 70 games at AAA Iowa, and a less-productive but still impressive player, Gleyber Torres, who competed wire to wire. Ultimately we decided that completing the grind of a full season earned Torres the starting nod.
- Gleyber Torres: Signed as one of the top International players in the summer of 2013, the right-handed hitting Torres is now the top ranked prospect in the Cubs’ system, according to MLB.com. The native of Venezuela spent the vast majority of the season with Low A South Bend before being promoted to Myrtle Beach, for whom he is competing in the Carolina League Championship series.
In 199 games for South Bend, including 118 at shortstop, Torres accumulated 514 plate appearances. He batted .293 (tied for sixth in the Midwest League) along with 24 doubles, five triples, three homers and 62 RBI (sixth best). His OPS of .739 and WRC+ of 116 were both solid. And he played the entire season at the age of 18.
2) Javier Baez: The first round pick in the 2011 draft deserves Honorable mention. The 22-year-old, right-handed hitting slugger has dealt with withering adversity over the last calendar year.
Baez, 22, scuffled terribly after being called up by the Cubs last season, batting .169 and striking out an astonishing 95 times in 229 plate appearances. Baez did not make the Cubs roster out of Spring Training and was demoted to AAA Iowa. Just days into the season, Baez took a several-week leave-of-absence following the tragic death of his younger sister to spina bifida. Then just games into his return, he missed several more weeks with a hand injury.
Nevertheless, Baez put together a monster season for Iowa over 70 games, including 40 at shortstop. In 281 plate appearances, the right-handed hitting slugger batted .324 with a robust OPS of .911 and exceptional WRC+ of 144. He belted 13 homers, 14 doubles and two triples, accumulated 61 RBI, scored 49 runs and stole 17 bases in 20 attempts. Perhaps most importantly, he reduced his AAA strikeout rate from 30.0% in 2014 to 24% this season.
Baez rejoined the Cubs earlier this month, and the early returns on his more disciplined approach have been positive.
Selecting a third baseman was also a very difficult decision.
- Jeimer Candelario: Signed as an undrafted free agent in September of 2010, The Candy Man put together his best overall season since joining the organization stateside in 2012. In 128 games between Myrtle Beach and Double AA Tennessee, including 121 appearances at third base, the switch-hitting Candelario batted .277 with an OPS of .770. Candelario’s WRC+ numbers for Myrtle Beach and Tennessee of 113 and 140, respectively, were solid.
In addition, he belted 35 doubles, 10 homers and three triples, drew 42 walks, drove in 69 runs and scored 63. MLB.com ranks Candelario as the 19th best prospect in the Cubs’ system.
2) Christian Villanueva: While the 24-year-old right-handed hitting Villanueva’s numbers were arguably better than Candelario’s, we gave Candelario the edge because Villanueva played the vast majority of the season in the Pacific Coast League, a veritable hitter’s paradise.
The 21st ranked prospect in the Cubs’ system, acquired in a trade for pitcher Ryan Depseter in July of 2102, still deserves Honorable mention. In 508 plate appearances in 123 games for Iowa, including 91 at third base, Villanueva batted .259 with 18 homers, 23 doubles and 88 RBI. While his OPS of .752 was solid, Villanueva’s WRC+, which teases out league and ballpark effects, was actually slightly-below-average at 96.
Villanueva, who is on the Cubs’ 40-man roster, appears to be blocked at the major league level. If the Cubs cannot trade him this offseason, he could be designated for assignment to make room for a Rule 5 eligible player like Candelario.
Sure, Canedelario is unlikely to ever supplant the Cubs’ current third base options in the major leagues, but by protecting him from being selected in the Rule 5 draft, they would guarantee retaining a potentially valuable trade chip.
Check back soon as we round out the All-Star roster by adding the outfielders.