It’s that time again. Let’s check in on how the Chicago Cubs prospects are doing.
Today, the Cubs released their list of the 19 non-roster players invited to Major League Spring training camp. The list is below and it includes of the biggest name Cubs prospects within the organization.
Remember, the farm system is supposedly so rich that it was named the #1 pipeline in all of baseball by ESPN baseball scouting analyst Keith Law.
All of these Cubs prospects will have their opportunity, albeit a long shot, to make the big league club.
19 non-roster players were invited to major league spring training, which begins Thursday, February 19 when pitchers and catchers report in Mesa, Ariz.
Position players report Tuesday, February 24.
The following nine pitchers have been invited to major league camp: right-handed pitchers Daniel Bard, Corey Black, Anthony Carter, Jorge De Leon, Pierce Johnson, Armando Rivero and Donn Roach, as well as left-handed pitchers Francisley Buenoand Hunter Cervenka.
Five infielders have been invited to major league camp: Kris Bryant, Jonathan Herrera, Addison Russell, Chris Valaika and Logan Watkins (injured).
Three outfielders have been invited to big league camp: Albert Almora, Mike Baxter and Adron Chambers.
Two catchers have been invited to big league camp: Kyle Schwarber and Taylor Teagarden.
Lots of the brightest of all the Cubs prospects on that list.
Every year, the phrase “pitchers and catchers report” inspires a level of excitement that doesn’t adhere to the concept of reason. Why is spring training so exciting to us? Are split squad games filled with double AA players something to get that enthused over? Of course not, it’s not the “training” portion of that phrase which moves us. It’s the “spring” component.
When we hear pitchers and catchers report in (12 days for the Cubs on Feb 19th, 17 days for position players, as they report on the 24th) we know that the cold and gloom of winter is almost over. We don’t need a Groundhog, and his shadow to tell us whether winter will be ending soon. The start of full workouts for baseball teams does.
With all these Cubs prospects in tow, the future looks bright. And with camp opening soon, more of winter is behind us than ahead of us.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports Digital, eBay, Google News and CBS Interactive Inc.
You can read Banks’ feature stories in the Chicago Tribune RedEye newspaper and listen to him on KOZN 1620 The Zone. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)