Here at Legends on Deck our passion is prospects and the offseason presents an outstanding opportunity for us to showcase some of baseball’s top up and comers. Throughout the offseason, we will be bringing you the top ten prospects from all 30 organizations. We will start with the Arizona Diamondbacks and work our way alphabetically all the way through the Washington Nationals. This series is the opinion of Jake Berry, Senior Editor at Legends on Deck and does not reflect any official MLB rankings.
#5 – LHP Brendon Little
2019 Opening Day Age: 22 ETA: 2020 Top Future Pitch: CB
2018 Stats (Single-A): 5-11, 5.15 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 90 SO, 43 BB
Since the day the Cubs drafted Brendon Little I have been the high man on him. Some folks think the Cubs reached for him with their first pick in 2017. The stats haven’t been great since he started his pro career, but I have always been a sucker for his fastball/curve combo.
#4 – LHP Justin Steele
2019 Opening Day Age: 23 ETA: 2020 Top Future Pitch: FB
2018 Stats (Rookie/High-A/Double-A): 2-2, 2.31 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 53 SO, 13 BB
Steele has the makeup to be a decent big league pitcher one day thanks largely to his command. The lefty slings a mid 90’s fastball that can touch 97 with sinking action. I’d place a back end rotation ceiling on him.
#3 – SS Nico Hoerner
2019 Opening Day Age: 21 ETA: 2021 Top Future Tool: Hit
2018 Stats: 16/49, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 6 SB
The 2018 first round pick only played in 14 games this season due to a left elbow injury. As a result, the Cubbies sent the Oakland native to the Arizona Fall League where he got 40 more at bats than he did during the regular season. A fringy shortstop, Hoerner slashed .337/.362/.506 in 89 AFL at bats.
#2 – RHP Adbert Alzolay
2019 Opening Day Age: 24 ETA: 2019 Top Future Pitch: FB
2018 Stats (Triple-A): 2-4, 4.76 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 27 SO, 13 BB
Alzolay may be falling victim to prospect fatigue as he just wrapped up his sixth season in the Cubs organization. A September call up may be on the horizon for the righty in 2019 if he can bounce back from a lat strain that had the Cubs shut him down in June.
#1 – C Miguel Amaya
2019 Opening Day Age: 20 ETA: 2021 Top Future Tool: Glove
2018 Stats (Single-A): .256/.349/.403, 12 HR, 52 RBI, 91 SO, 50 BB
Highly touted for his defense, the 2015 international signee is developing quite a hit tool as well. A great receiver with a great arm, if the bat continues to develop, Amaya has the potential to be a top catcher in MLB.
Featured Image: Miguel Amaya (Courtesy of Mathew Carper/Legends On Deck
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