It’s getting to that time of the year again … prospect lists will be coming out left and right soon.  Here’s my early attempt at it.  Been awhile since I worked through one - last time was probably mid August?  Still working through some thoughts, and thus, could make some adjustments as soon as I click the post button.  Will try to expand this list to 50 or more in the near future, time permitting. 

Our system has upside in the lower levels, but a lot of it is raw.  Some may be open to giving higher grades to those guys.  In the end, it’s just my opinion, which I try my best to base on a combination of readiness, upside, and production.  I think Vitters is a solid top 50, perhaps top 40 on top 100 prospect lists.  Shark is probably a solid top 40/50.  Ceda/Cashner/Castillo likely are thoughts in that 80-100 range, although all three could be on the outside looking in (particularly Castillo, as BA loves Ceda, saying he has elite stuff).

1. Josh Vitters, B+.  Strong season in Boise, but he has to perform in full-season.  Look for him in Peoria, with the potential for a bump to Daytona or Tennessee later in the year.  Reportedly showing signs of improved defense, enough hope that he can perhaps be in line to replace Aramis at the hot corner in a few years.  Arguably, the only elite chip in our system.
2. Jeff Samardzija, B+.  Still qualifies as a rookie.  The one high upside arm in our system at the upper levels.  Front of the rotation potential.  Shark showed a lot of signs of improvement, but needs more work.  He’ll be in the bigs in 2009, just depends on what role.  I prefer him in the pen.
3. Jose Ceda, B.  I’m not sure about a specific grade here.  Part of me thinks B+, as he’s a high upside pen arm with elite stuff.  Part of me thinks B, as he needs some more work.  Should start 2009 in the minors in AA/AAA, although it’s not impossible he performs well in spring and goes with the big league squad.  Could see the bigs in 2009 if he is with us late into the year.
4. Andrew Cashner, B.  He’s still a work in progress.  I’m hesitant to put him 4th … but who else?  Think Ceda (very similar, although I think Ceda’s stuff is better).  I don’t buy into the “work him as a starter” idea and expect the Cubs to develop him in the pen.  Maybe he gets extended outings, but that’s typical for pen arms in the minors anyways.  I’d guess Daytona to start 2009, particularly since it’s in warmer weather and more of a pitcher’s league, although he should be able to dominate Peoria if they sent him there to start.  I think he could see Tennessee, if not Iowa, with an outside shot of the big leagues (but that is assuming everything is perfect).
5. Wellington Castillo, B.  Coming into 2008, he was looked at as a young Hank White of sorts, with the potential for some offensive development.  He’s shown enough to suggest that he might be better than that, if the offense develops some more.  I think he starts in AA, but Iowa is possible.  May get a September callup, but with Soto/Blanco/Hill, there’s no need to force him up.
6. Tyler Colvin, B-.  The late surge got him back up a bit.  If he can find some balance between instincts and discipline, he may yet reach some of the projections for him (a young Shawn Green has been tossed about before).  He should start 2009 in the minors.  I’d guess Iowa, but there’s a shot he starts in Tennessee to “prove it” before getting bumped up.  Btw, he’s a corner OF that can pinch in CF, not a CF playing a corner spot, IMO.
7. Jovan Rosa, B-.  Hey, I’m a big fan, so maybe I’m biased here.  Certainly, the fact that he is looking like a first baseman somewhat tempers the excitement, but he posted an excellent line for the MWL.  His June struggles brought down the overall line.  He should be in Daytona to start 2009, likely splitting 3rd and 1st again.  Only 21 at the start of 2009, one of the guys that I am really excited to follow, considering the power potential here (43 doubles and his body should fill out a bit more).
8. Ryan Flaherty, B-.  He garnered number 12 prospect in BA’s NWL rankings.   Defensive woes likely mean a positional switch down the road … which was speculated upon before the draft.  It’ll be interesting to see what the Cubs do here.  The positional move likely is to 2nd base, as he doesn’t profile to have the power desired at 3rd.  I could see a jump to Daytona if they move him to 2nd.  On the other hand, I can see them sticking in Peoria and hoping he can stick at short.
9. Jay Jackson, C+.  I may be putting him a bit high, but boy, was he an exciting addition to the system.  Loose arm projects well, along with his overall athleticism.  Runs a fastball in the low 90’s that can touch the mid-90’s, has a solid slider, and mixes in a curve and a change.  I’ll guess Daytona to start 2009, but he could be in Tennessee.  Might see Tennessee or Iowa by the end of the year.  Don’t have a good read on his projection, as some suggest that his stuff might be able to get sharper and better with more development.  Already has a solid fastball in the low to mid 90’s, a solid slider, and usable curve and change.
10. Micah Hoffpauir, C+.  I’m not fond of any 28 year old being considered a key prospect in a system, but there isn’t really anyone else, and you gotta give him credit.  This isn’t the same Micah that hit Iowa way back in the day (and briefly got demoted for Brandon Sing).  He’s definitely improved.  Enough to start regularly in the bigs?  Not sold, but enough to at least be in the bigs?  Yes.  Not many people would’ve anticipated that a few years ago.
11. Nate Spears, C+.  He seems like he’s been around forever, but he’s still relatively young, and he had a big year in the Southern League.  I think he can be a big league utility option, as he can handle short enough, a la Theriot.  The C+ is more an acknowledgement of him being the upper levels of the system.  Should start 2009 in Iowa.
12. Dan McDaniel, C+.  I am probably crazy, crazy, crazy on this one.  Power righty arm runs it up there in the mid-90’s.  Has a decent to solid curve I think and a usable change and slider.  I won’t be surprise if we move him to back to the rotation (started at Chabot I think).  Strong season at Boise, looking for him to start 09 in Peoria, although it’s possible they try him as a starter and start him in XST perhaps, with a bump to Boise, and a shot at Peoria.
13. Dae-Eun Rhee, C+*.  This one comes with a huge asterisk.  Electric with a fast/curve/change (or split-change) combo when healthy, but the health.  I’d look for him to be in Peoria to start 09 whenever he can get it going again..
14. Mitch Atkins, C+.  End of the rotation type, but he’s up in AAA and he’s coming off a solid year.  Should start 2009 as a stretched out arm in Iowa, and could see the bigs.  Gets the plus for being at a higher level.
15. Nate Samson, C.  Tailed off a bit at the end of the year, but Samson and Rosa were the two constant cogs in Peoria all year.  Like Flaherty, isn’t likely to fit at shortstop, although he’ll probably get another chance to play there in 2009.  I’d look for him to start 2009 in Daytona.
16. Tony Thomas, C.  The most disappointing Cubs prospect for me because I held such high expectations.  His plate discipline was horrible, which surprised me.  The defense was a concern, which wasn’t surprising.  Certainly he made a jump and missed Peoria, so you give him the benefit of that entering 2009.  I’m not sure where he starts, hunch is they’ll move him on up to Tennessee, but repeating Daytona isn’t the worst idea.
17. Brandon Guyer, C.  The tail off in September was bothersome, but he showed some intrigue with his hot streak in the middle.  Can he put it together?  Here’s a toolsy, athletic kid, a very Tim Wilken type athlete pick.  More of a corner OF, but can play some CF.  Has power that is lacking in the system.  Considering he was a college kid, and considering he showed enough in Peoria, I think he starts 2009 in Daytona.
18. Aaron Shafer, C.  You certainly don’t want to read too much into Boise work for college arms, but Shafer got off to a solid start.  We’ll see if he can get stronger with more time away from the injury.  Was only tossing high 80’s supposedly.  Should start 2009 in A ball somewhere, probably Peoria, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was Daytona.
19. Chris Carpenter, C.  Shaky start, but still is a college arm with two plus pitches, so at the very least, there’s hope he can move as a pen arm if he struggles as a starter.  I could see a XST/Boise or Peoria type thing, although I’m hoping it’s just straight to Peoria for him.
20. Starlin Castro, C.  Exciting young middle infielder that got tabbed the 14the best AZL prospect (I think).  Put together a solid offensive season and has a shot to stick at short.  Likely XST/Boise for 09, I think.

As of now, my next 5 is some mix of Larry Suarez, Junior Lake, Jeffry Antigua, Ryan Searle, and Matt Cerda, I think.  That said, a lot of guys can fit in here.  Some upper level older guys could be a thought.   A back end of the rotation productive guy (Carrillo/Caridad/Chen) may be an idea.  A young guy like Jones/Perez could be in the mix (Perez moreso than Jones).