Minor League Updates: Part 2

by cubsfan1 on Jun 13, 2010 7:08 PM CDT

Here is the second installment of my minor league updates.

Josh Vitters 3B Tennessee- I'm not gonna rehash his line since it will be skewed over his high A/AA stops. Let me start by saying I'm floored that they promoted Vitters to AA so soon. He was hitting in A ball showing improved PD. I'm of the school of being conservative with prospects. IMHO at 20 combined with his short comings it seems odd to promote him to AA at this point. I would have let him sit in A all year maybe giving him a late season call to AA. Overall he has 10 bb in 204 abs so he seems he's improving in terms of taking pitches since he had 12 bb in more then double the abs last year. He has struggled in every promotion but always has come back and improved. He's only k'd in 13.8% of his abs in AA so he still is putting wood on the ball. I still think he represents the best potential to be an elite bat in the Cubs organization.

Hak-Ju Lee SS Peoria (LowA)- 269/339345 17sb 4 cs.....His bat is starting to wake up after starting slow hitting 341/413/366 in his last 41 abs. Lee is controling the strike zone well 22bb 38ks and stealing bases showing why he has the potential to be a top notch leadoff hitter. From some of the in game reports I've read he is a top shelf defender. He will need to develop some some show me power. He has 11 2b 3 3b 0 hr so we need to work on his abilty to hit for power or else he'll have the bat knocked outta his hands at higher levels. He has the potential to be Elvis Andrus good but Andrus has shown some power so he has some work but I'm still very encouraged especially considering the Midwest league is a tough league for young hitters.

Rafael Dolis RHP Daytona (High A)- 4-4 2.51 40/23 k/bb 61 ip.....I profiled Dolis scouting report over a Wrigley Bound and he has continued to improve. In his last 22 ip he has a 16/3 k/bb ratio and still getting a ton of GB. He's been working on his secondary pitches and control so his K's are not as high as what you'd expect form a guy who throws in the mid to high 90s but he has improved his walk rate. Very promising year so far. More K's will come. Weather or not he's a starter long term still remains to be seen but even if not he could be a shut down late inning reliever.

Ben Wells RHP Arkansas H.S. (7th round)- He may well end up being the best pick of the draft. Throws 90 currently but should add a tick or 2 as he matures. Flashes a CB that has some real potential and as always with a prep arm he will need to learn a CU. In a state like Florida he may have been better known and has serious sleeper potential. I like this pick and smells like a Wade Davis (TB 3rd rd. 2004) pick.

Hope you enjoyed I'll post another in a couple days.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Comments

Dolis

I’d like to see the Cubs push Dolis just a bit. Maybe kick him up to AA after the ASB.

by fsuapollo on Jun 13, 2010 10:24 PM CDT reply actions

Might as well have Trey McNutt go up to Daytona.

Dood is killin in Peoria.’

by timh815 on Jun 13, 2010 11:06 PM CDT up reply actions

Agreed

We should see some shifting with ASBs coming around, draft picks starting to sign, and Boise getting ready to go.

by fsuapollo on Jun 14, 2010 12:21 AM CDT up reply actions

That is what I've been expecting for awhile

they may get him another start or two in Daytona, but I’ve been expecting that he’d go up to AA after the ASB and move to the pen at that point.

by toonsterwu on Jun 14, 2010 4:39 AM CDT up reply actions

Ben Wells

The Ben Wells pick took a beating from some knowledgeable draft folks. I loved the pick, but first why it got a beating. Wells didn’t hit the low 90’s until late this past year, and some folks felt that wasn’t enough to justify a 7th round pick.

That said, Wells added an inch or two this past year, along with some weight. It feels like the velo improvement during the year was a byproduct of physical maturation. Of course, I don’t know for certain, but I’m comfortable enough that I’m not worried about the pick. He has a good breaking ball, and unlike many HS arms, he’s got a decent feel for the change. Some reports have him as a slider/splitter guy instead of curve/change. This is a big boy that should add some more weight – it’s possible that he’s going to be a guy that goes about 6’3" 220-230 in shape. Absolutely love the pick, and I doubt the Cubs make this pick in the 7th without feeling comfortable about their ability to sign him.

Not sure we’ll ever get a draft results thread going, and I don’t think it’s my place to start one, but I was fairly pleased with the arms we selected this year. If we can get a couple of the HS arms in (Hartman would be my 2nd pref, then Reed/Cox), along with some of the lefties, I’ll be pleased.

by toonsterwu on Jun 14, 2010 4:45 AM CDT reply actions