Baseball America recently released their of lists of the top 10 prospects in each major league organization for the 2014 season. In comparison to the list Baseball America devised for the Cubs 2013 campaign; there is little change. However, the two new names to crack the list quickly leap-frogged to the two and three positions on the list. The newcomers are third-baseman out of the University of San Diego Kris Bryant and C.J. Edwards, a right-handed pitcher who the Cubs acquired in the Matt Garza trade.
2013 2014
List from BaseballAmerica.com
List from BaseballAmerica.com
The Cubs drafted Bryant in 2013, using the second overall pick to acquire Bryant. In his senior year at San Diego, the slugging third-baseman led all of college baseball in homeruns. The 6’5” Las Vegas native was immediately successful in his first professional season, ascending through three levels of the minor league. He followed up his regular season performance in the Arizona Fall League where the young slugger was a starter in the annual Fall Stars game and was named league MVP. Bryant will attempt to continue his success in the 2014 season, and if he can climb another three rungs on the ladder of professional baseball, he will find himself in the bigs.
Edwards was drafted out of Mid-Carolina High School by the Texas Rangers in 2011. The 22-year-old pitcher has spent the last two seasons in rookie and class-A ball. In 183.1 innings of professional baseball Edwards has recorded a remarkable 1.72 ERA to go along with a 13-5 record and 240 strikeouts. The righty only allowed one homerun all of last season. Baseball America puts him at number three on the Cubs list, above the clubs two outfield prospects Jorge Soler and Albert Almora.
The end result of the careers of either Bryant or Edwards is uncertain, as is the truth for every player to ever step foot on the diamond. Although one thing is certain; there is a chance Smokies fans will get to see both of these young phenoms playing in Smokies Park this season.
Andrew Green
James Rowe
smokiesradio
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