Kyle Schwarber was rated the third-best catching prospect in baseball by MLBPipeline.com. (Photo Credit: Paul R. Gierhart/MiLB.com)
MLBPipeline.com has begun their 2015 top ten position prospect breakdowns en route to announcing their top 100 overall prospects, revealing the top ten catching farmhands for this upcoming season. The entire list, as well as the top left-handed and right-handed pitching prospects can be viewed by clicking here.
Checking in at number three is possible 2015 catcher Kyle Schwarber, who finished his first professional season with the High-A Daytona Cubs in 2014. Across three levels last year, the lefty slugger combined for a .344 average (90-262) with 18 homers and 53 RBI in 72 contests between the Single-A Boise Hawks, Low-A Kane County Cougars and Daytona.
In their breakdown of Schwarber, MLBPipeline states that “he combines strength and bat speed from the left side of the plate and excels at recognizing pitches and working counts. He repeatedly makes hard contact and has the tools to become a .280 hitter with 30 homers and a high on-base percentage.”
Cubs fans will like hearing this blurb too: “if he can stay at catcher, Schwarber’s bat could make him a superstar”.
The Cubs front office has already stated their intent at having the fourth overall pick of last year’s draft be a full-time catcher in 2015, though his starting destination is unknown at this time. After batting .302 with 10 homers and 28 RBI in 44 games with the D-Cubs, he very well may start with the Smokies this season, which would fall in line with another top Cubs position player prospect from last year in Kris Bryant.
More Cubs prospects can be expected in these position player rankings as they are revealed, including possibly Albert Almora among outfield prospects, and assuredly Bryant as one of, if not the top third base prospect.
The remainder of MLBPipeline’s release schedule is below:
January 23rd: First Basemen
January 26th: Second Basemen
January 27th: Third Baseman
January 28th: Shortstops
January 29th: Outfielders
James Rowe
smokiesradio
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