Jorge Soler

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #3 prospect in 2015
  Soler defected from Cuba in 2011, officially signing for a $6 million bonus as part of a nine-year, $30 million contract months after he and the Cubs were first linked. He had trouble understanding why he was in the minor leagues with that contract and also had trouble staying on the field in 2013 and 2014, getting too bulky and straining both hamstrings early in the latter season. A looser Soler took off in the second half, including a tantalizing big league callup that included three home runs in his first four games. Kris Bryant hits more homers, but Soler's create more buzz. His vicious bat speed, top-of-the-scale raw power and impressive feel for hitting make him a terror to pitchers. When locked in, he generates scorching line drives to all fields; some just don't stop going until they're over the fence. He's coachable, takes quality at-bats and isn't fazed by hitting with two strikes. Soler runs average at this point in his career and has an easy plus arm, fitting the right-field profile well. His biggest issues are concentration, competing consistently and staying healthy, none of which he has done yet over a full pro season. Soler is the best outfielder and righthanded power hitter on the Cubs' big league roster. If he stays healthy, he has the ability to be an all-star right fielder soon.
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  Ranked Chicago Cubs #5 prospect in 2014
  Soler burst on the scene in 2010 while playing for Cuba's national team in the World Junior Championship, with current Cubs farmhand Yasiel Balaguert as a teammate. He left the island in 2011, and the Cubs signed him in 2012 to a nine-year, $30 million deal that included a $6 million bonus. Soler missed games in the first half due to two suspensions, then played his last game on June 13, going down with a stress fracture in his left tibia. Soler is what a right fielder is supposed to look like. High Class A Daytona manager Dave Keller said he has never seen a hitter impart backspin to the ball like Soler does, and his swing, strength and sound plate approach give him top-shelf hitting ability and power. Some scouts give Soler 80 raw power on the 20-80 scale, and his arm earns 70 grades from some scouts. His defense is average. While Soler wasn't fully healthy all spring, he also didn't always give a full effort, and at times he appeared uninspired about playing in the minors. He charged the opposing dugout wielding a bat in an April 10 game against Clearwater that prompted a five-game suspension. The Cubs insist Soler is a good teammate who just needs maturity to handle the cultural adjustment and attention his contract brings. Heavier after his leg injury, Soler knocked off some rust in the Arizona Fall League, but his inactivity showed. A healthy, motivated Soler has special offensive potential, and he'll likely return to Daytona to team with Albert Almora to start 2014.
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  Ranked Chicago Cubs #3 prospect in 2013
  The best prospect on Cuba's bronze-medal team at the 2010 World Junior Championships, Soler was unsuccessful in his initial attempt to defect but escaped in 2011. The Cubs were linked to Soler months before he was cleared to sign by the U.S. government and MLB in June, and they quickly signed him to a nine-year, $30 million contract that includes a club-record $6 million bonus. Despite his long layoff, he easily handled low Class A pitching in his pro debut. The ball explodes off Soler's bat, and his well above-average power can make any ballpark look small. He hit two balls onto Waveland Avenue while taking batting practice at Wrigley Field in September. He has feel for hitting too, as he uses a game plan, recognizes pitches well and can make two-strike adjustments. Some scouts worry about an arm bar and some stiffness in his swing. Soler has solid speed once he gets going and good instincts on the bases. Once he improves his routes to balls, he'll be an asset in right field. He has well above-average arm strength and makes accurate throws. A prototypical right fielder, Soler has a ceiling that rivals Javier Baez's as the highest among Chicago farmhands. The Cubs may be conservative to start 2013, letting Soler tear up the Midwest League while he continues to get acclimated to the United States. He and Albert Almora may race through the system together.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Florida State League #8 prospect in 2013
  Soler has to live up to high expectations, both those created by his $30 million contract and those set by Cubans who preceded him, such as the Athletics? Yoenis Cespedes and the Dodgers? Yasiel Puig. He?s no Puig, but then few are. Before a stress fracture in his left tibia (bone in the lower leg) sidelined him, Soler showed raw power that pushed Sano and Baez for being the best in the minors, earning some 80 grades from scouts. Soler?s tools fit the right-field profile. He?s a solid runner underway with an average-to-plus arm, but his defensive skills require plenty of polish. Evaluators were split on Soler?s bat. Some consider his swing long and believe he?ll struggle when pitchers with velocity locate at higher levels. Daytona manager Dave Keller disagreed. ?It was one of the most frustrating things for me personally to not see him (finish the season),? Keller said. ?He has so much ability. It?s not a Cespedes swing?it?s a short, compact swing with very good finish. Very few people can backspin the ball like he does. He really has awesome potential . . . but he needs so much work.?
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  Ranked Arizona Complex League #4 prospect in 2012
  One of the most coveted players to defect from Cuba in recent years, Soler signed a nine-year, $30 milllion contract with the Cubs two days before the July 2 international signing period began. He hadn't played in organized games in nearly a year and the rust showed during his time in Arizona, but his talent was evident and he hit better following a promotion to low Class A. Soler has a lean, athletic body and should get stronger. He'll need to curb a tendency to overswing, but he has above-average raw power and the ball makes a different sound when it comes off his bat. He has slightly above-average speed from home to first and is better underway, and he's an instinctive baserunner who stole eight bases in as many tries in the AZL. Soler has the biggest room to improve on defense, especially with his routes and angles on balls. He has average arm strength for right field and makes accurate throws.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #12 prospect in 2015
• Ranked Baseball America's #41 prospect in 2014
• Ranked Baseball America's #34 prospect in 2013

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: The best prospect on Cuba's bronze-medal team at the 2010 World Junior Championship, Soler was unsuccessful in his initial attempt to defect but escaped in 2011. The Cubs were linked to Soler months before he was cleared to sign by the U.S. government and MLB in June, and they quickly signed him to a nine-year, $30 million contract with a club-record $6 million bonus. He easily handled low Class A pitching in his pro debut. Scouting Report: The ball explodes off Soler's bat, and his well above-average power can make any ballpark look small. He hit two balls onto Waveland Avenue while taking batting practice at Wrigley Field in September. He has feel for hitting too, as he uses a game plan, recognizes pitches well and can make two-strike adjustments. Some scouts worry about an arm bar and stiffness in his swing. Soler has solid speed once he gets going and good instincts on the bases. Once he improves his routes to balls, he'll be an asset in right field. He has well above-average arm strength and makes accurate throws. The Future: A prototypical right fielder, Soler has a ceiling that rivals Javier Baez's among Chicago farmhands. The Cubs may be conservative to start 2013, letting Soler tear up the Midwest League while he continues to get acclimated to the United States.