- Full name Jeff Goldbach
- Born
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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The Cubs have confidence in three of their catching prospects. Goldbach projects as the best hitter, while Ryan Jorgensen is the best defender and Korean signee Yoon-Min Kweon may offer the best all-around package. If Goldbach is going to remain ahead of the other two, he'll have to kick his bat into a higher gear after slumping through 2000. He got worse as the year went on, batting .160 with a lone home run over the final two months of the regular season and .164 in the Arizona Fall League. His strike-zone discipline, which improved noticeably in 1999, fell apart last year. Chicago still likes Goldbach's quick bat and power potential. His defense is average at times, though he let his offense affect his play behind the plate. He didn't have much success throwing out baserunners, gunning down just 21 percent. The Cubs would like to move Goldbach to Double-A in 2001 so Jorgensen and Kweon could start for the two Class A clubs. But that wouldn't be the best way to get Goldbach back on track offensively.
