Chicago Cubs

TRACK RECORD: Alzolay was a low-profile signing as a 17-year-old out of the Dominican Republic in 2012 but took huge strides forward at high Class A Myrtle Beach and Double-A Tennessee in 2017. After injuries blunted his progress in 2018, Alzolay recovered and made his big league debut on June 20, 2019.

SCOUTING REPORT: Alzolay showed a three-pitch mix in 2019, fronted by a mid-90s fastball that can reach into the upper 90s as well. He backs it up with a high-70s curveball and a mid-80s changeup. He gets to his velocity from an effortful delivery, which sometimes leads to him overthrowing with command that will wander. He's got a strong makeup and the work ethic that will allow him to correct those issues and add polish as he continues to develop. The raw pieces are there—now it's a matter of learning how to best utilize what he has without trying to be something he's not. The Cubs have quickened Alzolay's delivery in the past to help him avoid overthinking on the mound.

THE FUTURE: Alzolay will have a shot at a spot in the big league rotation in 2020. If he doesn't make it there, he could go back to Triple-A Iowa for more seasoning or carve out a spot in the bullpen.

TRACK RECORD: When Miller was selected in the fourth round of the 2016 draft he became the highest-drafted player in California Baptist's history, topping the 2014 seventh-round selection of Trevor Oaks. He put together a solid first three seasons in pro ball, including a 2018 season when he struck out 126 hitters. That total ranked third-best among Cubs minor leaguers. He continued that progress in 2019, when he blitzed the competition at Double-A Tennessee before running into trouble after a promotion to Triple-A Iowa.

SCOUTING REPORT: Miller's pitch mix and approach have changed as he's moved through the system. In prior years he'd worked a sinker-slider combination, but he added or adjusted a changeup and curveball before the 2019 season and saw big results. The new repertoire allows him to work up in the zone with a low-90s fastball with riding action and follow it with a downer curveball to both sides of the plate. He still throws the slider, which functions as a short cutter and projects as a fringe-average pitch. The changeup, which he throws with a Vulcan-style grip that best fits his hands, also should be fringe-average with more development. He also needs to continue to work to keep his upper and lower halves in sync in his delivery.

THE FUTURE: Miller was hit hard at Triple-A and figures to return there in 2020. He projects as a backend starter.

TRACK RECORD: Franklin is the nephew of Ryan Franklin, who pitched for 12 seasons in the big leagues. Kohl missed much of his draft year at Owasso (Okla.) HS with a broken foot, but the Cubs believed enough in his projectability to draft him in the sixth round and sign him away from his commitment to Oklahoma for $540,000.

SCOUTING REPORT: The projectability the Cubs saw from Franklin started to take hold in 2019. After throwing his fastball 88-92 mph in high school, Franklin now sits in the low 90s and bumped as high as 97 in his first full season. Besides his natural growth, Franklin found the extra velocity by learning to use his legs more in his delivery. His 80-84 mph changeup projects as a solid-average offering because of its fade and the conviction with which Franklin throws the pitch. His mid-70s curveball is the key to his development. He wasn't allowed to throw the pitch until his senior year in high school, and the Cubs have toyed with the pitch to optimize it for his delivery. They settled on a spike grip and watched as the pitch gained four to five more inches of depth as a result.

THE FUTURE: Franklin finished the year at low Class A South Bend and is likely to return to the level in 2020. His next step is refining his command and throwing more quality strikes. Franklin has the ceiling of a No. 4 starter.

TRACK RECORD: After beginning the year as Southern California's setup man, Clarke moved into the closer's role because of an injury to the team's regular ninth-inning option. He had Tommy John surgery in high school and scouts connected it to a drop-off in his stuff when he pitched back-to-back days. The Cubs saw starter traits in his pitch mix, took him in the fourth round and set him into the rotation at short-season Eugene for his first taste of pro ball.

SCOUTING REPORT: After being primarily a fastball-curveball reliever in the second half of his college career, Clarke began throwing a five-pitch mix as a starter in pro ball. He works with two fastballs—four-seam and sinker—in the low-to-mid 90s. He pairs them with a powerful spike curveball that was among the best collegiate curveballs available in the draft class and with a hard-darting slider with cutter-type break. He also has a changeup with deep fade action as well. Clarke throws all his pitches with a smooth, repeatable delivery that belies his massive, 6-foot-7 frame.

THE FUTURE: Clarke should move to low Class A South Bend in 2020 and has the makings of a back-end rotation piece with powerful stuff that could also fit well in the late innings if necessary.

TRACK RECORD: McAvene made five starts as a freshman at Louisville before having Tommy John surgery. After a shortened sophomore season spent kicking off the rust, McAvene reemerged as a force out of the Cardinals' pen in 2019 and showed enough to convince the Cubs to spend $500,000 on him in the third round. He moved back into the rotation with short-season Eugene and struck out 20 in 12.2 innings.

SCOUTING REPORT: Unsurprisingly for someone with a reliever's history, McAvene has a high-effort delivery with a bit of a head whack at the end. The Cubs believe they can smooth it out, though, and that McAvene has enough athleticism to repeat his mechanics for multiple trips though a lineup. He starts his arsenal with an upper-90s fastball that draws a high percentage of in-zone swings and misses. He pairs it with a sharp, angry slider that he uses to wipe hitters out. He has a changeup as well but hasn't needed to use it much because of the success of his two best pitches.

THE FUTURE: Much as they did with fellow Louisville alum Riley Thompson in 2019, the Cubs will move McAvene to low Class A South Bend in 2020 and continue developing him as a starter. Like 2019 fourthrounder Chris Clarke, the Cubs believe they can turn a college reliever into a big league rotation piece.

TRACK RECORD: The Cubs liked Martinez for his bat-to-ball skills as well as his strong baseball instincts. He put together strong performances in both complex leagues before moving to short-season Eugene in the middle of the summer. He ranked No. 18 and No. 19, respectively, among the Arizona League and Northwest League's Top 20 prospect lists.

SCOUTING REPORT: Martinez is one of the more advanced in a group of young, gifted middle infielders in the Cubs' system. Scouts inside and outside the organization saw strong hittability from both sides of the plate for Martinez, who more than held his own as a teenager in the short-season Northwest League. He's not the most powerful hitter at present, but with further strength gains and continued strike zone discipline he could reach double-digit home run totals once he makes the big leagues. Martinez alternated between shortstop and second base in his first full season as a pro and scouts see a plus defender at second base as he moves up the ladder. The Cubs still believe he can stick at shortstop, though, thanks to smooth hands, footwork and an above-average arm.

THE FUTURE: After ending the season in Eugene, Martinez could move up to full-season ball with low Class A South Bend to begin 2020. He has a future as a middle infielder with value on both sides of the ball.

TRACK RECORD: The Cubs bet big in 2018 that they could turn Americaan's intriguing set of tools into skills that would get him to the big leagues. Americaan spent two seasons at Chipola (Fla.) JC before the Cubs selected him in the 35th round of the 2018 draft and signed him for a round-high $208,950. He opened 2019 with low Class A South Bend and finished the year at short-season Eugene, where he showed well enough to rank No. 15 among the Northwest League's Top 20 prospects.

SCOUTING REPORT: Americaan's game is based on tools and projection. He's wiry strong with above-average bat speed that allows him to generate modest power to all fields. The Cubs backed him off the plate a touch before the season in an effort to get his barrel to more pitches more often while still letting his swing's natural arc put him in a position to pull breaking balls. He has a chance to stick in center field depending on the way his body develops. If he continues to be a wiry player, his plus speed and instincts will allow him to stay at the position. If not, his plus arm could help him play right field.

THE FUTURE: If Americaan shows hittability going forward, he could be an everyday player. If not, he fits into a fourth outfielder's role. He'll give low Class A another try in 2020.

TRACK RECORD: After a strong showing at the 15U World Cup in Japan, Gallardo positioned himself as the second-best pitching prospect available on the 2018 international market, just behind Cuban righty Osiel Rodriguez. He put together a big showing at MLB's international showcase in 2018, then signed with the Cubs. He spent most of his first season as a pro at the Cubs' complex in Mesa, Ariz. in extended spring training and the Rookie-level Arizona League before making two starts at short-season Eugene.

SCOUTING REPORT: Evaluators inside and outside the organization have Gallardo pegged as a high-floor guy who shows a strong present feel to pitch. He starts his mix with a fastball that averaged 91 mph during the season and topped out at 94. Gallardo backed up the fastball with a downer curveball that he could spot to both sides of the plate as well as a changeup that is in the early stages of its development. To reach his ceiling, He needs to add strength. The Cubs believe he will do that because of a strong work ethic in the weight room. Beyond that, he needs to add power to his curveball and continue bringing his changeup forward.

THE FUTURE: Gallardo has the makings of a back-end type of starter with a chance for a little bit more depending on the way his body develops. He will pitch all season as an 18-year-old and is likely to start his second season in extended spring training.

TRACK RECORD: Made was one of the Cubs' three big-time international signings during the 2019-20 period along with catchers Ronnier Quintero and Brayan Altuve. Like Quintero, Made trained in the Dominican Republic with Jaime Ramos. He signed for $1.5 million

SCOUTING REPORT: Made's ceiling is based on quite a bit of remaining projection on his athletic, highwaisted frame. He's put on roughly 15 pounds since the Cubs first laid eyes on him, and the club expects further strength gains as he matures. Despite the subpar strike-zone discipline one might expect from a 16-year-old, Made already makes plenty of contact. He's used his wiry frame and sneaky strength to generate surprising power for someone his size. Unlike some of the other middle infielders the Cubs have lurking in the lower minors, Made's build looks more like the classic shortstop. He's got smooth hands, sound footwork and a strong internal clock and arm strength that allow him to make plays in the hole and on the run. He maintains his accuracy while throwing from multiple angles.

THE FUTURE: The 2020 season will be Made's first official test as a pro. He'll begin the year in extended spring training before a likely move to the Rookie-level Arizona League.

TRACK RECORD: Quintero caught the Cubs' eye early because of his easy power from the left side. He was one of the team's three major signings during the 2019-20 period—along with shortstop Kevin Made and late-addition catcher Brayan Altuve.

SCOUTING REPORT: Despite not playing in an official game, Quintero has already opened eyes with his new organization. He was one of the stars of the team's Dominican instructional league program, posting exit velocities that ranked among the best of the entire camp. He gets to his power through a combination of strength and a swing with natural lift. Quintero has shown an ability to drive balls the opposite way as well. He turns on high-velocity fastballs and can recognize spin as well. Quintero's got a potential plus arm behind the plate and could become an average defender with further refinement, especially when it comes to receiving pitches.

THE FUTURE: Quintero's first official season as a pro will be in 2020, and he should begin in extended spring training. He projects as an offensive-minded catcher.

TRACK RECORD: The Cubs inked Morel—whose brother, Christopher, is also a Cubs farmhand—to an $850,000 deal in 2018 on the strength of a combination of athleticism and bat-to-ball skills. He showed off both traits in his stellar pro debut in the Dominican Summer League. His father was a basketball player in the Dominican Republic, which helps to explain some of Rafael's athleticism.

SCOUTING REPORT: At the plate, Morel showed the expected hittability during his first taste of pro ball. He put forth a strikeout rate of just 14.2 percent while walking at a 9.7 percent clip and showing enough power that 25 of his 65 hits went for extra bases. In the field, Morel's fast-twitch ability and plus speed will allow him to play shortstop, but he might be better suited for center field in the long run. He's got a plus arm and shows solid instincts for the game.

THE FUTURE: After spending all summer in the DSL, Morel's next step is the Rookie-level Arizona League, where he'll continue working toward his ceiling as a top-of-the-order hitter with more than a hint of impact power once he's done developing.

TRACK RECORD: The Cubs were drawn to Pinango because of his bat-to-ball skills and advanced knowledge of the strike zone for an amateur. Pinango trained with Jose Montero as an amateur and signed with the Cubs as part of their 2018-19 signing class. He tore up the Dominican Summer League in his professional debut and finished fourth in the league with a .358 average.

SCOUTING REPORT: Pinango still shows the same hitter's tool set that earned him a shot as a pro and had more walks (27) than strikeouts (20) in his first season. Now, the Cubs would like to see him add some power to his game. His contact-oriented swing doesn't have much lift, which means the raw power he shows in batting practice doesn't translate to games. Pinango also has more of an opposite-field approach, and the Cubs would like to see him pull more balls with authority. He's a plus runner and will stay in center field for now but is likely to move to a corner as he matures. To profile there, he'll need to add the power the Cubs already want to see.

THE FUTURE: After a strong turn in the DSL, Pinango should make his stateside debut in 2020 in the Rookie-level Arizona League. He has the ceiling of a corner outfielder with modest impact ability.

TRACK RECORD: With fellow middle infielders Reivaj Garcia and Luis Verdugo in the Rookie-level Arizona League, Pertuz stayed back and made his debut in 2018 in the Dominican Summer League. He showed hitting and on-base skills and tied for sixth in the league with 36 stolen bases.

SCOUTING REPORT: In the AZL, Pertuz's game changed a bit. He became more aggressive at the plate and started trying to tap into his raw power more often. The result was a dip in on-base percentage and a slight uptick in slugging percentage from his 2018 debut. He's got a simple, low-maintenance swing, impressive bat speed, strong hands to generate power and has shown the ability to turn on high-quality fastballs and do damage. Pertuz has average range and an above-average arm that could help him stick at shortstop, but the Cubs believe his offensive ability will allow him to move to either second or third base while still profiling at shortstop. He's a fringe-average runner.

THE FUTURE: After a strong turn in the AZL, Pertuz should be ready to move to low Class A South Bend. He has the skills to profile as an offensive, middle-diamond player.

TRACK RECORD: Altuve was the third of the Cubs three premier international signings in the 2019 cycle, joining fellow catcher Ronnier Quintero and shortstop Kevin Made. Altuve, who trained in Venezuela with Carlos Azocar, was lauded for his mix of athleticism and tools.

SCOUTING REPORT: Altuve's athleticism jumps off the page, and not just for a catcher. He turned in plus run times in the 60-yard dash, although he's likely to see his speed wane as he gets older and catching takes its toll. Altuve has plus bat speed and can impact the ball thanks to a combination of strength and a swing with natural lift. Like most younger players, Altuve will overswing and has a bit of a pull-heavy approach. He has a solid-average arm behind the plate, and the athletic ability to become a solid blocker and receiver.

THE FUTURE: After signing late, Altuve should spend his first pro season in the Dominican Summer League. He has the ceiling of an everyday catcher.

TRACK RECORD: Steele showed steady production through his climb up the ladder until Tommy John surgery in 2017 kept him out until the middle of 2018. The injuries that plagued Steele in 2019 were less severe but limited him to just 38.2 innings at Double-A Tennessee.

SCOUTING REPORT: Despite the injuries, Steele brings an intriguing mix from the left side. He starts his repertoire with a low-to-mid 90s fastball that has touched as high as 97 mph. The pitch shows riding life up in the zone. His best offering is a potentially plus curveball in the 76-80 mph range as well as a seldomused changeup. The Cubs are working to add a sinker to his arsenal, and he's shown a mid-80s slider.

THE FUTURE: Steele showed premium stuff in spurts, but 2019 was a lost year. The Cubs will try to get him back on track in 2020, when he'll work toward his ceiling as a back-end rotation option.

TRACK RECORD: After signing for $2 million and skipping over the Rookie-level Arizona League, Ademan has struggled. He followed a rough 2018 at high Class A Myrtle Beach with a similarly difficult 2019 season at the same level. The only saving grace was that, despite the repeat, Ademan was the ninth-youngest player in the Carolina League on Opening Day.

SCOUTING REPORT: Entering the year, Ademan needed to get stronger to withstand the grind of a full season. After the season, it's clear he still has a ways to go in that department. After a strong start to the season, he faded in the second half with a .172/.257/.289 line over 56 games. Scouts did see some bat-toball skills and a touch of pull power but for the most part were unimpressed. He's still a solid defender up the middle and is athletic. Ademan will have to work to maintain those skills, which appear at this point to be his carrying tools. He's an average runner.

THE FUTURE: After two seasons at high Class A, Ademan will likely move to Double-A Tennessee. He has the ceiling of a glove-first defensive utilityman in the big leagues.

TRACK RECORD: The older brother of fellow Cubs farmhand Rafael Morel, Christopher was signed for $800,000 but had his pro debut delayed by injury. He's struggled to put together solid numbers until this past season at low Class A South Bend. Once again, though, his progress was cut off by injuries. In this case, he hurt his knee while going for a foul ball with low Class A South Bend. He compounded the injury by trying to play through the pain and was limited to 73 games before shutting it down for the year.

SCOUTING REPORT: Despite the lack of numbers, Morel's tools are still there. He's got a free-swinging approach at the plate that he'll need to temper if he's to reach his ceiling. When he does connect, however, the impact potential is obvious. He can get to plus velocity and scalds balls to all sectors with what the Cubs believe is potential double-plus power. They also believe he has a chance to be an average hitter, but there's a long way to go to get to that ceiling. Morel is a rangy, twitchy defender at third base who could play shortstop if needed. His power potential and strong arm play better at third base, though, and his range at the position would help him at shortstop as well. He's a smart, instinctive runner with above-average speed.

THE FUTURE: Morel has moved slowly so far. The Cubs could choose to accelerate his timetable by sending him to high Class A Myrtle Beach and hoping the warmer early-season weather helps him get off to a quick start.

TRACK RECORD: At Sacred Heart, Short was part of a talented team that also included fireballing reliever and current Tigers prospect Jason Foley. Since being drafted in 2016, Short has shown a consistent blend of strong defensive skills and sneaky impact at the plate. He missed roughly six weeks in the early portion of 2019 with a broken hand but recovered to make it to Triple-A Iowa, where he scuffled. He also made up for lost time in the Arizona Fall League, then was added to the Cubs' 40-man roster.

SCOUTING REPORT: Short's carrying skills are on defense. He's a rangy, instinctive defender with a plus arm who can make every play at shortstop. Those tools alone will likely get him to the big leagues. If he wants to stay there, he'll have to work to stay within himself and not get caught up with trying to hit for power. He has a short, quick stroke geared toward shooting line drives to all sectors with occasional home run power. Short has the strength to put the ball out of the park, but he gets in trouble when he tries to do it too often.

THE FUTURE: After being added to the 40-man roster, Short should make his big league debut sometime in 2020 after returning to Triple-A Iowa. He fits well as a defense-first backup with a sprinkling of offense.

TRACK RECORD: Rivas has been one of fastest movers from the 2018 draft. A fourth-round pick by the A's out of Arizona, he stormed through high Class A Stockton and jumped straight to Triple-A Las Vegas to end his first full season. After a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League, he was acquired by the Cubs for Tony Kemp in January.

SCOUTING REPORT: Rivas is a pure hitter with a balanced setup, a loose, contact-oriented swing and a knack for setting pitchers up and punishing mistakes. Rivas' mature approach holds against both lefties and righties and makes him a tough out no matter who he faces. Although his swing has some natural lift, Rivas has generated mostly line-drive contact with gap power, raising questions about whether he will hit enough home runs to profile at first base. Defensively, Rivas has to tighten up his hands and footwork to be average at first base. A former college pitcher, he has above-average arm strength.

THE FUTURE: Rivas had a solid fall in the AFL and will open 2020 in the upper levels in the Cubs system. His mature approach and hitting ability should get him to the majors, but he needs to improve either his power or defensive versatility to be an everyday player.

TRACK RECORD: Rodriguez was the Cubs' top international signing in 2016, when they plunked down $400,000 to sign him away from the Leones de Yucatan in the Mexican League. Strictly a reliever, Rodriguez has moved slowly and steadily through the system. He completed his lower-level tour in 2019 with a full season at high Class A Myrtle Beach and was impressive enough to warrant a spot on the 40-man roster after the season.

SCOUTING REPORT: As was the case in the Mexican League, power is the key to Rodriguez's game. He brings a pair of mid-to-upper 90s fastballs from a short, stocky body and pounds the strike zone. His four-seamer is thrown at 95-98 mph, which is a touch higher than his 94-97 mph sinker. He backs up the fastballs with a powerful downer curveball that he likes to bury toward the bottom of the zone. He threw the pitch 29 percent of the time. Rodriguez has a seldom-used slider but primarily works with a mixture of fastballs and curveballs. A more consistent delivery helped Rodriguez slash his walks per nine innings from just over 8.0 in 2018 to 3.25 in 2019.

THE FUTURE: With further refined command, Rodriguez has the look of a big league setup man. He'll head to Double-A Tennessee in 2020.