Chicago Cubs

Hitting: 55. Power: 55. Running: 45. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.

TRACK RECORD: Preciado trained with his father Victor, a former Yankees minor leaguer, growing up and emerged as Panama's top prospect in the 2019 international class. The Padres signed him for $1.3 million. Preciado's professional debut was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, but he participated in instructional league in the fall. The Cubs acquired him as one of five players for Yu Darvish after the season.

SCOUTING REPORT: Preciado grew since signing and now stands 6-foot-5 with a skinny, projectable frame. He isn't overly twitchy, but he has a knack for being on time at the plate. Preciado's lefthanded swing has an elliptical path and his righthanded swing is a more compact stroke. They're different swings, but he can drive the ball from both sides and has room to grow into power as he fills out. He is still learning to control the strike zone. Preciado is a fringe-average runner, but his advanced instincts and polished defensive skills allow him to handle shortstop. His above-average arm strength should improve as he matures physically and gets stronger.

THE FUTURE: Preciado's future hinges on how his body fills out. He'll be 17 years old on Opening Day and still has lots of growth ahead.

Fastball: 55. Changeup: 50. Curveball: 60. Control: 50.

TRACK RECORD: Thompson had Tommy John surgery his freshman year at Louisville and struggled to throw strikes when he returned, leaving him with a career 5.82 ERA despite solid stuff. The Cubs drafted him in the 11th round and gave him an above-slot $200,000 bonus because they believed they could fix his control. Thompson rewarded that faith in his first full season at low Class A South Bend, going 8-6, 3.06 in 21 starts and, most importantly, walking fewer than three batters per nine innings.

SCOUTING REPORT: Thompson has a prototypical starter’s build and three pitches he can throw for strikes. He attacks the zone with a high-spin fastball that ranges from 90-96 mph and complements it with a high-spin, mid-80s curveball that shows flashes of being a putaway pitch. Thompson found a changeup grip that worked for him in his first instructional league, settling on a “Vulcan” grip, and the result was a sinking change that gets swings and misses in the strike zone. Thompson’s command and control have improved the further he’s moved away from Tommy John surgery, in part because he’s throwing with more conviction and confidence.

THE FUTURE: Both the Cubs and opposing evaluators believe Thompson is a solid future starter. He has a chance to see Double-A at some point during the 20201 season.

TRACK RECORD: Abbott didn't attract much attention in college until he learned a new slider grip from watching videos of Noah Syndergaard. Armed with his new slider, Abbott became an All-American his junior year and threw the first perfect game in Loyola Marymount history. The Cubs drafted him 67th overall and signed him for just over $900,000. Abbott continued his ascent in pro ball and led the Double-A Southern League in strikeouts in 2019. He spent 2020 at the Cubs' alternate training site.

SCOUTING REPORT: Abbott's success starts with his slider. It's a short, firm offering at 86-88 mph he commands to both sides of the plate. Lefties struggle with the break and righties don't pick it up out of his slightly crossfire delivery, allowing Abbott to get both swings and misses and called strikes with it. He also has a hard, 12-to-6 curveball that gets batters swinging over the top. Abbott's fastball sits 90-92 mph and tops out at 94, but it plays well up in the zone with an elevated spin rate. His changeup is a nonfactor. Abbott is competitive, durable and adjusts quickly. He commands all his pitches and moves the ball around the strike zone.

THE FUTURE: Abbott is in line for his major league debut in 2021. He projects as a solid, durable starter or swingman.

TRACK RECORD: Carraway cemented himself as the top reliever in the 2020 draft class when he made five appearances for USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team and didn't allow a run. He followed with a dominant showing as Dallas Baptist's closer as a junior before the season shut down. The Cubs drafted him in the second round, No. 51 overall, and signed him for $1.05 million.

SCOUTING REPORT: Carraway brings high-octane stuff from the left side. His fastball sits 96-98 mph and explodes out of his hand, getting on batters even quicker than they expect. He complements his fastball with a sharp, knee-buckling curveball in the mid 70s with 1-to-7 shape that is another plus pitch at its best. Carraway is a pure reliever with a slight frame and a high-effort delivery, which leads to inconsistent control. His wildness sometimes helps him by making batters uncomfortable in the box, but other times he sprays his fastball around and struggles to land his breaking ball.

THE FUTURE: Carraway has the stuff to move quickly to the Cubs bullpen. He has a chance to pitch in high-leverage relief if he can throw strikes more consistently.

TRACK RECORD: Roederer was the latest standout to come out of Hart High in suburban Los Angeles, following James Shields, Tyler Glasnow and Trevor Bauer. He suffered a separated right shoulder just before the draft, but the Cubs still selected him 77th overall and gave him an above-slot $1.2 million signing bonus to forgo a UCLA commitment. Roederer had a strong pro debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League, but he began selling out for power and struggled in his first full season at low Class A South Bend. He showed little improvement at instructional league in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Roederer shows plenty of promising tools. At his best, he has a quick, direct swing from the left side that produces hard contact, is an above-average runner and defender in center field and has developed a physical, athletic frame. Roederer's issue is his approach. He gets too pull-happy and tries to hit the ball as far as he can rather than focusing on contact. As a result, pitchers dominate him with changeups he's too far out in front of. Roederer hits elevated fastballs. but has yet to show he can stay back and adjust to offspeed pitches.

THE FUTURE: Roederer has the tools to be an everyday center fielder. Whether he adjusts his approach will determine if he gets there.

TRACK RECORD: Mena was one of the most athletic players in the 2019 international class and signed with the Padres for $2.2 million, the largest bonus the club awarded that year. His professional debut was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, but he put on good weight and stood out in instructional league. The Cubs acquired him as one of five players for Yu Darvish after the season.

SCOUTING REPORT: Mena is a lean, sleek center fielder with plus-plus speed in the outfield and on the bases. He's a slashing hitter who sprays the ball around with a whippy swing from the left side, although he's added strength and leverage and has started to drive the ball in the air. Mena's swing can be too steep at times and he's prone to striking out, but that may improve with experience and maturity. Mena's routes and instincts in center field are a work in progress. He has the speed for the position but needs experience to refine his play. He has a plus arm that could become a plus-plus weapon as he gets stronger.

THE FUTURE: Mena shows hints of a potential top-of-the-order center fielder, but he's extremely raw and will need time. His professional debut awaits in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Santana trained with Rudy Santin in the Dominican Republic and signed with the Padres for $300,000 in 2017. He quickly added strength and emerged as one of the top players in the Rookie-level Arizona League in his stateside debut, finishing fourth in batting average (.346) and sixth in on-base percentage (.429). He continued to impress at instructional league in 2020. The Cubs acquired him as one of five players for Yu Darvish after the season.

SCOUTING REPORT: Santana emerged as one of the more promising hitters in the Padres system before the Cubs acquired him. He's an aggressive hitter who swings hard but has the hand-eye coordination and barrel awareness to make consistent contact. He lines the ball to all fields, especially up the middle and the opposite way, and shows a keen eye for the strike zone. He is a lithe, twitchy athlete with explosive hands and may grow into power as he gets bigger. Santana plays with energy in the field and has a good awareness for the game. He occasionally plays too fast but has a chance to stay at shortstop with his solid range and improving arm strength.

THE FUTURE: Santana was frequently asked about in trade discussions before the Cubs landed him. Some evaluators see a utility future, but others think he could be an everyday middle infielder at his peak.

TRACK RECORD: The Cubs paid $1.2 million to the Mexico City Red Devils for the rights to sign Verdugo in 2017, continuing the club's scouting push into Mexico. Verdugo struggled in his first year after signing, but he rebounded with a strong year in the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2019 and was targeted by other clubs at the 2020 trade deadline.

SCOUTING REPORT: Verdugo's main draw is his bat. He is a mature hitter with a selective approach and solid bat speed. He has a lot of moving parts in his swing and gets streaky when he falls in and out of sync, but at his best he controls the strike zone, rarely strikes out and drives the ball hard to all fields. Verdugo signed as a shortstop but projects to move to third base as he fills out. He has solid actions in the field and throws well from varied angles on the run, although he occasionally plays too fast and makes errors as a result.

THE FUTURE: Verdugo has a chance to hit for average and power as an everyday third baseman. He is many years from that ceiling, however, and will aim to make his full-season debut in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Clarke had Tommy John surgery in high school and struggled his first two years at Southern California, but he clicked working with Bethesda pitching coach Bill Sizemore in the Cal Ripken Collegiate League after his sophomore season. Clarke followed with a breakthrough junior year as the Trojans' closer and was drafted by the Cubs in the fourth round, signing for $426,600.

SCOUTING REPORT: Clarke's success came as a closer, but the Cubs believe he can start. He's a big, 6-foot-7 righthander who throws a lot of strikes with a sinking 92-95 mph fastball and a big-breaking curveball in the low 80s that he commands to make it a plus or better pitch. His sinking heater and downer curveball induce a steady stream of ground balls and prevent hard contact in the air. Clarke complements his two primary pitches with a darting slider in the mid 80s and a changeup with solid depth. He is a good athlete for his size and has a smooth, repeatable delivery that allows him to fill up the strike zone.

THE FUTURE: Clarke will jump to full-season ball in 2021. He will continue developing as a starter and has a fallback as a late-inning reliever.

TRACK RECORD: McAvene had Tommy John surgery his freshman year at Louisville but rebounded to become the Cardinals' lockdown closer by the time he was a junior. The Cubs drafted him in the third round and signed him for $500,000, then sent him out as a starter at short-season Eugene in his pro debut.

SCOUTING REPORT: McAvene has a high-powered arsenal fronted by a 93-96 mph fastball that touches 98-99 in short stints. He has a high-effort delivery with a pronounced head whack, but he's strong enough to repeat his mechanics and pound the strike zone. His fastball gets lots of swings and misses in the strike zone, and he complements it with a hard, sharp slider with unique depth that has a chance to be a wipeout offering. He has rarely used a changeup in his career and needs to develop one.

THE FUTURE: McAvene's history, pitch mix and effortful delivery point to a relief future, but the Cubs see the athleticism and control to give him a chance to start. He's set to make his full-season debut in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Made trained in the same program as fellow Cubs 2019 international signee Ronnier Quintero and signed for $1.5 million out of the Dominican Republic. He hit well in games as an amateur and was set to make his pro debut in 2020 before the coronavirus pandemic canceled the minor league season.

SCOUTING REPORT: Made is a wiry, high-waisted athlete with a lot of present ability and plenty of room to get stronger. His quick hands and strong wrists give him surprising thump for his lean frame, and he makes a lot of contact with good hand-eye coordination and a mature, selective approach. As he adds weight and strength, he has the potential to hit for both average and power. Made should stick at shortstop even as he gets bigger. He has good instincts and actions at the position, ranges well in all directions and has a plus, accurate arm that could become plus-plus as he gets stronger.

THE FUTURE: Made is set to make his professional debut in 2021. He's far from the majors, but he is the Cubs' best pure shortstop prospect outside of Ed Howard.

TRACK RECORD: Steele became the highest-drafted Mississippi high school pitcher in 15 years when the Cubs selected him in the fifth round in 2014 and signed him for $1 million. He had Tommy John surgery in 2017, missed most of 2018 recovering and was limited by an oblique injury in 2019, but he rebounded to earn his first big league callup in 2020. He didn't get to pitch before returning to the alternate training site, and then suffered a hamstring injury.

SCOUTING REPORT: The Cubs prepared Steele for a bullpen role at the alternate site and saw his stuff tick up in shorter stints. His fastball jumped to 94-96 mph with riding life, and he integrated a sharp, mid-80s slider into his arsenal that was rarely used before. He still has his downer, 76-80 mph curveball that was his best pitch as a starter and a usable changeup with late fade. Steele struggled to keep a consistent rhythm in his delivery as a starter and suffered control problems, but he throws enough strikes in relief.

THE FUTURE: The Cubs haven't given up on Steele as a starter but like what he offers in the bullpen. His major league debut should come in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Rivas was regarded as one of the college baseball's best pure hitters at Arizona and was drafted by the A's in the fourth round in 2018. He raced to Triple-A in his first full season and followed with a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League, leading the Cubs to acquire him for Tony Kemp.

SCOUTING REPORT: Rivas is a bit of a throwback as a sweet-swinging first baseman with modest power. He is extremely disciplined at the plate and rarely chases outside the strike zone. He's a tough at-bat who grinds pitchers down, draws his walks and hits the ball where it's pitched, using the whole field. Rivas mostly lines singles and doubles into the outfield. Evaluators question whether he will surpass 15 home runs, but believe he may hit enough doubles for a decent slugging percentage. Rivas is a top-notch defensive first baseman who briefly pitched in college and has above-average arm strength.

THE FUTURE: Rivas' professional approach and hitting ability have him close to the majors. Whether he accesses more power will determine if he becomes an everyday player.

TRACK RECORD: Nwogu attended Michigan on an academic scholarship to study computer engineering and was a recruited walk-on to the baseball team. He was nearly cut in fall ball as a freshman but rebounded to become a three-year starting outfielder. He led the Wolverines in on-base percentage and slugging percentage as a sophomore to lead them to the College World Series finals and was off to a scorching start in 2020 before the season shut down. The Cubs drafted him in the third round and signed him for $678,600.

SCOUTING REPORT: Nwogu received Division I football scholarship offers in high school and is still built like a linebacker at 6-foot-3, 235 pounds. That strength and size yields plus-plus raw power to go with plus speed on the bases. Scouts aren't sure Nwogu's funky, top-hand heavy swing will work against pro pitching. He does have a good bat path and controls the strike zone, providing optimism he'll make enough contact to access his power. Nwogu played left field before moving to center at Michigan, but projects to move back to left with his uneven routes and below-average arm.

THE FUTURE: Nwogu's future depends on his swing development. He has a chance to become a power-hitting corner outfielder if everything clicks.

TRACK RECORD: Caissie starred as the top power hitter on Canada's junior national team and generated buzz in the spring when he hit a home run over the batter's eye at the Blue Jays' spring training stadium. The Padres drafted him 45th overall and signed him for just over $1.2 million to forgo a Michigan commitment. Caissie briefly played at the Padres alternate training site, but he got hit by a pitch on the elbow at the start of instructional league and missed most of the fall. The Cubs acquired him as one of five players for Yu Darvish after the season.

SCOUTING REPORT: Caissie is a big lefthanded hitter with plus raw power and room to add even more strength. He posts some of the top exit velocities and longest home run distances in every environment he plays. Caissie's swing can get long and he is prone to striking out, but when he gets a fastball over the plate he crushes it. He is a hard worker who spends every free moment in the batting cage. Caissie is much more raw defensively. He has average speed and an average arm, but he's not comfortable with high fly balls and is still learning proper footwork.

THE FUTURE: Caissie has the power for 30-plus home runs if he can make enough contact. His pro debut awaits in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Pinango hit well in games as an amateur in Venezuela and was one of the Cubs' top signings in their 2018 international class. He burnished his reputation as a top hitter in his pro debut in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League, leading the league with 86 hits and finishing fourth with a .358 batting average.

SCOUTING REPORT: Pinango has unique bat-to-ball skills for his age. He is a patient hitter who rarely chases and has an advanced feel for picking out pitches he can drive. Pinango has a quick, impactful swing and drives the ball hard to all fields on a line. He has doubles power now and may grow into home run power as he matures physically. Pinango enhances his offensive game with his speed and went 27-for-34 on stolen bases in the DSL. He plays center field now and has a chance to stick there, although he may move to a corner depending on how his body develops.

THE FUTURE: The Cubs already consider Pinango one of the best pure hitters in their system. He should make his stateside debut in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Miller was drafted by the Cubs in the fourth round out of Division II California Baptist following a dominant showing in the Cape Cod League the previous summer. He progressively made his way up the minors and took a step forward at the Cubs' alternate training site in 2020, leading to his major league debut in August.

SCOUTING REPORT: Miller is a big, sturdy righthander who generates lots of natural movement on his pitches. His 90-95 mph fastball features natural cutting action and late ride at the top of the strike zone, and he backs it up with a true cutter in the upper 80s that also plays at the top of the zone. Miller mostly relies on those two pitches. He has a low-to-mid-80s slider that cuts late and a changeup, but both are fringy-to-below average offerings. Miller struggled with his control in the majors but was efficient in the minors with above-average control. He avoids barrels and generates soft contact more than swings and misses.

THE FUTURE: The Cubs used Miller as a spot starter/long reliever in his debut. He'll try to force his way into a larger role in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Thompson was Auburn's ace the moment he stepped foot on campus as a freshman, but missed his junior year after having Tommy John surgery and his stuff wasn't as crisp when he returned. The Cubs still drafted him in the third round in 2017 and signed him for $511,900. Thompson moved quickly to Double-A in his first full season, but he made only one start in 2019 before going on the injured list with elbow inflammation and received a platelet-rich plasma injection. He returned to pitch well in the Arizona Fall League and spent 2020 at the alternate training site.

SCOUTING REPORT: Thompson is the proverbial bulldog on the mound who stays on the attack, fills up the strike zone and doesn't give in. His stuff is modest with a 90-93 mph fastball, above-average 85-87 mph slider, average 79-81 mph curveball and average 83-85 mph changeup, but he expertly sequences his pitches to keep hitters off balance. He moves the ball around the strike zone with plus control and avoids self-induced mistakes like walks, hit batters and wild pitches.

THE FUTURE: The Cubs added Thompson to the 40-man roster after the 2020 season. If healthy, he has a chance to make his major league debut in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: After signing Ronnier Quintero in 2019, the Cubs added another promising Venezuelan catcher in their 2020-21 class with Ballesteros, who trained with Alvaro Diaz. Ballesteros grew up playing a lot of baseball, including at the U-12 World Cup in Taiwan in 2015 when he hit cleanup as the youngest player on the Venezuelan team. The Cubs signed him on Jan. 15.

SCOUTING REPORT: Ballesteros consistently performed well in games in Venezuela, managing his at-bats well for his age with a selective approach and good bat control from the left side. His contact skills and plate discipline give him the foundation for strong on-base skills for a catcher, and when he connects it's often for hard contact. He can drive the ball for extra-base damage now with occasional over-the-fence shots and a chance to grow into average power. Ballesteros has a stout, blocky that gives some scouts concerns and about his future physical projection. He has a strong upper body but will need to work to stay on top of his conditioning and maintain his mobility behind the plate. Ballesteros is an offensive-minded catcher who needs more work with his blocking and receiving, though he is surprisingly quick behind the plate getting rid of the ball with a strong arm and pop times into the 1.9s in games.

THE FUTURE: The trek up the minor league ladder for teenage catchers is long and treacherous. Ballesteros will begin his climb in Rookie ball in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Patterson took a line drive to the head in college that caused severe concussion symptoms for nearly two years, but he recovered to win Northeast Conference pitcher of the year as a senior in 2018. The Cubs drafted him in the 32nd round. Patterson posted a 1.69 ERA as he jumped three levels to Double-A in his first full season, and the Cubs brought him to their alternate training site in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Patterson's fastball previously sat 88-91 mph but rose to 91-94 mph after the Cubs made an adjustment to his lower half. That velocity bump has helped him be more aggressive, and he still has advanced pitchability from when he threw softer. Patterson complements his fastball with a downer, low-80s curveball that helps him generate ground balls. He is capable of missing bats, but he primarily induces weak contact on the ground. His changeup is developing but flashes average. Patterson struggled with walks in college, but he's shown an easy, efficient delivery and improved strike-throwing in pro ball.

THE FUTURE: Patterson fits in the Cubs' plans as a future swingman or lefthanded reliever. He has a chance to make his major league debut in 2021.