2061.12: Bears' Cubs - Middle Infield Prospects

[BaseClogger]

6/6/2061


I haven't updated this series since 2059 but now that the 2061 amateur draft is complete it seems like the timing is right to revive it. Since the last time I covered middle infielders I essentially gave away Fernando Segura to Boise and traded Zero Dimotsios to Mexico City to rent Marco Acheson.

This current crop doesn't include any dynamic prospects but has lots of depth of guys who should get at least a cup of coffee at the BBA level, either thanks to already hitting in AAA or real deal shortstop defense. Assigning letter grades to these guys was like throwing darts at a board (if every spot on the dart board was between C- and honorable mention). They're basically a big group of high floor, low ceiling contributors. Hopefully one of them breaks out to look like a future starter.


A
None

B
None

C
C- Fernando Estrada
C- Frank Jardine

D
D+ Jason Steward
D+ Necdet Ecevit
D+ Jose Barron
D Cyrille Ricciardi
D Alberto Hernandez

Honorable Mention
Jim Pollard
Eddie Hunter
Jose Fernandez
Wasim Nasser
Luis Hernandez


Fernando Estrada just got the call to San Fernando to replace the departed Niaz Minhas. He's been putting up nearly .400 OBPs in the minor leagues since 2059 and looks to be an average-ish defender at second. I don't think he's going to be an everyday player but should at least put up positive WARs in the BBA. 2054 first round pick Frank Jardine offers more upside due to his career .345/.392/.545 batting line in AAA and competent defense not just at second base but also the corner outfield. His biggest challenge is staying healthy (he's once again out for most of 2061).

Steward and Ecevit are similar prospects. They both got added to the 40-man roster in 2060 and have the defensive chops to stick at shortstop but questions remain about their ability to hit enough to be an everyday player. Steward has the better shot since he's hitting a little bit in AA and has a truly elite glove. Jose Barron was our second round pick in the 2061 draft. He was the only guy in the draft with 9 range and 5 potential contact if I remember correctly so I convinced myself he was worth the reach. Riccardi's star has dimmed considerably since the last time we did this feature, having seen his base offensive potential ratings drop from 6-6-5 to 5-5-5 (CON-POW-EYE). As an international complex guy he'll have a tough adjustment to rookie ball. I waffled putting Alberto Hernandez down in the honorable mention section but stuck with a D rating thanks to 7 potential contact. Realistically its a razor thin margin between Hernandez and those below him.

The honorable mentions either have 6 potential contact and look like they can play second base or they have 5 potential contact and look like they can hold their own at shortstop.

[BaseClogger]

I think I was too low on Steward and should have had him at C- just for his glove. He's now in AAA.