Jason Dubois

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Chicago Cubs #10 prospect in 2005
  The Cubs didn't protect Dubois after he led the Florida State League with a .562 slugging percentage in 2002, and they temporarily lost him to the Blue Jays in the major league Rule 5 draft. After returning to Chicago, he won the Arizona Fall League MVP award in 2003 and led the system in slugging last year. Managers rated Dubois the best power hitter in the Pacific Coast League. Though some scouts think he doesn't pull enough pitches, he's strong enough to drive the ball out to the opposite field with ease. He has a strong arm, no surprise considering he won 19 games as a pitcher at Virginia Commonwealth, and decent defensive instincts. Though Dubois draws a fair amount of walks, he can get impatient and needs to do a better job of waiting for pitches he can punish. He has below-average speed and range, making him just adequate at an outfield corner or first base. After the Cubs declined to pick up Moises Alou's $11.5 million option, Dubois figured to get a chance at playing time in left field. Then the Sammy Sosa trade with the Orioles included Jerry Hairston, who could get a long look in left field, as will Todd Hollandsworth. Dubois offers more offensive upside than either.
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  Ranked Chicago Cubs #12 prospect in 2004
  The Cubs nearly lost Dubois a year ago. He had a solid track record of hitting, setting the career home run record and winning the 2000 Colonial Athletic Association triple crown at Virginia Commonwealth, then leading the Florida State League in slugging and ranking second in on-base percentage in 2002. Nevertheless, Chicago didn't protect him on its 40- man roster and watched Toronto select him in the major league Rule 5 draft. When Dubois went 3-for-18 in big league camp, the Jays decided they couldn't keep him on their big league roster and the Cubs gladly took him back. Dubois responded with another solid season and was named Arizona Fall League MVP after hitting .358 with a league-best nine homers. Chicago likely will buy out Moises Alou's $11.5 million option for 2005, and David Kelton and Dubois are the best in-house candidates to take over in left field. Dubois has more raw power than Kelton, which could be his ticket to winning the job. His size and his opposite-field pop are signs that he annually can double the 15 homers he hit last season. Kelton is more of a pure hitter, but Dubois has better patience and on-base skills. He's somewhat of a dead high ball hitter, but he's doing a good job of closing some of his holes. He has below-average speed and isn't the athlete Kelton is, but Dubois can play either outfield corner or first base adequately. He won 19 games as a pitcher at VCU and his arm strength helps him in the outfield. He'll spend most of this season in Triple-A, preparing for the challenge of 2005.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #31 prospect in 2003
  Dubois was one of college baseball's top two-way players at Virginia Commonwealth, where he set the school's career home run record while winning the Colonial Athletic Association triple crown in 2000. He also won 19 games on the mound, but his power at the plate steered the Cubs to make him a position player. Dubois' combination of power and on-base skills intrigued the Blue Jays, who selected him in the 2002 major league Rule 5 draft. While he was the third of their three selections (after righthanders Aquilino Lopez and Gary Majewski), he has the highest ceiling because he can be an everyday player. He led the high Class A Florida State League in slugging percentage and ranked second in on-base percentage last year. Despite missing six weeks with a wrist injury, he also ranked in the top four in the FSL triple-crown categories, thanks to his excellent strength, strike-zone knowledge and plate discipline. His pitching background hints at his strong arm. His weaknesses are his below-average speed and his history of injuries, which also includes a stress fracture in his left foot in 2000. Dubois, who also has played some first base, might have a chance to stick as an extra bat on the Jays' 25-man roster.