Robinson Chirinos

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Chicago Cubs #16 prospect in 2011
  Chirinos was stalling in Double-A when the Cubs decided to move him behind the plate, making him a viable prospect and even jump-starting his bat. Calling games has given him a better understanding of hitting, and he has batted .310/.416/.543 since donning the tools of ignorance. He earned Southern League all-star recognition in 2010 and hit .471 in the playoffs. Chirinos always had shown an ability to handle the bat and control the strike zone, and now he has developed average power to all fields. He projects as a possible .275 hitter with 15 homers a year. Even more surprising is how quickly he has taken to catching. Managers rated him the best defensive backstop in the SL. Chirinos receives the ball and calls games like he has been doing so for years. He has solid arm strength, though his release is long and drops his pop times into the 1.95-2.05 second range. He still threw out 32 percent of basestealers in 2010. He's working on framing pitches and other nuances of the position, and he has the soft hands and quick feet to make it happen. He has below-average speed but isn't a bad runner for a catcher. The Cubs don't need a starting catcher with Geovany Soto on hand, but Chirinos could be a quality backup as a useful righthanded bat who can fill in behind the plate and around the infield.
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  Ranked Chicago Cubs #26 prospect in 2010
  Signed in 2000 as an infielder, Chirinos bounced around the lower levels of the system for years, including three full seasons in low Class A. In the middle of 2008, his eighth pro season, the Cubs decided to try him behind the plate as a last resort. He has progressed so quickly that he has become the best catching prospect in the system. The move even jump-started Chirinos' bat, as he has hit .296/.416/.511 since the switch. His ability to handle the bat and his patient approach are nothing new, but now he's showing some solid pop as well. He runs better than most catchers and moves well behind the plate. Chirinos mitigates his arm strength with a long release, and he has thrown out 30 percent of basestealers in two years as a catcher. Though he needs to improve his receiving, he has soft hands and should be able to do so. Because he still needs more polish and has yet to prove he can hit Double-A pitching at age 25, the Cubs gambled on leaving Chirinos off its 40-man roster. They then sweated that decision when he ranked among the batting and home run leaders in the Venezuelan Winter League. Chirinos doesn't profile as a regular because he lacks a standout tool, but he does everything well for a catcher and could make a fine backup whose capable of playing all four infield positions in a pinch.