Jae-Hoon Ha

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Chicago Cubs #18 prospect in 2012
  Ha has been full of surprises since signing as part of the Cubs' Korean pipeline in 2008. A catcher as an amateur, he debuted as an outfielder before moving behind plate again in instructional league that fall. He developed a mental block about making throws to second base, however, so his catching career ended. Chicago didn't think he was ready for full-season ball as a teenager in 2010, but he batted .317 after arriving in low Class A in late May. Last year, he hit his way to Double-A while establishing himself as the best defensive center fielder in the system. Ha doesn't walk much, but he doesn't chase pitches out of the zone and almost never gives up at-bats. He has a short stroke and some deceptive pop, backspinning enough balls to hit 15 homers a season. He has plus speed but is an adventure on the basepaths, running into outs and getting caught 17 times in 30 steal attempts in 2011. Ha has a quick first step and gets outstanding jumps in center, enabling him to track down balls from gap to gap. He hasn't had any problems throwing in the outfield, and his strong, accurate arm would fit in right field. Ha may not be able to keep the Cubs' center-field job away from Matt Sczcur in the long term--and he might not provide enough offense to be a regular on a corner--but should beat him to Chicago.
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  Ranked Chicago Cubs #28 prospect in 2011
  Though the Cubs signed Ha as a catcher out of Korea in 2008, he made his pro debut as an outfielder the following year at Boise. They worked him behind the plate in instructional league afterward, but he couldn't overcome a case of the yips on throws to second base. Ha returned to right field and had a strong 2010 season in low Class A at age 19, leading Peoria in batting (.317) and slugging (.468) after arriving from extended spring training in late May. He caught fire in the final month, when he hit .364/.370/.537, and one club official credited him with having the most competitive at-bats of any Chicago farmhand. Ha added some loft and backspin to his stroke last year, and he projects to have power to the gaps while maxing out at 15 homers per season. He could hit for a solid average as well, though a more disciplined approach would help. He has average speed and runs the bases well. Ha gets good breaks on balls from the outfield corners and he can fill in as a center fielder for short stints. With his strong, accurate arm, he fits best in right field. Whether Ha can develop into an everyday outfielder at the big league level remains to be seen, but he definitely has caught the Cubs' attention. He'll advance to high Class A in 2011.