Eloy Jimenez Steps Outside Torres’ Shadow

Best Player: Outfielder Eloy Jimenez, the Cubs’ top signing from the same international class as shortstop Gleyber Torres, spent much of the past two seasons overshadowed by Torres in the organization—until Jimenez had a breakout Midwest League season and Torres was traded to the Yankees in the trade deadline deal for Aroldis Chapman.

In 111 games for low Class A South Bend, the Midwest League player of the year challenged for the batting title while finishing first in slugging, OPS and RBIs.

“It’s hard to believe when you look at him sometimes that he’s 19, when you see how advanced he is at the plate with his approach,” farm director Jaron Madison, who considers the 6-foot-4 Jimenez’s ability to stay healthy all year a major step in his development, said. “He still swings and misses, but he’s made adjustments.”

Best Pitcher: Righty Trevor Clifton had the breakout season the Cubs hoped for, leading the high Class A Carolina League in ERA, WHIP (1.16) and opponents average (.225) while going 7-7, 2.72 overall. He led the organization with 129 strikeouts in 119 innings.

Also of note, Oscar De La Cruz got a late start to his season because of an especially cautious approach to forearm soreness in the spring, but the 21-year-old power righty emerged from nine starts at short-season and two A-ball levels as the Cubs’ best pitching prospect. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound De La Cruz—a converted left-side infielder—pitched just 39 innings but struck out 51 with a .210 opponent average and 1.05 WHIP.

The Cubs have him scheduled for instructional league and possibly some Dominican League play to accumulate innings.If all goes well, he should start 2017 at high Class A.

Keep An Eye On: Righthander Jose Albertos, 17, is another potential power starter in the mold of De La Cruz, with a fastball that touched 97 mph early in the season before the Cubs shut him down after one Rookie-level start because of forearm soreness.

Despite no report of structural damage, the Cubs shut him down before slowly working him back into pitching shape, and Albertos will build up some instructional league innings before going into next spring.

The 6-foot-1 build is mature for his age, and Madison calls him a “stuff guy,” who “commands both sides of the plate with a breaking ball and a 70 changeup.”