Several Cubs have been performing well in the just-completed Arizona Fall League season and also in winter ball in Mexico and Venezuela. On the hitting side, I would single out Brad Snyder, Robinson Chirinos, Starlin Castro, Josh Vitters, Matt Camp and Andres Blanco.
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Also doing good work are pitchers Thomas Diamond, James Russell and Jeff Samardzija. Here are the numbers:
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Chirinos is a middle infielder who converted to catcher in 2008, and began to hit with authority at Daytona this year. Apparently he is becoming a very good catcher: Jim Callis referred to him recently as the best defensive catching prospect in a system that includes Welington Castillo and Michael Brenly. Chirinos will be 26 next June and has yet to establish himself in double-A, but two things about him intrigue me. He seems to have found himself as a hitter; and in terms of versatility he is off the charts, since he is highly competent at middle infield, third base and catcher. Where do you find a defensive combination like that? If you have a substitute infielder who can actually catch–not like Jake Fox or Casey McGehee, who didn’t catch an inning for Milwaukee–it’s a twofer, because it frees up your second-string catcher for pinch-hitting duties. Or else Chirinos is your backup catcher and you free up a roster spot.
After being drafted by the Indians in the first round in 2003, outfielder Brad Snyder displayed every tool except the bat-related ones, until the Indians released him and the Cubs signed him last year. Snyder has done nothing but hit with the Cubs (and now with Mexicali in winter ball). His season totals with Iowa are deceiving. He hit his 12th home run on May 17th, and broke his wrist sliding the following night. His numbers at that point were .317/.361/.669/1.020, with 12 homers and 35 RBI. He has produced a similar OPS this fall in Mexico; but when he returned to the Iowa lineup in August, his numbers fell off. It’s likely that he was still recovering from the injury. If he can hit, Snyder can do it all, including steal bases. He has more SBs (12) batting cleanup at Mexicali than the leadoff man, Matt Camp.
I believe that Camp, Chirinos, Diamond and Snyder are eligible for the December Rule 5 draft, so that’s something to keep an eye on.
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