Spring Training Preview: Non Roster Infielders

Darwin Barney

• Short Stop
• B/T: Right
• Drafted by the Cubs in the 4th round of the June 2007 draft
• Ranked as "Best Baseball IQ" and "Best Competitiveness" (tie) in the organization by Vineline
• Hit .293 with 3 homers and 49 RBIs over 137 games split between AA Tennessee and AAA Iowa in 2009
• My Prediction: Will start the year at AAA

Starlin Castro

• Short Stop
• B/T: Right
• Not drafted
• Rated top prospect in the organization by Jim Callis of Baseball America
• Rated "Best Competitiveness" (tie) in the organizaton by Vineline
• Rated Best range and best arm strength in the organization by a short stop
• Good contact hitter, hits well in the clutch
• Best defensive infielder in the system according to Baseball America
• Is the first player born in the 1990s to be invited to Cubs Spring Training; could become the first Cub born in the '90s to play in a big league game
• Played for the "World" team in the 2009 futures game (part of MLB All Star Week)
• Hit .299 over 127 games between Class A Daytona and AA Tennessee in 2009
• Hit .376 in 26 Arizona Fall League games for the Mesa Solar Sox this offseason
• Hit just .182 in 8 VWL games this offseason
• My prediction: Will start the year at AAA

Blake Lalli

• First baseman
• B/T: L/R
• Not drafted
• Has been in the organization since 2006
• Hit .314 in 118 games for AA Tennessee in 2009
• Hit .292 in 7 VWL games this winter
• My prediction: Will start the year at AAA

Kevin Millar

• First baseman
• B/T: Right
• Signed to a minor league contract with the Cubs earlier this month
• More info on him in from my Feb. 1 post
• Great clubhouse guy
• Won a World Series ring in 2004 with Boston
• My Prediction: Will make the big league roster and serve a bench role on the Cubs

Chad Tracy

• 3B/1B/OF
• B/T: Left/Right
• Signed a minor league contract with the Cubs late last month
• Will look to earn a spot on the club in Spring Training
• Click here for more info from my Jan. 27 post
• My Prediction: Will be released by the Cubs before the start of the season

Josh Vitters

• Third baseman
• B/T: Right
• Drafted by the Cubs in the first round (3rd overall) of the 2007 June draft
• Rated #3 prospect in the organization by Jim Callis of Baseball America
• Puts the ball in play a lot
• Hit .284 over 120 games split between High A Daytona and Class A Peoria
• Hit .353 in 16 Arizona Fall League games this offseason
• My prediction: Will start the year at AA

Tomorrow I'll have a full roundup on all the latest on the Cubs!