Tuesday, February 16, 2010

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!

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