Marquez signed with the Cubs for $600K in 2015. He started last year in Extended Spring Training before a velocity jump and subsequent breakout at Short-Season Eugene pushed him near the top of this list. Marquez was working 89-to-93 mph on the backfields before shipping out to the Northwest League, but once he got there, the fastball ticked up to the 93-to-97 mph range. The timing in his delivery will need to be adjusted in order to improve control and command, but his arm works extremely fluidly through a three-quarters slot. His changeup flashes above-average potential, and though we saw his slider a bit inconsistent from outing-to-outing in 2018, it also projects to at least average. He’s raw, but we’re high on Marquez’ potential and see the ingredients of a power mid-rotation lefty.

(#5) Aramis Ademan, SS

Ceiling: 50 Risk: High ETA: 2021 Role Description: Everyday Player

Ht/Wt: 5’11” / 160 lbs. B/T: R/R Highest Level: A+ Age (as of April 1, 2019): 20y, 6m

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One of the highest-profile amateurs in the 2015 international class, Ademan signed with the Cubs for a $2 million amateur bonus. He struggled against older competition last year in High-A, though Ademan’s tools stood out above his pedestrian numbers. He’s a very instinctive player, and that shows up most on defense. Ademan plays an above-average shortstop and projects as a 60-grade defender at a premium position. He’s very light on his feet ranging to both sides, with soft hands and a lightning-fast transfer that plays up an already above-average throwing arm. Ademan is still growing into his body, and that lack of strength was behind his offensive woes last year more than a lack of hitting ability. It’s a short, simple swing with signs of batspeed, hinting he could develop a playable hit tool as he fills out. There won’t ever be much power, but considering the defensive value, Ademan will just need to be a competent hit/on-base producer to be a regular. His ceiling is an everyday shortstop with projection on the bat. His defensive ability will get him to the big leagues even if the offense doesn’t come on like we think it can.

(#7) Brennen Davis, OF

Ceiling: 50 Risk: Extreme ETA: 2023 Role Description: Everyday Player

Ht/Wt: 6’4” / 175 lbs. B/T: R/R Highest Level: R Age (as of April 1, 2019): 19y, 6m

Davis was a two-sport star (basketball and baseball) as an Arizona high schooler, and that athleticism shows up on the diamond. He signed for $1.1 million as the 62nd overall pick last year, showing a high-ceiling mix of size, speed, and power in the AZL. His frame and tools are in the Aaron Altherr or Michael A. Taylor mold: a rangy center-diamond athlete with 20/20 potential that’s accompanied by hit tool questions. Davis has big raw power that will only come on more as he fills out a 6-foot-4 frame and spends more time fully focused on baseball. The length of his swing and general feel at the plate still needs reps, and the most likely outcome for this type of prospect is usually a lower-average, high-power producer that always comes with some whiffs. Despite his height, the speed and mobility are here to remain in CF. Davis covers plenty of ground with long strides, projecting to impact the game defensively. He’s a high-variance prospect with the raw tools to jump into the FV 55 tier if everything comes together.

(#8) Cole Roederer, OF

Ceiling: 50 Risk: Extreme ETA: 2023 Role Description: Everyday Player

Ht/Wt: 6’0” / 175 lbs. B/T: L/L Highest Level: R Age (as of April 1, 2019): 19y, 6m

Roederer’s strong UCLA commitment scared off some teams as a high school senior, but the Cubs’ decision to stay on him seems wise after a strong pro debut. Roederer signed for $1.2 million as the 77th overall pick in last year’s draft, slashing .275/.354/.465 with enthusing peripherals and contact numbers in the AZL. He’s a compact, muscular 6-footer with intriguing power potential. His hands work in a tight loop through the swing, already able to lift with authority to the pullside. He shows a plan at the plate, aware of the zone with the hitting feel to draw fastballs to drive. He has the moxie to steal bases, displaying a good understanding of when to take a base. Defensively, he’s currently a CF whose instincts and positioning play up adequate straight line speed for the position. There’s some chance Roederer moves down the defensive spectrum, but his bat is much more valuable—and far more likely to avoid potential “tweener” status—if he’s able to stay up the middle. Roederer’s polished and well-rounded game could move to full-season ball quickly. His ceiling is an everyday outfielder that can do a bit of everything.

Yovanny Cruz, RHP

Ceiling: 45 Risk: Extreme ETA: 2022 Role Description: Swingman

Ht/Wt: 6’1” / 190 lbs. B/T: R/R Highest Level: SS-A Age (as of April 1, 2019): 19y, 7m

Cruz signed for just $60K in 2016, and that looks like an absolute steal two years afterwards. He was excellent in the AZL and made his last start of the year in the Northwest League, an impressive scoreless five-inning outing. Cruz looks taller than 6-foot-1 because of long, spindly limbs. He’s extremely athletic and projectable, able to throw advanced strikes for a teenager from a clean delivery. The fastball sits 92-to-94 mph, and it’s easy to see Cruz adding a few more ticks of velocity as he fills out. His go-to secondary pitch is a changeup, though a three-quarters breaking ball also flashes signs of turning into an average future offering. Cruz is a breakout candidate in 2019 who will move up this list with a strong showing in full-season ball.

Richard Gallardo, RHP

Ceiling: 45 Risk: Extreme ETA: 2024 Role Description: Swingman

Ht/Wt: 6’1” / 187 lbs. B/T: R/R Highest Level: DNP Age (as of April 1, 2019): 17y, 6m

The Venezuelan righty was considered the consensus top arm on this summer’s international market, signing with the Cubs for $1 million. His 6-foot-1 and 190-pound frame is physically advanced, already fairly mature but athletic and strong. The fastball works between 90-to-94 mph with more control than most pitching prospects this age. Gallardo’s curveball flashes sharp down action, and both pitches have the chance to finish plus in time. He has some feel for a changeup and should be able to keep developing it as a third offering. The fact that Gallardo is already in the FV 45 tier as a 17-year-old with no pro experience is a testament to his long-term upside. He has every chance to continue moving up this list as he climbs through the system.

Riley Thompson, RHP

Ceiling: 45 Risk: Extreme ETA: 2022 Role Description: Swingman

Ht/Wt: 6’3” / 205 lbs. B/T: R/R Highest Level: SS-A Age (as of April 1, 2019): 22y, 8m

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Thompson drew interest from pro scouts as a high school senior but hurt his elbow two weeks before the draft. He ultimately required Tommy John surgery, honoring his Louisville commitment and redshirting his true freshman season. Thompson always flashed intriguing stuff but had an up-and-down college career, so his strong pro debut was a pleasant surprise. He pitched to a 2.84 ERA with as many strikeouts (25) as innings pitched (25.1) last summer in the Northwest League, displaying two potentially above-average pitches. His fastball sits in the mid-90s, touching 98 mph at best. There’s some rigidity to his delivery that impacts the in-zone command, though his plus velocity gives him some flexibility as to where his fastball finishes over the plate. Thompson’s best secondary pitch is a hard curveball, a big 12-to-6 downer that gets swinging strikes at its best. He will have to clean up some parts of his mechanics and develop a crude changeup in order to remain a starter at higher levels. The fastball/curveball combo would be impactful in a ‘pen role if durability or arsenal depth becomes a concern.

Reivaj Garcia, 2B

Ceiling: 45 Risk: Extreme ETA: 2023 Role Description: Role Player

Ht/Wt: 5’11” / 175 lbs. B/T: R/R Highest Level: R Age (as of April 1, 2019): 17y, 6m

The Cubs purchased Garcia’s contract rights from a Mexican League club for $500K in 2017. He was the youngest player to appear in an official Minor League game stateside last year, only turning 17-years-old midway through the AZL season. He stands out for his unique blend of youth and barrel-feel, having slashed .302/.362/.355 against much older competition. The switch-hitter makes consistent contact from both sides, showing a short swing that projects to add more power as he gets stronger. Garcia’s current defensive tools profile better at 2B than SS. He’s still likely at least a year away from full-season ball but will be interesting to watch develop at the complex level.

Jeremiah Estrada, RHP

Ceiling: 45 Risk: Extreme ETA: 2022 Role Description: Swingman

Ht/Wt: 6’1” / 185 lbs. B/T: R/R Highest Level: R Age (as of April 1, 2019): 20y, 5m

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Estrada signed for $1 million from the prep ranks in 2017. He pitched briefly in the AZL that summer, though an injury kept him from official games last year. Scouts got a look at him during Extended Spring Training, where a tailing fastball sat in the 92-to-93 mph range. Both a curveball and changeup show potential to develop into workable pitches. We’ll get a better feel for how Estrada has grown as a prospect since turning pro by seeing him in regular game action in 2019.

Nelson Velazquez, OF

Ceiling: 45 Risk: Extreme ETA: 2022 Role Description: Role Player

Ht/Wt: 6’0” / 190 lbs. B/T: R/R Highest Level: A Age (as of April 1, 2019): 20y, 3m

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Velazquez was Chicago’s fifth-round pick in 2017 from a high school in Puerto Rico. He’s the type of prospect that excels in a workout setting, loaded with raw tools but lacking the present polish to translate them into game performance. The Cubs assigned him aggressively to the Midwest League to begin 2018, and he struggled mightily there before being moved back to Extended Spring Training. He fared better in the Northwest League once Short-Season ball got going, showing glimpses of his speed/power toolset by posting a .208 ISO with 12 steals. Velazquez has above-average raw power in BP, though his present hit tool grades near the bottom of the scale. He struck out in more than 30-percent of plate appearances in 2018 and has little feel for the zone or ID’ing off-speed stuff. Defensively, Velazquez has played all three outfield spots but profiles best in RF, where his plus arm, power potential, and general physicality fit the positional mold. He’s a high-variance prospect who won’t have much value if he doesn’t refine at the plate, but will move higher up this list if he can.

Jose Albertos, RHP

Ceiling: 45 Risk: Extreme ETA: 2022 Role Description: Swingman

Ht/Wt: 6’1” / 185 lbs. B/T: R/R Highest Level: A Age (as of April 1, 2019): 20y, 4m

Chicago purchased Albertos’ contract rights from a Mexican League club for $1.5 million in 2015. He looked like one of the more promising young arms in the system before a nightmarish 2018 season. Albertos had the yips last year and completely lost his control, requiring the Cubs to send him to Extended Spring Training and later the Northwest League to get back on track. That never happened, and the 20-year-old righty enters next season with a ton of question marks. His fastball has touched 97 mph in the past, backed up by a changeup and curveball that flash plus action. None of this will matter unless Albertos gets his control figured out. How he bounces back from 2018 will be one of the stories to watch in the Cubs’ system next year.

Richard Gallardo, RHP

Ceiling: 45 Risk: Extreme ETA: 2024 Role Description: Swingman

Ht/Wt: 6’1” / 187 lbs. B/T: R/R Highest Level: DNP Age (as of April 1, 2019): 17y, 6m

The Venezuelan righty was considered the consensus top arm on this summer’s international market, signing with the Cubs for $1 million. His 6-foot-1 and 190-pound frame is physically advanced, already fairly mature but athletic and strong. The fastball works between 90-to-94 mph with more control than most pitching prospects this age. Gallardo’s curveball flashes sharp down action, and both pitches have the chance to finish plus in time. He has some feel for a changeup and should be able to keep developing it as a third offering. The fact that Gallardo is already in the FV 45 tier as a 17-year-old with no pro experience is a testament to his long-term upside. He has every chance to continue moving up this list as he climbs through the system. Brendon Little, LHP Ceiling: 40 Risk: High ETA: 2021 Role Description: Middle Relief

Ht/Wt: 6’1” / 195 lbs. B/T: L/L Highest Level: A Age (as of April 1, 2019): 22y, 7m

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