Two Cubs players rank among the Top 50 prospects

After Cubs catcher Kyle Schwarber was promoted, the Cubs, who have the best farm system in the MLB, have two prospects among the top 50.

ESPN baseball analyst Keith Law breaks down the 50 best MLB prospects, and the Cubs shortstop prospect Gleyber Torres was ranked 30th and outfielder prospect Billy McKinney was ranked 47th.

Gleyber Torres, SS, 18 years old

Torres won’t turn 19 until December and is in the top 15 in the Midwest League in OBP. But it’s his defense that really stands out right now, both his range and his instincts at shortstop. He doesn’t get mentioned with the Cubs’ big four of Bryant, Addison Russell, Jorge Soler and Kyle Schwarber, but he should be just as untouchable in trade talks.

Billy McKinney, OF, 20 years old

McKinney was the second prospect the Cubs acquired, along with Addison Russell, last July 5 in the Jeff Samardzija-Jason Hammel trade, and is already raking in Double-A at age 20, with a .298/.354/.438 line in 52 games there since he was promoted from high-A in May. He’s limited to left field, and the power may be more like 15-20 homers (less than some anticipated), but he seems like a very good bet to post strong OBPs with good defense for that position.

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