Top five Cubs prospects rank high among the MLB

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Before the start of the 2015 season, the Cubs had the best farm system in baseball. And after recalling their top three prospects, Kris Bryant, Addison Russell and Kyle Schwarber, the Cubs prospects are still top 10 in MLB.

According to MLB.com, these are the Cubs top five prospects:

1. Gleyber Torres, SS

The 18-year-old shortstop is hitting .310 with two home runs and 58 RBI in Single-A this season. Torres signed with the Cubs in 2013 and quickly moved up the rankings after starting the season as the seventh overall prospect.

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From MLB.com:

An extremely advanced hitter for his age, Torres has a quick, short right-handed stroke and handles the bat well. He uses the entire field and has good knowledge of the strike zone. He’s not physically imposing but has some strength that could produce close to average power once he learns to turn on pitches more often.

2. Billy McKinney, OF

McKinney was part of the trade that sent him and Addison Russell to the Cubs in exchange for Jason Hammel and Jeff Samardzija. The 20-year-old outfielder is hitting .284 with three home runs and 35 RBI in Double-A this season.

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From MLB.com:

McKinney should continue to hit because he has a smooth left-handed swing, outstanding hand-eye coordination, bat speed and an advanced approach. There’s some question as to how much power he’ll produce, but he barrels balls so easily that he should provide plenty of doubles with a peak of 18-20 homers per year.

3. Carl Edwards Jr., RHP

When the Cubs sent Matt Garza to the Texas Rangers in 2013, Edwards was the main piece in the return. The 23-year-old pitcher started out as a starter, but has recently moved into the bullpen in Triple-A. Edwards is 5-3 with a 2.75 ERA and 72 strikeouts in the minor leagues this season.

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From MLB.com:

Edwards usually operates in the low 90s with his fastball and has reached 97 mph, but the velocity doesn’t matter as much as its natural cutting life. Hitters rarely make hard contact against his heater and have tagged him for just two homers in 237 innings through three pro seasons. His secondary pitches continue to improve, with his curveball now sitting in the upper 70s with good depth and his changeup featuring some splitter action.

4. Duane Underwood, RHP

The former second round pick int the 2012 MLB Draft, Underwood is currently on the 7-day disabled list with a right elbow injury. The Cubs announced they don’t plan on shutting Underwood down this season. Underwood is 6-3 with a 2.66 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 12 starts at the High-A level this season.

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From MLB.com:

Underwood has more upside than any Cubs starting pitching prospect. He operates at 92-95 mph with his fastball and could work in the mid-90s once he adds more strength. Both of his secondary pitches elicit swings and misses too, with his hard curveball more reliable than his changeup.

5. Albert Almora, OF

The former sixth overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft is moving through the minor rather quickly. Almora is hitting .267 with five home runs and 38 RBI this season in Double-A.

From MLB.com:

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Though he barrels balls easily and delivers line drives all over the field, Almora is extremely aggressive at the plate and more advanced pitchers have used that against him. He’s a career .294 hitter through three pro seasons, but he rarely walks (.322 on-base percentage) and hasn’t been able to tap into his average raw power (.424 slugging). If he can develop a more patient approach, he could become a .280 hitter with 15 homers per year at the big league level.

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