Chicago Cubs Pitching Prospects #16-20: Preseason 2016

It is now 81 days until opening day and that means that the time is now for the preseason prospect lists to be coming out. Fangraphs and Baseball America were the most recent lists to come out and while most prospect lists combine pitchers and position players, I feel like it is difficult to combine the two when it comes to prospects. Pitchers take a much longer time to progress through the minors and are much more difficult to project as future big leaguers. That being said, here is part one of the Top 20 countdown for Chicago Cubs pitching prospects.

20. Corey Black

Age: 24

Throws: Right

Height: 5’11”

Weight: 175

Highest Level: AA Tennessee

86 IP, 4.92 ERA, 1.407 WHIP, 10.6 K/9, 4.9 BB/9

Permanently converted to the bullpen. Electric stuff including a mid-to-high 90s fastball. Needs to get his control and command issues under control before he can make the jump to Chicago.

19. Daury Torrez

Age: 22

Throws: Right

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 210

Highest Level: A+ Myrtle Beach

134.1 IP, 3.75 ERA, 1.176 WHIP, 5.8 K/9, 1.4 BB/9

Exceeding in the low minors. Does not quite have the stuff to necessarily progress well through the upper levels. Very good control leading to low walk numbers but needs to improve command.

18. Jake Stinnett

Age: 23

Throws: Right

Height: 6’4”

Weight: 202

Highest Level: A South Bend

117 IP, 4.46 ERA, 1.427 WHIP, 7.0 K/9, 3.8 BB/9

Being a four year college player he should progress through the minors quicker than most pitchers. That being said, a lot of the little things don’t seem to be clicking (consistency, mound athleticism).

17. Brad Markey

Age: 23

Throws: Right

Height: 5’11”

Weight: 185

Highest Level: A+ Myrtle Beach

84 IP, 1.61 ERA, 0.821 WHIP, 6.8 K/9, 1.1 BB/9

Always showed terrific command and control. Former reliever has just turned into a starter the past couple of seasons. Had a huge breakout season in 2015 (even though his previous years were nothing to scoff at).

16. Paul Blackburn

Age: 22

Throws: Right

Height: 6’1”

Weight: 195

Highest Level: A+ Myrtle Beach

89.2 IP, 3.11 ERA, 1.238 WHIP, 6.3 K/9, 2.2 BB/9

Former first round (supplemental) pick took a couple of years to get it figured out but his past two seasons have been fantastic. Dramatically lowered his walk rates. If he can continue this trend he will shoot up this board come midseason 2016.