Brennen Davis isn’t the only Cubs position prospect who is going to get some time at big league camp. Today the Cubs added two infield prospects to the group, and it’s a couple guys who were both getting a lot of positive attention in the fall: Chase Strumpf and Andy Weber (Bastian).
Strumpf, who was recently ranked the 7th best second base prospect in baseball, will be coming to big league camp as a non-roster invitee. The 2019 second rounder crushed it at instructs, but otherwise has only six games played in a full-season league (A-ball at the end of 2019). Strumpf turns 23 next month, and is generally considered one of the top ten or so prospects in the system. Bryan ranked him 9th in the system this offseason, and here’s the write-up:
One thing I’ll say ahead of time: what a big season it is for the 5-9 spots on this list. When we look back on the 2021 season and discuss whether it was successful developmentally, the performance of the five guys in those spots in particular will be a real factor.
Previously: the intro, 40-21 and 20-11. Enjoy, and thanks for reading. And don’t miss out on my live chat with Brennen Davis at 3:30pm CT over at the BN Instagram!
10. Cory Abbott, SP, 25, Iowa (Stats). Acquired: 2nd round, 2017.
Skill Set: Cubs love the edge he plays with, and he benefits from an attack-attack-attack mentality on the mound. I believe the slider is more plus than it gets credit for, a belief that is backed up by the results (as a reminder, hitters went 25-for-213 in his last 11 AA starts). Can pitch backwards off his two breaking balls, or pitch conventionally, as the command of his fastball is generally above-average.