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Please vote for the Cubs #27 prospect (serious votes only, please!). Please post your rationale below.

If someone convinces you that someone else should be higher, please feel free to change your vote anytime between now and Monday.

For this vote, you should select the players you feel should be #27, #28 and #29. If we end up with multiple players having similar vote totals at the end of the voting period, there will be a run-off with just those players.

Results so far:

#1: Javier Baez
#2: Jorge Soler
#3: Albert Almora
#4: Arodys Vizcaino
#5: Dan Vogelbach
#6: Brett Jackson
#7: Juan Paniagua
#8: Christian Villanueva
#9: Dillon Maples
#10: Josh Vitters
#11: Pierce Johnson
#12: Junior Lake
#13: Jeimer Candelario
#14: Duane Underwood
#15: Matt Szczur
#16: Arismendy Alcantara
#17: Ronald Torreyes
#18: Marco Hernandez
#19: Gioskar Amaya
#20: Alberto Cabrera
#21: Logan Watkins
#22: Rob Whitenack
#23: Barrett Loux
#24: Ben Wells
#25: Paul Blackburn
#26: Hector Rondon

Arias-Jensen-Zych

I've voted for Zych and Jensen before, first time adding Arias in.

Zych is fast and had excellent stats for a 21-year-old in A+/AA. Serious anti-HR profile. Had individual games and stretches where he was really good, but inconsistent. Some of the walks and runs came in bunches. Young and inexperienced enough so that if the consistency improves, he's got a high ceiling (as a relief pitcher).

Jensen had good stats, has a good arm, has good fastball movement, seems to have a diverse arsenal emerging, and most importantly seems to be a natural control pitcher.

Arias requires a whole lot more projection. But he's big, strong, and fast, with a heavy fastball.

After placing vote, and checking their stats, I was surprised to rediscover that Arias is pretty much the same age. All three are 22, and will pitch the whole minor league season at that age. As a Latin guy, I'd kinda just assumed Arias was young with lots of projection/time left. But he's only a few weeks younger than Jensen, and a few months younger than Zych. But while age may be comparable, there's a chance that he's got a lot more untapped potential to still realize.

McNutt
Ha
Zych

Bruno
Jensen
Zych

Same

The upside picks at this point all have major warts. Zych is just a reliever, but he's close to major league ready, and his peripherals point at him as a potential late inning guy. Ha looks likely to carve out a career as a pretty good 4th OF. McNutt is kinda the reverse of Zych - crappy peripherals, but better scouting reports. I like McNutt less, but he's in that same general area.

Jensen, Martin, McNutt.

I completely understand the Zych votes. He's the surest bet to contribute meaningfully at the major league level of those that are left. And I probably should go back and change my vote, but [expletive] it.

It's already been mentioned, but Jensen's numbers from last season as an age appropriate starter in A ball speak for themselves. Add in a decent scouting report and I'm voting for him for 27th.

I like Martin's upside. The early reports are that he can play a major league CF right now. That's a premium defensive position and true CFers are rare. Trey hit well as a 19 year old in short season Boise. He'll be a year young for Kane County this year when we should find out more. His athleticism seems unquestioned. He's my 28th best.

McNutt could be Alberto Cabrera. He could contribute to the pen this year (more likely next) and then be stretched out after achieving some success as a reliever. In 2015, he'll still be just 25 years old. It's a long shot, but we're talking about the 29th best prospect. Then again, I probably value upside and starter potential more than most.

_________________
"I know my title is general manager, but I consider myself the director of spending for the N.Y. Yankees." — Brian Cashman.