Keith Law of ESPN recently released his 2012 MLB organizational rankings, and the Chicago Cubs ranked No. 20 among 30 total teams. Now Law's Top 100 Prospects list is out, and Anthony Rizzo, Brett Jackson and Javier Baez have all made the cut. No Cubs player ranks in the top 35, as Rizzo is No. 36, Jackson clocks in at No. 89 and Baez fits in at No. 95.
Rizzo has had a wild ride in the last year. First the Boston Red Sox traded him away to the San Diego Padres, and then after Theo Epstein made the transition to the Cubs he made a deal to bring the 22-year old first baseman over to the north side of Chicago. Law calls Rizzo "a plus-fielding, plus-makeup, power-hitting first baseman" that has the power potential as "an above-average or better first baseman on offense." He moved up two spots from where Law had him ranked in 2011.
Jackson is currently considered the Cubs' centerfielder of the future, and the 22-year old prospect hit 10 homers with .297/.388/.551 slash in limited action at AAA Iowa last season. Law moved him up from his "Ten Who Missed" list last season to No. 89, saying he "has solid tools across the board" but is still held back by a high strikeout rate needs to figure out how to make more consistent contact if he wants to be more than "a solid-average regular."
Finally, 20-year old shortstop Javier Baez made the list at No. 95 because he projects as an above-average defender with a power bat. Law specifically noted that "if he can cut the swing down when he's not in a fastball count, he has All-Star potential at any infield position." Good news for Cubs fans looking at the long-term picture.
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