Chicago Cubs MLB 2015 News: Cubs Have Good Young Talent
Kris Bryant is the young star for the Chicago Cubs that most sports fans have already heard of. However, the Cubs are rich in young talent as Theo Epstein since taking over the reigns has invested a lot of time and even a little bit of money into finding young talent foe the Cubs. That is a big reason why Joe Maddon was such a good fit there and explains away why he so suddenly left his last job with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Beyond Bryant, who will begin the year at Triple A Iowa, the Cubs have Mike Olt who is 26 and who has had a great spring after tearing up the Arizona Fall League three years ago. Albert Almora has had a great spring as well, hitting .34 in 15 games and making himself look like a sure thing to make the 25-man active roster.
Everywhere one looks in the Cubs' Sloan Park Complex one sees a top prospect that led MLB.com to rank their minor league system the best in baseball this year. Maddon is excited and impressed with his collection of young talent.
"Personality-wise, I have really been impressed with them as people, and their work has been great. As baseball players, you all knew how good they are. I'm getting to see it for the first time," he said.
While Bryant is getting all of the attention, Maddon doesn't see a big difference between him and Cuban Right Fielder Jorge Soler, who impressed the Cubs last spring and will get his first crack at a major league job.
"Coming into it, I had heard about him. To get the opportunity to work with somebody like that, as managers and coaches, it's somewhat unique. He's really that impressive, offensively and defensively, [and I] think he can be a good base runner also. He's just a great guy. He smiles easily. He listens well. He's the kind of guy you want to grow with," he said.
