Cubs Prospect Watch:

So it’s April 22nd and the Cubs are off to a tremendous start (read – sarcasm). With “The Machine”, AKA Albert Pujols, carrying the Cardinals on his back to a 10-5 start, is it time to look to next year for the Cubs already? Maybe not quite yet – but it is time to call up some young guys to give the ole ball club a shot in the arm.

If I’m Jim Hendry there are three prospects that I would call up TODAY who would have an instant impact in the big leagues (ranked in order of awesomeness):

1) Starlin Castro, SS (Pictured) – (.380 Avg, 3 2bs, 3 3Bs, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 4 SB at AA Tennessee)

If anything, calling up Starlin would make new around the majors. A lot of people would point to this as the Cubs rushing another top prospect to the big leagues, but I say let him give it a try. We know what we are getting with Theriot, why not shift him to 2B and make room for this future all-star? I like Jeff Baker at 2nd…but even more as a pinch hitter.

2) Andrew Cashner, RHP – (17IPs, 2.60 ERA, 25 Ks, 4 BBs at AA Tennessee)

Cashner was drafted to be a closer, and I think he will fulfill that at some point in his career. He has been starting at Tennessee this year but would be immediately become the dominant 8th inning guy the Cubs have lacked so far this year (yea, yea, I know...Zambrano was moved to that role – well, he suuuucks and should be playing the role of 5th starter or cut…)

3) Jay Jackson, RHP – (18IPs, 2.00 ERA, 12Ks, 3 BBs at AAA Iowa)

By all accounts Jackson is one of the Cubs top prospects and I say throw him into the fire. Carlos Silva will not continue to sport a 0.95 ERA this year…With Lilly returning from injury I think the Cubs rotation would look great if it went: Dempster, Lilly, Wells, Jackson, Gorzelanny/Silva.

There are definitely a few more prospects waiting in the wings as well. I have my eyes on:

Tony Campana, OF – (.404, 6 SBs at AA Tennessee)

Hung-Wen Chen, RHP – (2-0, 1.50 ERA, 2 starts at AA Tennessee)

Josh Vitters, 3B – (.250, 6 RBIs at A Daytona)

Brett Jackson, OF – (.315, 11 BBs, at A Daytona)

Alberto Cabrera, RHP – (1-1, 16.1 IPs, 12 Ks, 2 BBs at A Daytona)