ChicWAUgo Cubs Top 20 Prospects

In an effort to finish up the NL West, we're taking the top prospect series to Chicago.  The Cubs top 20 list, with individual grades and system commentary, is after the jump.

Chicago Cubs Top 20 Prospects

Grade: B+
1.) Mike Montgomery, LHP, KC

Grade: B
2.) Brett Wallace, 1B, HOU
3.) Asher Wojciechowski, RHP, TOR
4.) Jenrry Mejia, RHP, NYM

Grade: B-
5.) Jay Jackson, RHP, CHC
6.) Neil Ramirez, RHP, TEX
7.) Tyler Thornburg, RHP, MIL

Grade: C+
8.) Zack Cozart, SS, CIN
9.) Luis Sardinas, SS, TEX
10.) Brandon Guyer, OF, TB
11.) Eduardo Nunez, SS, NYY
12.) Austin Reed, RHP, CHC
13.) Cesar Hernandez, 2B, PHI
14.) Dennis Raben, OF, SEA
15.) Alberto Cabrera, RHP, CHC
16.) Jimmy Paredes, 2B, HOU

Grade: C
17.) Domingo Santana, OF, PHI
18.) Albert Cordero, C, NYM
19.) Matthew Szczur, OF, CHC
20.) Aaron Kurcz, RHP, CHC

System Commentary:
A system extremely rich in pitching, the Cubs have a deep farm at first glance.  Under closer inspection, though, it becomes clear this is probably a below average system, and it's heavily invested in high-risk gambles.  While I'm a big fan of Wojci, Ramirez, and Thornburg, a good portion of the C+ guys are far away, and had a mixed bag of performances in 2010.  Sardinas, Reed, and Hernandez all looked solid, but Cabrera, Paredes, and Santana had rocky seasons.  Guys like Cozart, Guyer, and Nunez (as well as Andrew Romine and Darwin Barney) all should be able to help the big league roster soon, but they'll probably never have significant starting jobs.  The grade B guys help this farm from being below average, but there are a lot of wild cards that stop it from being any more than mediocre.