Albert Almora

2018

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2017

Almora spent a significant portion of his 2016 campaign at Triple-A Iowa, where he put together one of his best performances in the upper levels of the Cubs' minor league system. He was young for the level as a 22 years old, and he continued to show a developing hit tool despite the lack of a discerning eye at the plate (2.7 percent walk rate at Iowa, 4.3 percent with the Cubs). If the Cubs turned him loose with an everyday role, his defense alone would make him a valuable contributor. With further projection remaining in his bat, Almora still has the raw tools to emerge as a double-digit threat in home runs and stolen bases, and one with a good batting average thanks to his low strikeout rate (17.1 percent K% against MLB pitching). In order to deliver on that potential, he will need to carve out a significant share of the playing time in center field for the Cubs.

2016

He's still just 21. You can tell yourself that if it helps. However, Almora doesn't seem to be growing like all of the other future stars in the Cubs system. While Kris Bryant, Addison Russell and Kyle Schwarber got called up and contributed to the exciting season in Chicago, Almora turned in a middling performance with Double-A Tennessee. With just six home runs and eight stolen bases in 405 at-bats with the Smokies, he doesn't look like someone who will be the cornerstone of fantasy teams in the next decade, but he did significantly improve his K:BB (from 23:2 in 2014 to 47:32 last year) in Tennessee. While it is still too soon to write off Almora as a potential everyday player, he is no longer a top-100 prospect for dynasty leagues.

2015

After a strong (but injury-filled) run with Low-A Kane County in 2013, Almora struggled a bit when he was promoted to higher levels last year. Neither the power nor the speed was much to write home about, and Almora struggled with Double-A Tennessee in particular, finishing with a 2:23 K:BB ratio and a .605 OPS in 144 at-bats. Still, he'll turn 21 in April, and he might become the top prospect in the Cubs' system once Kris Bryant is called up to Chicago. Almora is a year or two away, but he's big part of the organization's future, albeit one that still has a long way to go in order to complete his development and reach the projection that made him the sixth overall pick of the 2012 draft.

2014

In the fantastic offensive quartet in the Cubs' system, Almora is the youngest, as he's still only entering his age-20 season. A couple of injuries limited him to only 61 games with Low-A Kane County last year, making it difficult to draw any conclusions about his progress, but he played well in the AFL, and if the doubles and triples start turning into home runs, look out. The 2012 first-rounder needs another couple of years of seasoning, but when he hits the majors, he'll be there for good.

2013

The sixth overall pick by the Cubs in the 2012 first-year player draft, Almora is known for his plus power and plus defense. He did nothing to dispel that notion in 140 rookie and short-season at-bats, slugging .480 and .446, respectively. Almora, who will turn 19 in April, is a player to watch the next couple seasons. As one of the Cubs' top prospects, Almora is expected to make his full-season professional debut at Low-A Kane County in 2013.