Jae Kuk Ryu

Ryu was ineffective in two stints with the Rays in 2007, and while he pitched well against Triple-A hitters, he did not show nearly enough to get a September callup. He's still just 24, so you can't really put him on the scrap heap yet, but he's a longshot candidate to crack the Rays' rotation in 2008, and that's if he even gets the chance.

Ryu's numbers at Triple-A last year were good, but not outstanding, and he got pounded in his cup of coffee with the Cubs last September. That said, he has good stuff, including a fastball that tops out in the mid-90s. He won't turn 24 until May. If one or more of the Cubs' starters go down, Ryu will be in the mix for a call-up.

After missing virtually all of 2004 with elbow problems, Ryu had a strong season at Double-A, showing excellent command of the strike zone and keeping fly balls in the park. He'll start the year off at Triple-A Iowa and could see the majors sometime this summer. Just keep your pet parakeet away from him.

Ryu missed most of 2004 with elbow tightness. When he did pitch, he allowed base runners galore but bailed himself out with a high strikeout rate. His stint in the Arizona Fall league was also cut short, this time by back problems, but not before he got knocked around for a 6.41 ERA in 19.7 IP. He has very good stuff—his fastball tops out in the mid-90s, complemented by a curveball, change-up, and an above-average split-finger—but he'll have to stay healthy and prove himself at Double-A this year.

After dominating at Low-A (Lansing), and pitching well in a brief stint at High-A (Daytona), Ryu struggled in Double-A (West Tenn.) last season. Ryu also got into trouble last year in Daytona for killing an osprey by knocking it off it's perch with a baseball. As a result, the Cubs can't really send Ryu back to Daytona, and since he has nothing left to prove in Lansing, he'll probably get another crack at Double-A. As far as Ryu's skills go, his fastball averages in the low nineties, but tops out at a blistering 96 mph. It’s complimented well by an above-average split-finger, and both his curveball and change-up are potentially plus-pitches at the major league level. But Ryu's maturity and attitude might be the biggest concerns right now.

Ryu was the focus of attention when he signed as an 18-year old in 2001. Part of the wave of Asian signings, he was considered one of the top young Korean players and received a $1.6 million dollar signing bonus. Now that the hype is over, Ryu and Hee Sop Choi remain legitimate prospects, and the money spent by the Cubs seems a pittance compared to the upside. He’s very polished for a 20-year old, and has four developed pitches in his arsenal. His fastball averages in the low nineties, but tops out at a blistering 96 mph. It’s complimented well by an above-average split-finger and both his curveball and change-up are potentially plus-pitches at the major league level. His 2002 results were mixed; he was strong in Rookie ball, but struggled after a promotion to Low-A Lansing. He should return to Lansing to begin 2003 but could rise with greater control. The comparisons to Chan Ho Park are unavoidable and there are similarities. With the potential for four major league calibre pitches, his future could be as bright as any in the Cubs considerable pool of talent.