Cubs Minor League Report Card: Third Base

Cam Smith has loads of potential (Scott Kinser - USA Today Sports)

by Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - Fri Oct 04 13:00:02 GMT-04:00 2024

After trying for what seems like a decade to find a replacement for Kris Bryant at third, the Cubs do appear to have help on the way, which is going to be a massive win for this team. While Isaac Paredes may be under contract for the next few seasons in Chicago, based on his play this season, there is no guarantee that he will even be around when next season starts.

Matt Shaw emerged as a serious third base option this season but with Nico Hoerner potentially getting dealt, there is a chance Shaw opens the 2025 season at second, putting more questions around third. As things sit right now, Paredes does seem to be the short-term solution, but when it comes to the long term, the Cubs have an option, and it is a fast-rising option at that. Here are the third base report cards for the Cubs Minor League system.

Cam Smith

When the Cubs drafted Cam Smith in the first round of the 2024 MLB draft, no one knew what to expect from him this season. Sure, everyone knew that he was a third baseman who was going to be in the Cub's future plans, but what he did in his short time is nothing short of amazing as he emerged as a top-10 prospect and even found himself in the top-100 by season's end.

Across 32 games this season across three levels, Smith was incredible. He hit .313 while belting seven homers and 24 RBIs. That included six consecutive games with a homer at Myrtle Beach, which was the main reason he was bumped to South Bend before finishing the season in Tennessee.

His 15BB/24K ratio was also promising, as he not only showed he could hit but also had a great eye at the plate. His trajectory was similar to what Matt Shaw has done the past two seasons, and it will be interesting to see how he does next year.

Season Grade B+: It's hard to grade someone based on such a small sample size, but you can't deny what he did this season. Had he played in at least 50 games, he would've earned an A for a grade. Still, he put together a great rookie showing, and it will be interesting to see how he responds in his first full season next year.

David Bote: While Kyle Hendricks may be the longest-tenured Cub on the MLB roster, some forget that Bote is the longest-tenured Cub in the organization. An 18th-round pick in 2012, Bote has done it all for the Cubs. He has been a very good Minor League player and has also filled a valuable bench role on the MLB roster.

After several seasons of mediocre play, the Cubs elected to send him back to the minors in 2022, where he has played ever since. However, he did make his way back to the majors this season. Although his sample size was limited, Bote still managed to hit .304 with the Cubs and drove in six runs during his limited action.

It's what he did in AAA this season that stands out, as Bote was putting together another very good season. Bote only saw action in 28 games, which is surprising when you look at his production, as he hit .259 for the season. He did that while slugging seven homers and driving in 15, as the production was there. That came off the heels of a 14-homer and 61-RBI season in 2023, as Bote was seeing the ball well in his final two years.

Grade C: Bote is one of those guys who will never be a star in this league, but he does know how to get the job done when called upon. Limited sample size or not, he was producing this season, and it would've been nice to see him get more of a chance at third to see what he could do this season.

Chase Strumpf

One of Theo Epstein's final draft picks as president was taking Chase Strumpf in the second round of the 2019 draft. You've heard the story where Strumpf was playing in the college world series when he was drafted and promptly went out and homered after he heard his name called.

Seen as one of the best power bats in his class, Strumpf has battled through the minors to reach AAA, but he is starting to look nothing more than a minor leaguer at this point. Sure, the power is still there, but with 12 homers and 37 RBIs this season, his power was down from years past. From an average side, .235 may not seem great, but it is an increase from his previous seasons as Strumpf has had some difficulty consistently making contact.

Season Grade C-: When Strumpf was drafted, the plan was to keep him at second base as long as possible, hoping he could be a big leaguer. Two years into his career, the Cubs moved him to third as they felt that was his best option. Although that does appear to be the case, his overall lack of consistency makes it hard for him to get consideration on this roster and you have to wonder what his future holds on this team.

BJ Murray Jr.

One of the more disappointing players this season was BJ Murray Jr, who is coming off a horrendous 2024 showing. A 2021 15th-round pick, the 1B turned 3B broke onto the scene in 2023 when he clubbed 16 homers and drove in 74 for the AA Champion Tennessee Smokies. He did that while hitting .263, and that performance alone earned him an opportunity with AAA this season.

It was an opportunity he deserved, but one he wasn't ready for, as 2024 was a complete struggle. Whether it be with Iowa or again in Tennessee, Murray Jr. had a nightmare season, as he batted just .197 for the year. That is surprising when you consider he cut down on his strikeouts and increased his walks, but it is what it is. His 11 homers and 43 RBIs were also down, but he continued showing power when he made contact.

Season Grade C-: Baseball is a weird sport, and this was a weird year for Murray. Even if the production was there at times, he never seemed comfortable, for whatever reason, leading to several rough months of play. He did seem to get back on track during the final month of the season, and hopefully, that can continue into 2025, wherever he is playing next.