Cubs Prospect Profile: Angel Cepeda |
While everyone continues to wait for the first major Chicago Cubs move of the offseason, we will continue to focus on the top-30 prospects during this downtime. This is the one area of the organization that has a ton of excitement, but given that trades could be happening at some point, how many of these guys are still with the Cubs come spring?
As was the case yesterday when Yahil Melendez was introduced, the Cubs' No. 27 prospect is not only a young kid trying to make an impact but also a player coming off a strong season with tons of upside. As is the case with many Cubs prospects, Angel Cepeda is listed as an SS by trade, but he can play any of the three main infield spots apart from first base. Signed as part of the International Free Agent period in 2023, Cepeda is still just 19 years old, but he could have as high of a ceiling as any of the Cubs' younger guys. A New Jersey native, Cepeda made a name for himself at the young age of 14, and instead of going through the draft process, he elected to go back to his native land of the Dominican Republic to try his luck as an International Free Agent. That seems to have been the best decision for him, as he signed for one million dollars in 2023 and was one of the main headliners of the 2023 International Class. Anytime you come from a foreign country to play professional baseball, there is always a question of how these kids will adjust to the game. From all accounts, Cepeda has made the transition look easy, and you can look at his first two seasons as an indication of that. While playing for the Cubs Dominican League team in 2023, Cepeda put up a strong showing, although a small sample size, as he hit .286 across 30 games with one homer and 14 RBIs. His growth from the start of the season to the end was incredible, and that alone gave his first opportunity stateside as he was with the Arizona Cubs this past season. In his first taste of stateside ball, Cepeda was nothing short of impressive. He hit .298 across 56 games, which ranked near the top of the team. He added three homers, 25 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases, putting his full arsenal on display. He is expected to begin 2025 in Arizona again, but if he gets off to a good start, he will be promoted to Myrtle Beach. The biggest reason for his early success at the plate is his overall knowledge and eye of the strike zone, which are far more advanced than those of most teenagers. Combine that with a quick right-handed swing, and Cepeda not only identifies pitches well but also has the quick swing to get to a lot of balls. At 6-1, Cepeda has an MLB body type but will need plenty of time to fill out his frame. However, once he does, that added strength will play well into his swing, as he should have no issues hitting at least 20 homers per season. If he can find a way to lift more balls to the pull side as opposed to groundballs and line drives, you could see those power numbers start increasing this season, which would be a massive step in his development. While his overall offensive approach is solid, the rest of his game also appears polished for a teenager. Starting with his baserunning, Cepeda is fast but also very intuitive when stealing bases. That means he reads what a pitcher is doing very well on the mound, which leads to some great jumps on the bases. Cepeda has played mostly SS throughout the early stages of his career, but he has the arm to make him a benefit in several spots with the soft hands that make him an ideal fit for the middle infield. He has shown to be a liability at times on defense and has made several careless plays, but that is all part of the learning curve for a teenager facing guys much older than he is. This is a name you may hear come up frequently this season, especially when discussing trades with other teams.
