The Cubs have agreed to a $1.3MM bonus with fourth-round selection D.J. Wilson, Jim Callis of MLB.com reports on Twitter. That’s well above the $503,100 slot value that came with the 113th overall pick.
Wilson is a high school center fielder who had been committed to Vanderbilt. What he lacks in stature (Wilson is just 5’8) he makes up for with plus speed. MLB.com rated him the 129th-best prospect available, comparing his overall offensive package to that of Ben Revere: solid hitting ability, excellent speed, little power. (Baseball America, which ranked Wilson 178th, likened him to Adam Eaton.)
On the defensive side of things, Wilson is said to possess quite a nice overall package of skills. He not only moves well, but is said to have good instincts in center in addition to a strong and accurate arm.
As I noted in discussing the Cubs’ signing of second-round pick Donnie Dewees earlier today, the club had socked away a notable pile of cash (per the MLB.com tracker) in many of its early signings. This agreement will absorb a big piece of that availability, and the club could need the rest to lock up third-rounder Bryan Hudson, a projectable lefty who has committed to the University of Missouri.
A great get for the Cubbies—now looking at Dewees, Happ, Almora, Wilson, and McKinney(though more likely a LF’er) as potential CF, top of the line-up hitters in the future—its all about depth and quality-quantity(ya, that’s a thing). So now in less than a year the Cubs went from having one potential Centerfielder/top of the lineup hitter in the system to having 5(and 6 if you count Zagunis, as I do)…..another prime example of Cubs identifying and organizational weakness and turning it into a strength in short-term—I think Almora(and maybe McKinney) become solid trade prospects now come July….
Agreed. Would not be surprised at all to see a scenario in which they move one or two outfield prospects in a trade to help the current roster, then turn around and sign 2 of the top international outfield prospects to fill the void. Thats just me.