Do Cubs have a hidden gem in Juan Tomas? |
Dustin Riese
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- 12 hours ago
As Spring Training continues, MLB is almost ready to update its organizational top-30 prospect lists for this season. The Cubs will not only have a loaded list but also one that will look a lot different this season, as several new faces will join it.
One of those names could be 2025 International free agent Juan Tomas, who is getting plenty of praise from the media market and could be seen as the Cubs diamond in the rough. The 17-year-old switch-hitting shortstop is set to make his professional debut this summer in the Dominican Summer League after not getting the love and attention he may have deserved. Not only was Tomas left off the top 50 international prospect list, but some felt the Cubs overpaid for him when they added him to their organization. Nearly two months later, all the pundits saying how big of a reach he was are suddenly retracting that statement, as the Cubs have a fascinating yet highly talented prospect to keep an eye on. Unlike many of the International Free agents who start to mature during their adolescent years, Tomas is the definition of a late bloomer, which is a big reason why he wasn't as highly ranked as other players. While he had the looks of a professional baseball player, Tomas was nowhere near ready enough physically, as that part of his game took the longest to develop. Initially expected to sign with the Marlins, Tomas didn't reach a deal because the Marlins completely overhauled their International Scouting department, which left him looking for a team. This is one of those cases where one man's trash is another man's treasure, and the Cubs pounced on the opportunity to add them to their already-stocked International class. The 6-3 shortstop hit a growth spurt at the perfect time, and the moment the Marlins left him on the market, the Cubs found a way to clear 1.1 million dollars in funds to bring him to their organization. That 1.1 million dollar price tag was the third highest among all their IFA additions, which is considered an overspend. However, considering he may have the highest ceiling of all the IFA players, you could make the case that the Cubs got the steal of the entire class. Some reports have gone even further by saying that Tomas has the highest ceiling among the Cubs IFA prospects and may have the highest overall ceiling in the entire organization. That's hard to believe when you consider that he was just added to the organization in January and paired with the talent the system already has. However, that shows how rapidly Tomas is rising through the prospect rankings. Despite his lean 175-pound frame and 6-3 height, Tomas has continued to mature physically. He is now at the point where his weight will increase, leading to a more physically developed player. He isn't done growing, and when that time comes, you'll be looking at a player who will possess a solid build and have all the tools to continue rising through the organization. Tomas is already a plus runner with good speed, and some feel his speed could increase to great speed, making him a threat on the bases. Pair that with Tomas' ability to drive the ball with plenty of impact now, and there is no reason why more power will come the more he physically matures. That could lead to the power/speed combination that many teams look for, and having that with such a young and unproven player is the perfect blank canvas to work on. Knowing that he will begin his professional journey in the DSL, it's nearly impossible to place any projections on him, as that level of baseball is more about getting your feet wet. You can watch how he goes about his business from one game to the next. The more he improves as the season goes on, the more likely he will move to the ACL before seasons end. That is when the actual test of the kind of player he can become will begin, but the sky is the limit for Tomas. Chicago Cubs today signed Dominican shortstop Juan Tomas for $1.1 million.
Big, big upside.
Scouting reports on the Cubs’ 2025 international class: https://t.co/oNHU7snax9 pic.twitter.com/iUt4QybBgl
