Diamond in the Rough? Cubs add undrafted shortstop Jose Silva

Dustin Riese · Senior Writer · 1 day ago

Although it may not be the signing many fans want to hear, the Chicago Cubs continue to add to their roster in any way possible, seeking to acquire as much organizational talent as possible. Today marks another undrafted pickup for the Cubs organization, as Jose Silva has agreed to an undrafted deal with the Chicago Cubs.

Unlike most undrafted free agents who wait until after the draft to be signed, Silva was a member of the Frederick Keys, of the MLB draft league. Clearly, the Cubs liked something with Silva, as the SS is now on a major league roster and eager to prove himself to the entire organization.

The 18-year-old Shortstop is extremely raw when you look at his overall abilities, but has the skill set and room to grow to become a reliable player in this league. Across his 25 games this season, Silva played a considerable role in the team's overall defense, but it's the offense that could use some work.

In 92 at-bats, Silva managed to hit just .174, connecting for one homer and driving in nine. He walked 11 times compared to 33 strikeouts and also went 4-4 in stolen bases. The offensive numbers are not what catches your attention, as they don't stand out at all.

For those unfamiliar with the MLB Draft League, it is a newly created league that provides several undrafted players with an opportunity to showcase their skills, with the hope of securing a spot with an MLB team. Although not affiliated with an organization, they work closely with MLB, and teams often find high-valued talent in this league worth considering.

Silva may not be what you call a high-caliber player, but given his age (18) and plenty of room to go, the Cubs are viewing this more as a long-term project to see what he can become. That may not be a bad idea for this organization, as they have a long track record of turning projects into reliable pieces. However, most of their projects originate from the pitching front, rather than the hitting front.

Born into a Puerto Rican descent, Silva has baseball in his blood, as the Georgia Native has been playing the game since a young age. Silva had been playing baseball at the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy, which is where his family is from, before traveling 1500 miles to land with the Keys this season.

The first-year shortstop has seen consistent playing time since arriving in Frederick, despite his offensive numbers looking more like an old-school pitcher line. When you watch him play, one of the things to take notice of is his instincts in the field, as he is one of the more instinctive defenders in the entire Draft league.

That allows him to get great jumps on the ball to make plays that many kids his age can't make. With that comes the soft hands and strong throwing arm to make the throws necessary for success, although the accuracy could be improved at times.

The Cubs are hoping his defensive skill set will carry over to the professional side, as this is an organization that has thrived on defense over the past few seasons. However, if Silva ever wants an opportunity to play in the majors, the offense will need to come around sooner or later, which it should with time. Credit the Cubs scouting department for going above and beyond to find talented players no matter where they may play.