Cubs excited to welcome Soler for latest debut
By Manny Randhawa/MLB.com
Photo: MLB Advanced Media
CINCINNATI — With Jorge Soler scheduled to join the Cubs in Cincinnati on Wednesday, a second member of the so-called “core four” Cubs prospects who are at the center of Chicago’s rebuilding effort will be making his Major League debut this month.
The 22-year-old from Cuba is ranked as the Cubs’ No. 5 prospect according to MLB.com, and will join 21-year-old Javier Baez, who made his big league debut on Aug. 5. Chicago’s No. 1 prospect, Kris Bryant, and No. 4 prospect, Albert Almora, are the other “core four” members. Bryant is at Triple-A Iowa and Almora is at Double-A Tennessee.
Soler missed much of 2013 with a fractured left tibia as a result of a ball he fouled off his leg. He also sustained strained hamstrings in each leg earlier this season. But he still posted a .340/.432/.700 line with 15 home runs and 57 RBIs between the Cubs’ Rookie league (rehab games), Double-A and Triple-A affiliates.
“I think it’s pretty exciting for the whole organization,” manager Rick Renteria said. “A young man that’s been talked about quite a bit will be joining us tomorrow. Everybody’s pretty excited about it.