The Graduate: Geovany Soto | Born: January 1983 | Catcher

It was pretty easy to pick the Cubs’ graduate for 2008, as Geovany Soto was the only rookie who had any significant impact on the team… with apologies to Jeff Samardzija. Soto played solid defence and provided above-average offence for his position, which likely won him the Rookie of the Year award. The stocky catcher slugged 35 doubles and 23 homers, while posting a .219 ISO. Although he struck out 121 times in 494 at-bats, he took a healthy 62 walks. The Cubs have to feel good about the future of the backstop position with Soto leading the way and some other interesting catchers filtered throughout the system… They just might want to pull back a bit on the 136 games he played behind the dish.

The Riser: Mitch Atkins | Born: October 1985 | Right-Handed Pitcher

Mitch Atkins was a quiet seventh round selection out of a North Carolina high school in 2004. But he has made steady progress over the past five seasons and spent half the 2008 season in Triple-A. Atkins caught the eyes of some fans by winning 17 games on the season but he is likely to top out as a fourth starter at the Major League level. In 164.1 combined innings this past season, he allowed 155 hits. At Triple-A, he posted rates of 3.81 BB/9 and 7.29 K/9. He features a low-90s fastball, cutter, curveball and change-up.

The Tumbler: Tyler Colvin | Born: September 1985 | Outfielder

Tyler Colvin was a gutsy selection as the 13th overall pick of the 2006 draft. There weren’t many – if any – other teams that saw him as a potential first round option. Selected one pick right after Colvin, high school outfielder Travis Snider has already made his Major League debut and impressed. Yes, Colvin is athletic, but one major flaw keeps haunting him: His walk rate. Between 2006 and 2007, he walked just 32 times in more than 750 at-bats. He did improve that rate significantly (for him) in 2008 by walking 44 times in 540 at-bats (7.5%). Unfortunately, in his second go in Double-A, Colvin’s batting average took a big hit and dipped to .256 as he struggled to identify off-speed pitches. His slugging percentage has also been on a three-year decline. After playing center field for most of his career, Colvin split 2008 between center and left field.

The ’08 Draft Pick: Andrew Cashner | Born: September 1986 | Right-Handed Pitcher

One of the better college relievers available in the draft, Andrew Cashner had a brutal start to his pro career. He exhibited poor command and control while walking 23 batters in 20 innings over three minor league stops. He also allowed 24 hits and struck out 19 batters. Cashner was not a first-round option before the 2008 season so he really only has one year of above-average pitching and his command was also considered spotty at best. This could end up being a selection that the Cubs will regret… but it is also a very small sample size.

The ’09 Sleeper: Steve Clevenger | Born: April 1986 | Catcher

A converted infielder, Steve Clevenger has improved steadily behind the dish for the Cubs in the past two seasons. He nabbed 20 of 63 base runners attempting to steal against him in 2008 between High-A and Double-A, and also made just four errors. Offensively, Clevenger doesn’t walk a lot, but he doesn’t strike out much either… with 2008 rates of 11.6 BB% and 13.1 K%. He won’t hit a lot of home runs (.101 ISO), but he has the potential to hit .300.

Up Next: The Minnesota Twins

Pitcher Jeff Samardzija likes to keep us guessing.

The Chicago Cubs right-hander was selected in the fifth round of the 2006 amateur draft and was actually the club’s second pick of the day due to a lack of second, third and fourth round selections (thanks to a free agent frenzy the previous winter).

Samardzija was given a significant contract to forgo a pro football career after spending his college days playing both sports at Notre Dame. At one point he was considered the top-rated wide receiver in the 2007 NFL draft.

Samardzija began his pro baseball career in 2006 in Rookie Ball and held his own, which earned him a late-season promotion to the Midwest League where he made two starts. Samardzija began 2007 in High-A ball but put up disappointing numbers with 142 hits allowed in 107.1 innings of work. He also walked 35 and struck out just 45 batters despite working in the mid- to high-90s.

The Cubs organization decided to promote Samardzija at the end of that season to Double-A where he made six starts despite the disappointing numbers in High-A ball. A funny thing happened. His numbers improved when everyone expected him to struggle. Albeit in fewer appearances, Samardzija’s H/9 ratio dropped from 11.91 to 8.65 and his K/9 increased from 3.77 to 5.24 (which was still low).

Samardzija repeated Double-A at the beginning of 2008 and again posted disappointing numbers with 71 hits allowed in 76 innings, along with 42 walks and just 44 strikeouts. The organization was aggressive with Samardzija and promoted him to Triple-A and he responded. He allowed 32 hits in 37.1 innings and walked 16 to go along with 40 strikeouts (the first time he came anywhere close to striking out a batter per nine innings).

Samardzija, 23, with a football background and mentality seems to thrive under pressure and in situations where he needs to rise to the occasion. At Triple-A with the bases empty, batters hit .275 against the pitcher. With runners in scoring position, hitters managed just a .207 average. In three recent Major League appearances, Samardzija allowed three hits and one walk in five relief innings on the biggest baseball stage in the world. He also struck out six batters.

So, yes, Samardzija’s pro numbers have been very disappointing prior to 2008, but he may have just needed a push – or shove – to rise to the occasion. I know Cubs fans, hungry for a World Series title, certainly hope this riddle has been solved.

Let’s just hope he doesn’t get too comfortable too soon.