MiamiHuskerFan

After seeing Micah Hoffpauir make his major league debut, I get to thinking about
the long ardous history of Cubbie prospects that have come and gone, at least over the
last 25 years or so.
I don't know what it is, but
I find it fascinating that a guy like Ryan Theriot has emerged, yet someone like Robin Jennings
flamed out. Or Julio Zuleta

And what ever happened to Ruben Quevedo? He was supposed to be the next big thing.
He was a starter at the same time that Zambrano was in the bullpen, if memory serves me correctly.

Here's another gem: Courtney Duncun. Drafted in the 20th Round of 1996 out of Grambling St University.
Once he was released by the Cubs in 2002, the guy just fell off the edge of the world.
I guess he was picked up the Pirates, then the Angels in 2003. And signed with the White Sox in 2004.
But I don't think he ever made it back to The Show

Interesting to note, I found another pitcher drafted in '96, yet he has gone on to have a little more success.
Drafted in the 29th was Kyle Lohse

The biggest bust (haha, yes I know I said "big bust" grow up already) I can remember was Ty Griffin
I recall he was originally drafted by the Orioles in 1985, but instead chose not to sign and stayed in school at Georgia
Tech for '86. I looked up his bio and found that he stole 50 of 54 bases. Two players that finished behind him?
Kevin Blakenship was one. The other?? A player you might recognize; Darryl Hamilton.
Griffin was amazing for Team USA that summer. Ty stole 21 bases, he was second on the team in walks, two behind
Dave Silvestri. He drove in 34, second to team leader Tino Martinez.. He hit 8 homers, tying him with Ted Wood and one behind
Martinez and 6 more than Frank Thomas! Among players with 100 AB for Team USA, he had the best average.

Drafted by the Cubs in the 1988 amatuer draft and 9th overall, I can't help but think what could have been if Chicago had
been smarter and gone with Robin Ventura. As the saying goes, hindsight is 20 - 20.
If I ponder it long enough, it makes me mad!! How in the world could the Cubs overlook Ventura and go with Griffin??
Sandberg had a lock on second. The Cubs had no one at third.
I think wasn't Vance Law playing 3rd for the Cubbies in '88? He wasn't a long-term idea. There was no better
third base prospect in the game than Ventura. Other than quality, healthy pitching, the Cubs desperatly needed a
third baseman and they had a golden oppertunity in that draft.

Could Ventura have shifted the balance in the '89 NLCS against the Giants? Who knows.