Cubs Minor Leaguer Willson Contreras Named Top Catching Prospect By MLB.com

(CBS) Cubs minor leaguer Willson Contreras is the top-rated catching prospect entering 2016, according to MLB.com.

Contreras, 23, hit .333 with eight home runs and 75 RBIs last season with Double-A Tennessee.

"Contreras is a quality hitter with solid raw power that's starting to show up more in game production," the report said.

MLB.com gave him an overall grade of 55 and a 60 hitter.

In August, Cubs senior vice president of scouting and player development Jason McLeod spoke highly of Contreras.

"He has put himself on the national landscape in terms of people talking about prospects and, in particular, catching prospects," McLeod said. "You are looking at a physical, athletic catcher who is really maturing behind the plate and at the plate. We always knew that the physical ability was there, but he was really raw and played with a lot of emotion, which would sometimes get the best of him. But he's showing the maturation process that you would hope for, and he's going to be one of our better prospects."

The report also says Contreras "owns a strong arm and has made progress with his receiving."

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