With the emphasis on developing home grown talent to feed the major league roster, general statistics and probabilities make the number of prospects into a commodity calculation.
Approximately 6.25% of minor leaguers make it to the major leagues. This statistic come from the fact that prospects do not pan out; they meet skill level ceilings, they do not develop, they have personal issues, they have injuries and set backs.
The Cubs U.S. minor league system contains approximately 170 players under contract (reserve). After the season, any minor leaguer with six seasons of minor league service become minor league free agents. At best, of the 170 minor leaguers in the Cubs system in 2013, only 10 or 11 will make it to the majors.
The Cubs also have three foreign developmental squads with a total of 105 players under contract. The statistical average for foreign prospects making it to the major leagues is around 3.0%. At best, of these 105 foreign players, only 3 of those prospects may make the majors.
All told, only 14 prospects may make it to the majors (and many may not be with the Cubs as they may be traded or released before their call up).
Put another way, for every Junior Lake who makes it the major leagues, there are 16 other highly touted prospects who do not.
