2017 Cubs First-Year Player Draft

Players selected in the MLB First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) are placed on a club's Negotiation List.

The Cubs signed 29 of the 41 players they selected in the 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft). 

DAY ONE: 

1st ROUND (27): 
Brendon Little, LHP  
L/L, 6'2 195, Age 20 
SCF - Manatee-Sarasota
JC SOPH 
COMMENT: Transferred to a Florida JC after spending his freshman year at the University of North Carolina, making him draft-eligible after his sophomore year... Got attention of scouts after making All-Star team pitching out of the bullpen for the Bourne Braves in Cape Cod League in the Summer of 2016... An advanced lefty with a plus "swing & miss" 12-6 CV and a 91-93 MPH FB with movement that touches 94-96 at times... if he works out of the pen he could be the first one of his draft class to reach MLB... he was selected by the San Francisco Giants in 36th round of 2015 draft out of Conestoga HS (Berwyn, PA) but he did not sign... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $2,373,300

1st ROUND (30):  
Alex Lange, RHP
R/R, 6'4 200, Age 21
LSU
COLLEGE JR  
NOTE: Compensation pick awarded to Cubs after post-2016 Article XX-B FA Dexter Fowler signed wuth STL
COMMENT: Durable Friday night starter... was voted National Freshman Pitcher of the year and a First-Team All-American when he led LSU to College World Series in 2015, going 12-0 with a 1.97 ERA and 131 K in 114 IP... FB velocity was 94-96 as a frosh but it is a couple of ticks below that now... also has experienced command issues over the past couple of seasons as the result of over-throwing his FB... However, his CV continues to be a plus pitch and his CH is solid as well...
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $2,184,300

2nd ROUND (67): 
Cory Abbott, RHP
R/R, 6'2 210, Age 21 
Loyola Marymount 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: Ace of the Lions staff... was named First Team All-American and WCC Pitcher of the Year in 2017... shot-up draft boards after adding 86-88 MPH slider to his repertoire that has proven to be nearly unhittable at times... threw perfect game against BYU in March... "get me over" CV and mediocre CH are rated as below-average pitches, but FB is now a solid 91-93 MPH heater (topped-out in the high 80's pre-2017) that sets up his slider... pitches from the extreme third-base side of the rubber and briefly turns his back to the hitter prior to delivery... 11-2 with a 1.74 ERA, 28/130 BB/K, and a .173 OppBA in 98.1 IP for LMU in 2017...  
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $901,900

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

DAY TWO:

3rd ROUND (105): 
Keegan Thompson, RHP 
R/R, 6'2 210, Age 22
Auburn
COLLEGE SR (Redshirt JR)
COMMENT: A poliished college pitcher with outstanding command...  Freshman All-American at Auburn in 2014... had TJS post-2015 and did not pitch in 2016... Friday starter for Tigers in 2017... went 7-4 with 2.41 ERA, 17/75 BB/K, and .200 OppBA in 93.1 IP... features a plus-CV and a decent CH, but FB velocity has been inconsistent post-TJS (87-93 MPH)... was an elite HS pitcher... Rawlings 1st Team All-American in 2013... Gatorade Alabama Player of the Year in both 2011 (as a sophomore) and 2013 (as a senior)... pitched for Team USA U16 and U18 teams...  
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $511,900

4th ROUND (135) 
Erich Uelmen, RHP
R/R, 6'3 195, Age 21
Cal Poly - SLO 
COLLEGE JR
COMMENT: Durable rotation starter with plus-command... relies heavily on 90-94 MPH two-seam FB with sinking action... breaking ball is just average.,,. allowed only three HR in 211.2 IP in college career... strikeouts increased along with FB velocity uptick in 2017... went 4-8 with a 2.93 ERA, 95 hits allowed, and 23/100 BB/K for Mustangs in 2017... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $382,300

5th ROUND (165)
Nelson Velazquez, OF 
B/R, 6'0 190, Age 18 
PJ Education School - Carolina, PR
COLLEGE COMMITMENT: NONE 
COMMENT: Athletic, raw, toolsy outfielder with a strong arm, plus bat-speed, and HR power, but has significant contact issues as a hitter...  above-average defender in OF with plus-speed on the bases... attended HS and played baseball as a junior in Lake Worth, FL, in 2016 before returning to Puerto Rico for his senior year after being ruled ineligible by the FHSAA... he is listed as a switch-hitter by some scouting services, but as a RH-hitter only by others...     
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $285,800 

6th ROUND (195)
Jeremiah Estrada, RHP 
B/R, 6'1 180, Age 18 
Palm Desert HS - Palm Desert, CA 
COLLEGE COMMITMENT: UCLA 
COMMENT: Was a Perfect Game Underclass All-American as a HS junior and was projected to be a possible 1st round draft pick coming into the 2017 season, but he appeared to wear down during his senior year and as a result his draft stock fell... features an advanced CH, an average CV, and a FB that was clocked consistently 92-94 MPH in 2016 but was down to 89-91 in 2017... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $222,600

7th ROUND (225)
Ricky Tyler Thomas, LHP 
R/L, 6'1 175, Age 21 
Fresno State 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: Led the Mountain West Conference in strikeouts as a sophomore in 2016 and then pitched out of the bullpen for Team USA and led the team in strikeouts, throwing 5.1 IP of shutout ball in relief against Team Cuba... was a SP in 2017 and had FB command and velocity issues throughout the season... went 6-4 with a 5.86 ERA, allowing 84 hits with a 52/100 BB/K in 90.2 IP for the Bulldogs in 2017... features a "swing & miss" plus-CH, a below-average CV, and an 86-89 MPH FB (used to set-up his off-speed pitch) that he was unable to throw for strikes in 2017... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $175,500

8th ROUND (255)
Austin Filiere, 3B 
R/R, 6'1 190, Age 21 
MIT  
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: Was a National Honor Society Impact Scholar at Hamilton HS in Chandler, AZ... is majoring in Business Analytics at Sloan School of Management... aspires to play pro baseball and then stay in the game "in some capacity"... has hit 414/543/879 with 39 HR and 151 RBI, 46 doubles, 111 BB, 20 HBP, 80 K, and 44 SB (4 SB), in 116 games (560 PA) over the course of three seasons at MIT... hit 7 HR with 27 RBI (2nd in league in HR and RBI) for Harwich in Cape Cod League (summer collegiate "wood bat league") in 2016...  was rated the top player in NCAA Division 3 in 2016 by Baseball America...
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $148,500

9th ROUND (285)
Chris Carrier, OF
R/R, 6'2 225, Age 22
U. of Memphis 
COLLEGE SR 
COMMENT: Power-hitting RF... was 2nd in HR and 5th in RBI in American Athletic Conference in 2017... hit 330/438/641 with team-leading 16 HR and 50 RBI, 16 doubles, 30 BB, 12 HBP, and 40 K, and 9 OF assists in 56 games for Tigers in 2017... suffers from Pagel-Schroetter Disease, and underwent emergency life-saving surgery in 2015 to relieve blood clot in arm... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $137,500

10th ROUND (315)
Brian Glowicki, RHP 
R/R, 5'11 190, Age 22 
U. of Minnesota 
COLLEGE SR 
COMMENT: Golden Gophers closer... led Big Ten Conference in saves and set the single-season school record for saves in 2017... went 2-1 with a 2.20 ERA and 16 saves, 25 hits allowed, 7/39 BB/K, and a .216 OppBA in 32.2 IP in 2017... posted a 1.80 ERA and recorded 11 saves with 27 K in 25 IP (16 games) for St. Cloud Rox of the Northwoods League (summer collegiate "wood bat league") in 2016... features FB, SL, and CH, and he throws strikes... graduated from Downers Grove South HS in suburban Chicago in 2013... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $131,300

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

DAY THREE 

11th ROUND (345)
Rollie Lacy, RHP
R/R, 6'4 195, Age 21
Creighton
COLLEGE JR  
COMMENT: Blue Jays Friday night starter... first-team All Big East... went 5-2 with a 2.54 ERA, 86 hits (only one HR), and 18/83 in 88.2 IP.... 

12th ROUND (375)
Ben Hecht, RHP 
R/R, 6'2 185, Age 22 
Wichita State 
COLLEGE SR (Redshirt JR)  
COMMENT: Shockers closer... 5.04 ERA with 8 saves and allowed 30 hits (.256 OppBA) with 12/41 BB/K in 30.1 IP (28 games)... attended Illinois State as a freshman, then transferred to Lincoln Land CC, before ending up at Wichita State... NJCAA Academic All-American at LLCC... was selected by New York Mets in 31st round of 2013 draft out of St. Anthony HS in Effingham, IL, but did not sign...  

13th ROUND (405)
Austin Upshaw, 1B 
L/R, 6'0 180, Age 20 
Kennesaw State 
COLLEGE JR  
COMMENT: Played 1B in 2017, but also plays 3B... hit 327/378/516 with 8 HR and 39 RBI, 17 doubles, and 18/28 BB/K in 55 games in 2017, and committed no errors in the field... transferred to KSU from Georgia Perimeter JC... 

14th ROUND (435)
Luis Vazquez, SS
R/R, 6'1 165, Age 17  
Alberto Melendez Torres School - Orocovis, PR 
COLLEGE COMMITMENT: NONE 

15th ROUND (465)
Jared Young, 2B
L/R, 6'2 185, Age 21
Old Dominion
COLLEGE JR   
COMMENT: 2017 third-team All-American... named Conference USA Newcomer of the Year, first team All Conference USA, and C-USA All-Academic Team in 2017... hit 367/441/580 with 7 HR and 34 RBI, 19 doubles, 18/19 BB/K, 18 HBP, and 9 SB (4 CS), and committed six errors in 58 games in 2017... led-Monarchs in AVG, HR, triples, runs, SB, and HBP in 2017, and set single-season team record for HBP... 24 multi-hit games... hit .490 with 11 HR and 54 RBI at Connors State JC in 2016 before transferring to ODU... spent freshman year at Minot State before transferring to Connors State... is from Kelowna, BC (Canada), and played for the Okanagan Athletics in the B. C. Premier Baseball League as a teenager...

16th ROUND (495)
Brandon Hughes, CF 
B/L, 6'2 215, Age 21
Michigan State 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: Second-team All-Big Ten in 2017 and led Big Ten and was seventh in the nation (NCAA D-1) in stolen bases with 30 SB...  hit combined 304/377/427 with 13 HR & 93 RBI, 30 doubles, 65/92 BB/K, and 50 SB (14 CS), in 159 career games (704 PA) over the course of three seasons at MSU... was named to first-team All-Big Ten Freshman team in 2015... was two-way player (P/OF) for Spartans as a freshman...

17th ROUND (525)
Peyton Remy, RHP 
L/R, 6'2 170, Age 20 
Central Arizona JC 
JC SOPH  
COMMENT: Vaqueros #3 starter... went 10-7 with 3.68 ERA, 131 hits and five HR allowed, and 74/148 BB/K in 144.1 IP in two seasons at CAC... will transfer to New Mexico State if he doesn't sign with Cubs... 

18th ROUND (555)
Casey Ryan, RHP 
R/R, 6'4 200, Age 23 
U. of Hawai'i 
COLLEGE SR 
COMMENT: Two-way player (P/INF) prior to 2017 season... was Rainbow Warriors bullpen set-up man in 2017... 3-0 with 1.52 ERA, allowed 16 hits (.188 OppBA) and no HR, and 5/21 BB/K in 23.2 IP in 2017... spent freshman and sophomore years at Pierce JC in Los Angeles...

19th ROUND (585)
Chris Singleton, CF 
R/R, 6'0 175, Age 20 
Charleston Southern
COLLEGE JR  
COMMENT: Speedy CF with contact issues... hit .276/348/404 with 4 HR & 21 RBI, 10 doubles, two triples, 18 SB (2 CS), and 22/50 BB/K in 51 games (230 PA) for Buccaneers in 2017... 

20th ROUND (615)
Brendan King, RHP 
R/R, 6'1 200, Age 22
Holy Cross 
COLLEGE SR 
COMMENT: Crusaders Friday starter in 2017... 15 GS, went 5-7 with a 4.35 ERA, 74 hits and eight HR allowed, 30/62 BB/K in 80.2 IP...   

21st ROUND (645)
Sean Barry, RHP
R/R, 6'2 190, Age 22 
U. of San Diego  
COLLEGE SR 
COMMENT: RP/SP swingman who has worked primarily out of the bullpen for the Toreros the past two seasons... went 5-1 with 4.43 ERA and 1.31 WHIP, 38 hits allowed (.241 OppBA) with 18/54 K, in 21 games and 42.2 IP in 2017... spent freshman year at High Point University, then transferred to Santa Barbara CC for his sophomre year where he was the Vaqueros #1 starter (10-3 with a 1.29 ERA, 32/107 BB/K, and only 52 hits allowed in 111.1 IP in 2015 )... 

22nd ROUND (675)
Skyler Messinger, SS
R/R, 6'3 195, Age 18  
Niwot HS - Niwot, CO
COLLEGE COMMITMENT: Kansas
COMMENT: Outstanding defensive SS... made the varsity team as a HS freshman and he hit .407 in 83 career varsity games (286 PA) over the course of four seasons... 

23rd ROUND (705)
Brady Miller, RHP
R/R, 6'2 185, Age 21
Western Oregon
COLLEGE JR
COMMENT: Wolves Friday starter... went 5-2 with a 3.50 ERA in 2017, allowing 45 hits (.223 OppBA) and one HR with 24/57 BB/K over the course of 54.0 IP in 10 games (10 GS)... pitched for Kelowna Falcons in West Coast League (a summer collegiate "wood bat league") in 2015 after his freshman year at WOU and was named the WCL Pitcher of the Year (6-0 with a 2.18 ERA)...   

24th ROUND (735)
Braxton Light, RHP 
R/R, 5'10 185, Age 21 
Wallace State CC 
JC SOPH
COMMENT: Govs closer... went 6-0 with a 1.86 ERA and nine saves in 16 games in 2017, allowing 20 hits (one HR) with 17/50 BB/K in 38.2 IP.

25th ROUND (765)
Mitch Stophel, RHP
R/R, 6'3 205, Age 22
King University
COLLEGE SR
COMMENT: Tornado closer... went 1-1 with a 4.74 ERA, allowed 38 hits (.266 OppBA) and four HR with 18/45 BB/K in 38.0 IP and 19 games in 2017...   

26th ROUND (795) 
Bryce Bonnin, RHP
R/R, 6'1 180, Age 18 
Barbers Hill HS - Mont Belvieu, TX  
COLLEGE COMMITMENT: Arkansas 
COMMENT: Projected as third-rounder coming into the draft... rated the #3 HS pitching prospect in Texas by Baseball America (behind only Shane Baz and Alex Scherff)... Rawlings Perfect Game 2nd team All-American... features a 90-95 MPH sinker and a hard slider... also is an outstanding hitter and was a two-way player (SS/P) in HS... signed NLI with U. of Arkansas and it very unlikely that he will sign pro contract at this time...   

27th ROUND (825)
Darius Vines, RHP 
R/R 6'1 180, Age 19 
Oxnard JC 
JC FR
COMMENT: Two-way player (SS/P) at Oxnard... hit 277/382/313 with 9 SB as a SS, and went 4-4 with a 1.94 ERA, allowing 61 hits (.197 OppBA) and three HR with 26/95 BB/K (also 11 WP and six HBP) in 83.2 IP & 13 G (12 GS)... was selected by the Houston Astros in the 32nd round of the 2016 draft but did not sign... was a three-sport star at St. Bonaventure HS in Ventura, CA (WR in football, SS/P in baseball, and PG in basketball)... nickname is "Legendarius"... 

28th ROUND (855) 
Kier Meredith, CF
L/L, 5'9 165, Age 17
Robert B. Glenn HS - Kernersville, NC 
COLLEGE COMMITMENT: Clemson  
COMMENT: Rated one of the top-five HS position player prospects in North Carolina... already a plus-defender in CF, he has sprinter's speed (sub 4.0 seconds home-to-1st)... a "small-ball" high-contact hitter with no power at the plate... 

29th ROUND (885)
Jake Steffens, RHP 
R/R, 6'4 215, Age 22
Santa Clara 
COLLEGE SR 
COMMENT: Broncos Friday night starter... has outstanding control... finished third in the West Coast Conference in strikeouts and went 4-7 with a 4.56 ERA and 1.32 WHIP, allowing 116 H (four HR) and 20/101 BB/K in 102.1 IP in 2017...  

30th ROUND (915)
Cam Balego, SS
R/R, 5'11 205, Age 22
Mercyhurst
COLLEGE SR
COMMENT: Hit 367/500/698 with 10 HR and 48 RBI, 14 doubles, 28/8 BB/K, 14 HBP, and 7 SB (1 CS) in 46 games (188 PA) for the Lakers in 2017...

31st ROUND (945)
Ramsey Romano, SS 
R/R, 6'2 205, Age 22
Long Beach State 
COLLEGE SR (Redshirt JR)  
COMMENT: Hit 313/340/382 with two HR and 39 RBI, 11 doubles, 10/28 BB/K, and five SB (five CS)  in 63 games (270 PA) for The Beach in 2017.. started college career at the University of Michigan where he was a QB on the football team and infielder on the baseball team... transferred to Yavapai JC for sophomore year and was named a 1st team NJCAA All-American after helping lead the Roughriders to the NJCAA championship, hitting .410 with 9 HR and 53 RBI, 22 doubles, and 12 SB... was selected by the Cubs in the 35th round of the 2013 draft but did not sign...  

32nd ROUND (975)
Hunter Ruth, RHP 
R/R, 6'2 185, Age 18 
Buchholz HS - Gainesville, FL 
COLLEGE COMMITMENT: Florida 
COMMENT: Had 2017 season cut-short in April by a torn elbow UCL that required TJS... was considered a likely first or second round draft pick prior to the TJS... was featuring a mid-90's FB that touched 97 MPH, a plus-slider, one of the best change-ups in HS ball, and outstanding command prior to the injury...  

33rd ROUND (1005)
Joe Donovan, C
R/R, 5'11 177, Age 18 
Westmont HS - Westmont, IL 
COLLEGE COMMITMENT: Michigan
COMMENT: Career leader in HR and XBH at Westmont HS in west suburban Chicago... was hitting .568 with a 1.373 SLG, 26 RBI and 24 runs scored, and five strikeouts in his first 51 AB in 2017... 

34th ROUND (1035)
Andrew Karp, RHP
R/R, 6'1 204, Age 21 
Florida State
COLLEGE JR (Redshirt SOPH)   
COMMENT: Seminoles #4 starter and bullpen "swing-man" (17 games - 12 GS)... went 2-3 with a 4.87 ERA and 1.30 WHIP, allowing 62 hits and six HR with 17/63 BB/K in 61.0 IP in 2017...  features a 90-93 MPH fastball, a plus-change-up, and a slow curve, and he can throw all of his pitches for strikes... was a Perfect Game First Team Underclass All-American as a HS junior in West Orange, NJ.... he redshirted his freshman year at FSU after suffering a broken leg in a car crash, so he has been brought along slowly and he still has two years of eligibility remaining... 

35th ROUND (1065)
Ben Ramirez, 3B 
L/R, 6'3 180, Age 18  
Eastlake HS - Chula Vista, CA 
COLLEGE COMMITMENT: USC 
COMMENT: A projectable player who has yet to fill-out.. has power potential offset by below-average bat speed... played shortstop in HS, and while he is a reliable defender, he lacks the range necessary to stay there, and so he will very likely need to move to 3B in college and/or pro ball...   

36th ROUND (1095)
Tanner Allen, CF 
L/R, 5'11 180, Age 19
UMS-Wright Prep 
COLLEGE COMMITMENT:  Mississippi State 
COMMENT: Hit 374/473/658 with four HR, 11 doubles, and 21/10 BB/K in 36 games over the course of two varsity seasons... Played both SS and CF in HS, but he is projected as a CF in pro ball... has strong commitment to attend college and so it is very unlikely that he will sign a pro contract at this time... 

37th ROUND (1125)
Alex Cornwell, LHP
L/L, 6'1 175, Age 18 
Maranatha HS - Pasadena, CA
COLLEGE COMMITMENT: USC 
COMMENT: Has pitched on the varsity squad for three years... went 9-6 with a 1.96 ERA in 22 games (19 GS) in those three seasons, allowing 44 hits with 44/89 BB/K in 89.1 IP... throws upper 80's FB that touches 90-92 and a curve that has potential to be a plus-pitch, but he has major command issues...   

38th ROUND (1155)
Russell Smith, LHP 
L/L, 6'9 230, Age 18 
Midlothian HS - Midlothian, TX 
COLLEGE COMMITMENT: TCU 
COMMENT: Threw two no-hitters and one one-hitter in consecutive starts in his sophomore year in HS... features an 88-90 MPH FB and promising CV and CH that need work.... has had mechanical issues with his delivery... 

39th ROUND (1185)
Cooper Coldiron, SS 
R/R, 6'1 190, Age 22
U. of Houston  
COLLEGE SR (Redshirt JR)  
COMMENT: Hit 245/355/283 in just 15 games for Cougars in 2017, after hitting 370/425/445 with two HR and 47 RBI, eight doubles, and 21/29 BB/K in 54 games (238 PA) at Grayson JC in 2016 prior to transferring to UH...  

40th ROUND (1215)
Jeffrey Passantino, RHP 
R/R, 5'9 225, Age 21
Lipscomb 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: Bisons Friday night starter... stocky righthander went 4-3 with a 3.09 ERA, allowing 94 hits but only nine walks with 95 strikeouts in 96.0 IP in 2017... was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American in 2015, and "Most Outstanding Pitcher" and an All-Star in the Cape Cod League while pitching for Falmouth in 2016 (3-0 with a 0.64 ERA, allowing only three walks with 39 strikeouts in 42 IP)...  features 86-89 MPH FB, SL, and CV...