Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full) 

28 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, and twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 

Last updated 3-26-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 15
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
Alexander Canario
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

2019 Cubs MLB First-Year Player Draft Ticker Tracker

CUBS 2019 MLB FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT PICKS 

DAY ONE (6/3)

1st ROUND (27) 
Ryan Jensen, RHP  
R/R, 6'0 180, Age 21 
Fresno State  
COLLEGE JR 
AREA SCOUT: Gabe Zappin   
COMMENT: Bulldogs Friday starter... 2019 Mountain West Conference Pitcher of the Year... 12-1 with a 2.88 ERA & 1.09 WHIP, 82 hits allowed (only three HR), 27/107 BB/K in 100 IP, 16 games (15 GS) with one CG shutout in 2019... features a mid-90's FB that touches 98 and has run & sink... also features a plus-hard SL and a usable CH, but is primarliy a FB/SL pitcher... a "late bloomer" who had significant command issues in 2017-18 but obviously he improved his control in 2019... worked out of the bullpen in 2017 before moving to starting rotation in 2018...   
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $2,570,100 

2nd ROUND (64) 
Chase Strumpf, 2B 
R/R, 6'1 191, Age 21 
UCLA 
COLLEGE JR 
AREA SCOUT: Tom Myers 
COMMENT: Bat-first infielder with below average range and a below-average arm that limits him to playing 2B only... hit 363/475/633 with 12 HR & 53 RBI and 23 doubles in 58 games in 2018 and was named All-Pac 12 and consensus 2nd Team All-American as a sophomore and was named a first-team pre-season All-American by Baseball America going into his junior year, but he had a disappointing 2019 campaign (289/431/469 in 53 games) although he was 7th in the Pac-12 in walks... hit 26 HR and 44 doubles and collected 121 RBI in 166 career games at UCLA over the course of three seasons... played for Duluth in the summer collegiate wood-bat Northwoods League in 2017 and hit 335/425/549 with six HR & 32 RBI and 15 doubles in 44 games...    
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $1,050,300

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

DAY TWO (6/4)  

3rd ROUND (103) 
Michael McAvene, RHP 
R/R, 6'3 210, Age 21 
U. of Louisville
COLLEGE JR  
AREA SCOUT: Jacob Williams 
COMMENT: Cardinals closer... posted 2.67 ERA & 0.79 WHIP with 16 hits (three HR) allowed and 9/46 BB/K over 30.1 IP in 21 games in 2019... was recruited as a SP but was moved to bullpen after undergoing TJS in 2017... missed most of the 2017-18 seasons... features a 92-95 MPH four-seam FB that touches 96-97 and a plus-SL, but FB was clocked at 100 MPH in ACC tournament last month... doesn't use his CH much after moving to the pen... was suspended four games this past weekend after arguing a ball-strike call with an umpire in an NCAA Regional game... was a college teammate of Cubs minor league RHP Riley Thompson (Cubs 2018 11th round draft pick- U. of Louisville)...
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $565,600

4th ROUND (132)
Chris Clarke, RHP 
R/R, 6'7 212, Age 20 
USC 
COLLEGE JR 
AREA SCOUT: Tom Myers 
COMMENT: Began season as set-up guy but inherited the closer job when previous USC closer was moved to starting rotation... had TJS in HS and still has difficulty throwing on back-to-back days. so he's more of a multi-inning type "fireman" who can close out a game than a more-conventional one-inning closer... 1.03 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and .170 OppBA with 32 hits (only two HR) allowed and 18/60 BB/K in 52.1 IP for Trojans in 2019... features 92-95 MPH two-seamer with sink and a plus-CV (which is his swing & miss pitch)... a true scholar-athlete who graduated from HS when he was 16...    
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $426,600 

5th ROUND (162)
Josh Burgmann, RHP 
R/R, 6'0 205, Age 21 
U. of Washington 
COLLEGE JR 
AREA SCOUT: Gabe Sandy 
COMMENT: Huskies Friday starter... finished tied for 2nd in strikeouts in Pac-12 Conference in 2019... posted a 4-6 record with a 3.99 ERA & 1.39 WHIP with 88 hits (9 HR) allowed and 22/101 BB/K in 79.0 IP (14 GS) for Huskies in 2019... extreme strike-thrower with outstanding command... pitched for Canadian 18U Junior National Team in 2014-16...attended Vauxhall Baseball Academy in Alberta (Canada) and was selected by STL in 30th round of 2016 draft but did not sign... had TJS in 2017... worked out of u-dub bullpen during rehab season in 2018 before developing a put-away slider and moving into starting rotation in 2019... features full array of starter's repertoire (low-90's FB, SL, CV, and CH)... was a college teammate of Cubs minor league INF Levi Jordan (Cubs 2018 29th round draft pick - U. of Washington)... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE:  $318,200

6th ROUND (192)
Ethan Hearn, C 
L/R, 6'1 195, Age 18 
Mobile Christian School - Mobile, AL 
HIGH SCHOOL  
COLLEGE COMMIT: Mississippi State 
AREA SCOUT: Alex McClure
COMMENT: Top high school catcher in the draft and #3 catching prospect behind only #1 overall pick Adley Rutschman (Oregon State) and 1st round (9th overall) pick Shea Langeliers (Baylor)... has plus-arm and plus-power... receiving needs work...  will require significant overslot bonus to sign (probably $1M+)... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $247,000

7th ROUND (222) 
Brad Deppermann, RHP 
R/R, 6'0 190, Age 22 
U. of North Florida 
COLLEGE 5th YEAR (REDSHIRT SR)
AREA SCOUT: Tom Clark  
COMMENT: Ospreys Friday starter... Atlantic Sun Conference Pitcher of the Year... led conference in strikeouts... posted 6-5 record with 2.46 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and .217 OppBA, and allowed 76 hits (five HR) and 24/108 BB/K in 95 IP in 2019... was selected by Cubs in 31st round of 2014 draft out of East Lake HS (Tarpon Springs, FL) but did not sign... has likely agreed in advance to a substantially underslot signing bonus so that Cubs can re-allocate balance of #222 bonus slot value toward Hearn's bonus...  
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $194,400

8th ROUND (252)
D. J. Herz, LHP 
R/L, 6'2 185, Age 18 
Terry Sanford HS - Fayetteville, NC 
HIGH SCHOOL 
COLLEGE COMMIT: U. of North Carolina 
AREA SCOUT: Billy Swoope 
COMMENT: Rated the #2 HS pitching prospect in North Carolina... three-sport star in HS (football QB, basketball SG, and baseball LHP)... 0.50 ERA with 17/106 BB/K in 56.1 IP at TSHS in 2019... features 88-91 MPH FB but has touched mid-90's in showcases... also features an inconsistent hard-slider and he has had command issues from time-to-time... will almost certainly require over-slot bonus to sign... might be difficult for Cubs to find enough excess bonus slot values elsewhere in top 10 rounds so that both Hearn and Herz can be signed (TBD)...    
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $162,700

9th ROUND (282) 
Tyler Schlaffer, RHP 
R/R, 6'1 180, Age 18
Homewood-Flossmoor HS - Flossmoor, IL 
HIGH SCHOOL 
COLLEGE COMMIT: UIC 
AREA SCOUT: John Pedrotty 
COMMENT: Two-way player in HS (RHP/SS)... features 90-93 MPH FB that touches 94, mid-70's CV, and a plus-CH... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $149,800

10th ROUND (312) 
Wyatt Hendrie, C 
R/R, 5'11 195, Age 20 
Antelope Valley College 
JC FRESHMAN  
AREA SCOUT: Tom Myers 
COMMENT: Athletic catcher with a plus-arm (43% CS in 2019) and above-average speed (14 SB)... was OF in HS but was converted to catcher at AVC... hit 410/479/610 with two HR & 26 RBI, ten doubles and ten triples, and 16/23 BB/K in 38 games (166 PA) for the Marauders in 2019... has compact swing and flat swing-plane...  
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $142,200

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


DAY THREE (6/5)

NOTE: A signing bonus in excess of $125,000 for any player selected in Rounds 11-40 as well as for any player eligible for selection in the draft who is not selected and who is subsequently signed as a Non-Drafted Free-Agent (NDFA) count against a club's Rule 4 Draft Signing Bonus Pool (SBP). 

11th ROUND (342)
Mack Chambers III, SS 
B/R, 5'11 170, Age 19 
Seminole State 
JC FRESHMAN 
AREA SCOUT: Ty Nichols
COMMENT: Hit 404/489/565 with 8 HR & 64 RBI, 21 doubles, and four triples, 34/27 BB/K, 14 SB (4 CS) for Trojans in 2019... played for his father (Mack Chambers Jr) at Seminole State... was HS teammate of Cubs 2018 6th round draft pick RHP Kohl Franklin at Broken Arrow HS in Broken Arrow, OK...  

12th ROUND (372)
Hunter Bigge, RHP 
R/R, 6'0 205, Age 20 
Harvard 
COLLEGE JR 
AREA SCOUT: Matt Sherman 
COMMENT: Posted 4.37 ERA & 1.56 WHIP and allowed 119 hits in 119.1 innings with 64/120 BB/K over the course of three seasons at Harvard... two-way player (RHP/3B) first two seasons at Harvard... hit 296/362/466 in 79 games as position player... became full-time starting pitcher 2019... hit 280/368/378 and posted 3.14 ERA with 47 hits allowed and 18/52 BB/K in 51.2 IP (10 GS) for Duluth in Northwoods League (summer collegiate wood-bat league) in 2018...  best pitch is 94-96 MPH FB... also has average CV... has had command issues throughout his college career... projects as a reliever in pro ball... National Merit Scholar in HS (Los Gatos HS - Los Gatos, CA)...  

13th ROUND (402)
Porter Hodge, RHP 
R/R, 6'4 230, Age 18 
Cottonwood Senior HS - Murray, UT 
HIGH SCHOOL 
COLLEGE COMMIT: U. of Utah 
AREA SCOUT: Steve McFarland 
COMMENT: Led his HS to Utah 5-A state championship in 2019... 19-3 with 1.50 ERA and 1.09 WHIP, allowed 82 hits (no HR) with 60/163 BB/K in 130.2 IP (30 games - 20 GS - 10 CG - 6 shutouts) over course of career at CSHS... 

14th ROUND (432)
Ryan Reynolds, 3B 
B/R, 6'2, 215, Age 21 
U. of Texas 
COLLEGE  JR 
AREA SCOUT: Steve Riha 
COMMENT: Hit .272/394/397 with four HR & 32 RBI, 11 doubles, 30/30 BB/K in 54 games for Longhorns in 2019... Honorable Mention All-Big 12 in 2019... Rawlings Perfect Game HS All-American Honorable Mention in 2016... hit 289/418/400 for Santa Barbara in California Collegiate League (summer collegiate wood-bat league) in 2017 and 227/308/364 for Cotuit in Cape Cod League (the premier summer collegiate wood bat league) in 2018... son of ex-MLB RHP Shane Reynolds...  was college teammate of Cubs minor league LHP Josh Sawyer (Cubs 2018 16th round draft pick - U. of Texas) and was a HS teammate of Cubs minor league INF Jake Slaughter (2018 18th tround draft pick - LSU) at Ouachita Christian HS (Monroe, LA)... 

15th ROUND (462)
Zach Bryant, RHP 
R/R, 6'1 210, Age 21 
Jacksonville University 
COLLEGE JR 
AREA SCOUT: Tom Clark 
COMMENT: Dolphins closer... allowed 20 hits (no HR) with 19/44 BB/K in 31 IP (28 games) for Jacksonville in 2019... was second in saves in Atlantic Sun Conference... transferrd to Jacksonville from Daytona State College (88 hits and four HR allowed with 36/94 BB/K in 87.2 IP and 45 games at DSC 2017-18)... was selected by Cubs on his 21st birthday...

16th ROUND
(492)
Johzan Oquendo, RHP 
R/R, 6'2 180, Age 18 
Leadership Christian Academy - Guaynabo, PR 
HIGH SCHOOL  
COLLEGE COMMIT: Broward College 
AREA SCOUT: Edwards Guzman
COMMENT: Features 91 MPH FB... was HS teammate of Cubs minor league INF Miguel Pabon (Cubs 2018 34th round draft pick)...

17th ROUND (522)
Tanner Dalton, RHP 
R/R, 6'2 195, Age 22 
Sacramento State 
COLLEGE SR 
AREA SCOUT: Gabe Zappin 
COMMENT: Hornets closer... posted 2.50 ERA and 16 saves with 73 hits (five HR) allowed and 34/110 BB/K in 100.2 IP (61 games) over the course of two seasons at Sac State... owned & operated a landscaping & snow removal business in Alberta (Canada) before enrolling in the Prairie Baseball Academy in Lethbridge, Alberta, in 2016... went 4-0 with a 2.36 ERA for Lethbridge in Western Baseball Major League (summer collegiate wood-bat league) in 2016... transferred to Sacramento State in 2018... 

18th ROUND
(552)
Alex Moore, RHP 
R/R, 6'3 205, Age 22 
Lander University 
COLLEGE SR 
AREA SCOUT: Keith Lockhart
COMMENT: Bearcats Friday starter... went 4-4 with 5.32 ERA and 1.41 WHIP, allowing 68 hits (two HR) with 33/84 BB/K in 69.1 IP for NCAA D-2 Lander in 2019 after going 2-5 with a 6.20 ERA while allowing 62 hits with 25/65 BB/K as a SP/RP "swing-man" in 2018... 

19th ROUND (582)
Adam Laskey, LHP 
R/L, 6'3 205, Age 21 
Duke 
COLLEGE JR 
AREA SCOUT: Billy Swoope 
COMMENT: Rated a Top 10 round talent and was the Blue Devils Friday starter at the start of the 2019 season but missed most of the season with injury... went 1-0 with 6.00 ERA and .277 OppBA, allowing 13 hits (no HR) with 10/13 BB/K in 12 IP in 2019 before being shut-down in April... was 2018 Cape Cod League Pitcher of the Year after going 5-0 with 1.19 ERA with 11/26 BB/K in 31.1 IP for Falmouth (Cape Cod League is the premier summer collegiate wood-bat league)... Rawlings/Perfect Game third team All-American and was rated the #150 HS prospect in USA and the #6 prospect in NJ in 2016... was selected by SF in 31st round of 2016 draft but did not sign... 

20th ROUND (612)
Darius Hill, LF
L/L, 6'1 190, Age 21 
West Virginia  
COLLEGE SR 
AREA SCOUT: Jacob Williams 
COMMENT: Hit 304/365/511 with 6 HR & 38 RBI, 22 doubles, 18/30 BB/K, in 52 games for Mountaineers in 2019... named to All-Big 12 Freshman team in 2016... Louisville Slugger first-team All-American at Jesuit College Preparatory School (Dallas, TX) in 2015... has below-average arm & below average speed...  

21st ROUND (642)
Nelson Maldonado, LF 
R/R, 5'10 195, Age 22 
U. of Florida 
COLLEGE SR 
AREA SCOUT: John Koronka 
COMMENT: Played 3B in HS but was a DH/LF in college... Hit 335/397/581 with 10 HR & 43 RBI, 14 doubles, and 21/32 BB/K in 55 games for Gators in 2019... was known as a short-stroke high-contact hitter prior to 2018 season (hit .400 in SEC games and put-up a .449 OBP for the full-season in 2017) before altering his swing and showing more XBH power in 2018-19... hit 308/444/517 with 4 HR & 22 RBI and 11 doubles for Madison in Northwoods League (summer collegiate wood-bat league) after his freshman season in 2016... 

22nd ROUND
(672)
Elian Almanzar, RHP 
L/R, 6'4 210, Age 19 
Florence-Darlington Tech 
JC FRESHMAN 
AREA SCOUT: Tom Clark 
COMMENT: Went 4-0 with 4.73 ERA, allowing 28 hits (no HR) with 26/30 BB/K in 26.2 IP (10 games - 9 GS) for Stingers in 2019... projectable-but-raw RHSP with promising 89 MPH FB... secondary pitches need work... 

23rd ROUND (702) 
Manny Collier, CF 
R/R, 5'10 170, Age 18 
Westwood HS - Mesa, AZ
HIGH SCHOOL 
COLLEGE COMMIT: South Mountain CC 
AREA SCOUT: Steve McFarland 
COMMENT: HS football star (WR) at Westwood... baseball is his second sport and so he is very raw... also is basketball PG... has plus-plus speed... below-average arm... moved to Arizona from Chicago when he was nine... Westwood HS is located about a mile from the Cubs UAPC at Riverview Park in Mesa so the Cubs know all about Manny Collier and he knows all about the Cubs...  

24th ROUND (732)
Grayson Byrd, INF 
L/R, 6'3 205, Age 22 
Clemson 
COLLEGE 5th YEAR (REDSHIRT SENIOR)
AREA SCOUT: Keith Lockhart
COMMENT: Hit 326/405/604 with 15 HR & 56 RBI, 14 doubles, and 25/40 BB/K in 56 games for Tigers in 2019... transferred to Clemson in 2016 after spending freshman year at LSU... played SS in college but projects as 2B-3B in pro ball... son of ex-MLB RHP and current Atlanta Braves announcer Paul Byrd... member of 18U USA Junior National Team in 2012 but was assigned to Team USA Developmental Team... selected out of HS by Atlanta Braves in 39th round of 2014 draft but did not sign...  

25th ROUND (762)
Zac Taylor, CF 
R/R, 6'1 185, Age 23 
U. of Illinois 
COLLEGE 5th YEAR (REDSHIRT SR) 
AREA SCOUT: John Pedrotty 
COMMENT: First-team All-Big Ten in 2019... led Big Ten in stolen bases in 2019... hit 321/405/612 with 10 HR & 29 RBI, 12 doubles and three triples, 31/38 BB/K, and 23 SB, in 53 games for Illini in 2019... transferred to Illinois from U. of Houston after 2016 season... selected by MIN in 36th round of 2018 draft but did not sign... graduated from Downers Grove South HS (Downers Grove, IL) in 2014...   

26th ROUND (792)
Jacob Olson, INF 
R/R, 6'0 200, Age 22 
U. of South Carolina
COLLEGE SR 
AREA SCOUT: Tom Clark 
COMMENT: Hit 258/336/512 with 13 HR & 37 RBI, 14 doubles, 15/40 BB/K, and eight SB, in 56 games for Gamecocks in 2019..  hit 308/333/495 for Chatham in Cape Cod League (the premier summer collegiate wood-bat league) after sophomore season in 2017...  versatile & athletic defender who can play anywhere in the infield & outfield... spent freshman season at West Georgia Tech and was named to GCAA first-team in 2016... was selected by AZ in 39th round of 2016 draft but did not sign... 

27th ROUND (822)
Cayne Ueckert, RHP 
R/R, 6'3 195, Age 23 
McNeese State 
COLLEGE SR 
AREA SCOUT: Trey Forkerway  
COMMENT: SP/RP swing-man... posted 3-3 record with 6.04 ERA & 1.76 WHIP, with 59 hits (three HR) allowed and 30/48 BB/K in 50.2 IP (18 games - 10 GS) for Cowboys in 2019... went 3-3 with 25 K in 42.2 IP (11 games) for Anchorage Bucs in Alaska Baseball League (summer collegiate wood-bat league) in 2018... transferred to McNeese State from Panola College after sophomore year... 

28th ROUND (852)
Chris Kachmar, RHP 
R/R, 6'3 180, Age 22 
Lipscomb University
COLLEGE SR 
AREA SCOUT: Alex McClure
COMMENT: Bisons Friday starter... went 9-3 with a 3.61 ERA, 78 hits (7 HR) allowed, with 41/94 BB/K, in 94.2 IP (15 GS) in 2019... spent freshman year at Fairleigh-Dickinson University, then transferred to Palm Beach State College, and then transferred to Lipscomb from PBSC after sophomore year...  

29th ROUND (882)
Jake Washer, C 
R/R, 6'0 220, Age 23 
East Carolina 
COLLEGE SR 
AREA SCOUT: Billy Swoope 
COMMENT: Johnny Bench Award semi-finalist in 2018... hit 285/385/481 with 19 HR & 87 RBI, 19 doubles, and 60/101 BB/K, in 121 career games at ECU... 17% CS as a catcher for Pirates in 2019... was named WPAC Player of the Year in both his junior and senior years in HS... 

30th ROUND (912) 
Bryan King, LHP
R/L, 6'1 184, Age 22 
McNesse State 
COLLEGE SR 
AREA SCOUT: Trey Forkerway 
COMMENT: Lefty reliever... 4-1 and a 3.44 ERA, with 46 hits (four HR) allowed, and 22/50 BB/K in 49 IP in 2019... was a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American after impressive debut season in 2016 but struggled as a SP in both his sophomore and junior seasons (too many walks allowed in 2017 and too many hits and HR allowed in 2018) before being moved to the bullpen in 2019... college teammate of Cubs 27th round pick Cayne Ueckert... 

31st ROUND (942)
Shane Combs, RHP 
R/R, 6'2 219, Age 22 
Notre Dame 
COLLEGE SR 
AREA SCOUT: John Pedrotty  
COMMENT: Little-used righty reliever... posted a 4.70 ERA & 1.89 WHIP and allowed 10 hits (no HR) and 19/17 BB/K in 15 IP (14 games) for the Fighting Irish in 2019... was rated the #2 high school RHP in Massachusetts as a HS senior in 2015... had TJS in 2015, did not pitch in 2016, and appeared in only five games (combined) in 2017-18... 

32nd ROUND (972)
Bryce Windham, IF-OF 
L/R, 6'1 190. Age 22 
Old Dominion 
COLLEGE SR 
AREA SCOUT: Billy Swoope 
COMMENT: High-contact bat-first utility player who can play just about anywhere (2B-3B-SS-LF-CF-RF)... hit 343/465/419 with 44/13 BB/K, and nine SB for the Monarchs in 2019...  played QB and led Saint Mary Catholic Central HS to Michigan state high school football championship in 2014...  

33rd ROUND (1002)
Ryan Ritter, SS 
R/R, 6'1 170, Age 18  
Lincoln Way East HS - Frankfort, IL 
HIGH SCHOOL 
COLLEGE COMMIT: Austin Peay State 
AREA SCOUT: John Pedrotty
COMMENT: Hit .500 with three HR & eight doubles for the Griffins in 2019... 

34th ROUND (1032)
Nolan Letzgus, RHP 
R/R, 6'0 175, Age 18 
Heritage HS - Ringgold, GA 
HIGH SCHOOL 
COLLEGE COMMIT: Walters State CC  
AREA SCOUT: Keith Lockhart 
COMMENT: Posted 3-1 record, 0.72 ERA, and .136 OppBA, with 14 hits allowed and 12/48 BB/K in 29 IP (6 GS) for the Rams in 2019... FB 88-92 T-94, CV 79-81, CH 79-80, and SL 80-82... outstanding all-around athlete who served as the DH when he wasn't pitching, was a star WR & KR on his HS football team, and he plays basketball, too (10.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game in his senior yesr)...  

35th ROUND (1062)
Hunter Patteson, LHP 
L/L, 6'4 170, Age 19 
Vero Beach HS - Vero Beach, FL 
HIGH SCHOOL 
COLLEGE COMMIT: UCF 
AREA SCOUT: John Koronka 
COMMENT: Posted 6-1 record, 0.96 ERA, and 1.06 WHIP, with 21 hits allowed and 18/77 BB/K in 51 IP (10 GS) for the Fighting Indians in 2019... features 84-87 T-89 FB, and mid-70's CH and SL...    

36th ROUND (1092)
Jayson Hoopes, RHP 
R/R, 6'3 190, Age 18 
St. Augustine Prep - Buena Vista Township, NJ 
HIGH SCHOOL 
COLLEGE COMMIT: U. of Virginia  
AREA SCOUT: Matt Sherman
COMMENT: Features 89-92 T-94 FB and a mid-70's CV.. switched his college commit from Wagner to UVA prior to the draft... 

37th ROUND (1122) 
Jaylon McLaughlin, CF
B/R, 5'11 165, Age 21  
U. of Nevada 
COLLEGE JR 
AREA SCOUT: Gabe Zappin 
COMMENT: Speedy defense-first CF from Santa Monica, CA... hit 289/348/381 with 4 HR & 38 RBI, 10 doubles and five triples, 29/89 BB/K, and 32 SB (5 CS) in 111 career games over the course of three seasons in Reno... was selected by NYM in 38th round of 2016 draft but did not sign... 

38th ROUND (1152)
Marc Davis, 3B/RHP 
R/R, 6'3 190, Age 19 
Florida Southwestern State College  
JC FRESHMAN 
AREA SCOUT: John Koronka 
COMMENT: Cubs drafted him as a 3B but he was the closer at FSW... 2.96 ERA with 15 hits (no HR) allowed and 16/41 BB/K in 24.1 IP for the Bucs in 2019... he was a two-way player (1st team All-State as SS/RHP) at South Gwinnett HS in Georgia, however...  

39th ROUND (1182)
Mason Auer, CF/RHP 
R/R, 6'0 185, Age 18
Kickapoo HS - Springfield, MO  
HIGH SCHOOL 
COLLEGE COMMIT: Missouri State 
AREA SCOUT: Ty Nichols 
COMMENT: A two-way player in HS, Auer is projected as a CF at higher levels depite displaying a 96 MPH FB (also a CV and CH) off the mound... hit .321 with two HR & 15 RBI at the plate and went 6-1 with a 0.79 ERA and 78 K in 10 GS for the Chiefs in 2019... 

40th ROUND (1212) 
Mac Bingham, CF 
R/R, 5'11 190, Age 18 
Torrey Pines HS - San Diego, CA 
HIGH SCHOOL 
COLLEGE COMMIT: USC 
AREA SCOUT: Alex Lontayo
COMMENT: Was also the star RB on his HS football team... 
++++++++++++++++++++++++


MLB FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT (MLB RULE 4) 

The MLB First-Year Player Draft (or "MLB Rule 4 Draft") is held annually over a three-day period in June (it will take place June 3-5 in 2019).

There are 40 rounds (there were 50 rounds prior to 2012), and draft order is based upon the inverse order of winning percentages from the previous season. If the winning percentages of two or more clubs are the same, the club with the lowest winning percentage from the previous season picks first. If two or more clubs are still tied, league standings from two years back (or three years back, four years back, etc) are used to break the tie.

Competitive Balance Rule 4 Draft picks are slotted in two groups (Competitive Balance Round "A" is slotted after the 1st Round, and Competitive Balance Round "B" is slotted between the 2nd and 3rd rounds). 
NOTE: Beginning with the 2017 Rule 4 Draft, Competitive Balance draft picks will no longer be awarded by lottery. Rather, all clubs who qualify (the ten smallest market clubs and the ten lowest revenue clubs) will receive Competitive Balance draft picks in either Competitive Balance Round "A" (between the 1st & 2nd round) or in Competitive Balance Round "B" (between the 2nd & 3rd rounds), with each club alternating between the two rounds every-other year.

If an Article XX-B Qualified Player subsequently signs a Major League contract with another (different) MLB club prior to the MLB Rule 4 Draft (MLB First-Year Player Draft), the player's former club (the club that lost the Qualified Player) normally will receive a compensatory draft pick in the MLB Rule 4 Draft between the 2nd & 3rd rounds (after Competitive Balance Round "B"). 
EXCEPTIONS: An MLB club that receives revenue sharing funds would receive a compensatory draft pick immediately after the conclusion of the 1st round (prior to Competitive Balance Round "A") - IF - the Qualified Player signs a contract worth at least $50M (the club would receive a compensatory draft pick between the 2nd & 3rd rounds and after Competitive Balance Round "B" if the Qualified Player signs a contract worth less than $50M), and an MLB club that is a Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) payor (club's payroll from the previous season exceeded the so-called "Luxury Tax") would receive a draft pick between the 4th & 5th rounds. 
NOTE: If more than one club receives the same type of compensatory pick, the draft order for the comp picks is the same as it is for all other rounds in that draft (clubs select in inverse order of league standings from the previous season, and in the case of two clubs finishing with the same record the previous season, league standings from two seasons back will be used to break the tie, and if If the clubs are still tied, league standings from three seasons back, four seasons back, etc, will be used to break the tie). 

An MLB club that signs an Article XX-B player who was extended a Qualifying Offer from his previous club forfeits its 2nd highest selection in the next MLB Rule 4 Draft and $500,000 is subtracted from its assigned International Signing Bonus Pool (ISBP) in the next full International Signing Period (ISP). 
EXCEPTIONS: An MLB club that receives revenue sharing funds would surrender its 3rd highest selection in the draft but nothing is subtracted from the club's ISBP in the next full ISP, and an MLB club that is a CBT payor (club's payroll from the previous season exceeded the so-called "Luxury Tax") would forfeit its 2nd & 5th selection in the draft and have $1,000,000 subtracted from its ISBP in the next ISP. 
NOTE: The Competitive Balance Tax threshold will be $195M in 2017, $197M in 2018, $206M in 2019, $208M in 2020, and $210M in 2021.

The next highest Rule 4 Draft pick (or draft picks) will be forfeited if a club signs more than one Article XX-B player who was extended a Qualifying Offer from his previous club (one draft pick forfeited for each Qualified Player signed). 
NOTE: A CBT payor (club's payroll from the previous season exceeded the so-called "Luxury Tax") would forfeit its 3rd & 6th highest selections if the club signs a second Qualified Player, its 4th & 7th selections if the club signs a third Qualified Player, and its 8th & 9th highest selections, 10th & 11th highest selections, etc, for additional Qualified Players signed. 

Draft picks subject to forfeiture include the club's own Rule 4 Draft picks, compensatory draft picks awarded to the club after losing an Article XX-B Qualified Player, and draft picks awarded as the result of the Rule 4 SBP Forfeited Draft Pick lottery (including draft picks that were subsequently acquired in a trade). Competitive Balance draft picks (including Competitive Balance draft picks acquired in a trade) and a compensatory draft pick awarded to a club for failing to sign a pick from a previous Rule 4 Draft are - NOT - subject to forfeiture.
NOTE: Prior to the 2018 MLB Rule 4 Draft, Competitive Balance draft picks were subject to forfeiture.

A Rule 4 Draft pick forfeited as the result of a club signing an Article XX-B player who was extended a Qualifying Offer from his previous club is not transferred to any other club (it just disappears).

Beginning with the 2018 Rule 4 Draft, any MLB club that had a payroll from the previous season that was $40M or more above the Competitive Balance Tax threshold will have its highest draft selection moved down ten slots, unless its first selection is among the top six picks in the draft, in which case it will have its second-highest draft slot moved down ten slots.
NOTE: In determining whether a club would have its highest or second-highest draft pick moved down ten slots, the six "protected" picks at the top of the 1st round would NOT include any compensation draft pick received by a club for failing to sign a 1st round draft pick from a previous draft -- these compensatory draft picks are already "protected."

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MLB FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT (MLB RULE 4) ELIGIBILITY 

An individual is eligible for selection in the MLB First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) if the person is at least 17 years old, has not previously signed an MLB or minor league contract, and is either a resident of a U. S. state or territory or Canada and has been for at least one year, or is not a resident but was enrolled in a high school (known as "secondary school" in Canada) or college in a U. S. state or territory or Canada within the previous year, and...

1. Player has graduated from high school and has received a diploma (if the player graduates early from high school and receives a diploma prior to turning 17, the player is eligible for selection if he turns 17 no later than 45 days after the draft and the player submits written notice of early graduation to the MLB Commissioner by January 15th); or

The player's high school class has graduated (12th grade) and 

2. Player has not yet graduated from high school but player's high school athletic eligibility has expired; or

3. Player dropped out of high school at least 365 days prior to the draft; or

4. Player attended a junior college the previous school year; or

5. Player is attending a four-year college and the school has no baseball program, or

6. Player is attending a four-year college and player has completed at least junior year of athletic eligibility, or

7. Player is attending a four-year college and is age 21 or older (or will turn 21 within 45 days of the draft); or

8. Player withdrew from a four-year college at least 120 days prior to the draft.

A player dismissed from a four-year college for academic reasons prior to the draft is eligible for selection only with the consent of the MLB Commissioner. 

For purposes of draft eligibility, a GED is not considered a high school diploma.
NOTE: Prior to the 2017 draft, a GED was considered equivalent to a high school diploma for purposes of draft eligibility. 

A club is not permitted to select a player in the Rule 4 Draft two years in a row, unless the player gives his approval in advance.

A high school player eligible for selection may elect (in advance) to have his name removed from draft eligibility in that particular Rule 4 Draft.

Prior to the draft, the MLB Commissioner's office will designate what it considers to be the Top 300 players in the draft, and offer each of the players an opportunity to furnish in advance of the draft access to the player's certified medical history available to be reviewed by all 30 MLB clubs. Players are not required to participate in the program, but if a player declines to participate, the player may not furnish medical records to any club or clubs prior to the draft.    

From among the Top 300 players, the MLB Commissioner's office will designate what it considers to be the Top 50 pitchers in the draft, and offer each of the pitchers an opportunity to submit a recent certified MRI of the pitcher's shoulder, elbow, or any other part of the body that has received medical treatment during the course of the previous season, available for review by all 30 MLB clubs prior to the draft. Pitchers are not required to participate in the program.   

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MLB FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT (MLB RULE 4) NEGOTIATION LIST

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

In most cases, a player selected by a club in the Rule 4 Draft will remain on the club's Negotiation List until either the player signs or until the signing deadline (whichever comes first), and if a club does not sign a Rule 4 Draft pick by the deadline (5 PM Eastern on the Friday that falls during the week July 6-12), the player is removed from the club's Negotiation List and becomes eligible for selection again in the next Rule 4 Draft in which the player would be eligible for selection. The exception to this rule is any college senior with no baseball eligibility left. This class of player remains on the club's Negotiation List until the player signs or until one week prior to the next Rule 4 Draft (whichever comes first).  

A player selected in the Rule 4 Draft will be declared a free-agent if he is not offered a contract by the signing deadline.

A player eligible for selection in the Rule 4 Draft who is not drafted ("Non-Drafted Free-Agent" or "NDFA") can sign with any club after the conclusion of the draft any time up until one week prior to the next Rule 4 Draft, unless and until the NDFA enrolls in a junior college or four-year college, in which case MLB Rule 4 Draft eligibility rules apply.

A player selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft or a Rule 4 eligible NDFA cannot be signed to a Major League contract.

A player selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft or a Rule 4 eligible NDFA can be "Signed for Future Service" (contract is for the following season) if the player signs a contract during the period of time extending from July 2nd through December 31st.

NOTE: The Cubs signed 32 of their 42 2018 draft picks, including their first twenty picks and 23 of their first 24. They also signed three NDFA. 

CUBS 2019 MLB RULE 4 DRAFT NEGOTIATION LIST: (updated 6-3-2019):
TBA

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MLB FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT (MLB RULE 4) SIGNING BONUS POOL (SBP)

There is a maximum limit on the aggregate amount of money that each club can pay as signing bonuses to players selected in a First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) before penalties begin to accrue.

Prior to the Rule 4 Draft, each MLB club is assigned a “Signing Bonus Pool” (SBP) equal to the aggregate pre-assigned bonus value of all of the club’s draft slots in the first ten rounds (including supplemental & compensatory draft picks). The higher the slot, the higher the bonus value. (The collective MLB SBP is determined in advance by calculating industry revenues). 

The Cubs 2019 Rule 4 Draft SBP is $5,826,900 (or $6,118,245 before penalties would be assessed).

If a club fails to sign a player selected in the first ten rounds (including supplemental draft picks), the value of that slot is deducted from the club’s SBP. There is no bonus value assigned to draft slots after the 10th round, but if a club pays a signing bonus in excess of $125,000 to a player selected in the 11th round or later or to a player eligible for selection who was not drafted, the amount of that bonus in excess of $125,000 is deducted from the club’s SBP.

If a club exceeds its SBP in a given Rule 4 Draft, a tax will be assessed and future Rule 4 Draft picks could be forfeited, depending on how much the club exceeded its SBP. (The club’s 1st Round draft pick in the next Rule 4 Draft is forfeited if the club exceeds its SBP by 5-10%, its 1st & 2nd round draft picks in the next Rule 4 Draft are forfeited if the club exceeds its SBP by 10-15%, and the club’s 1st Round picks in the next two Rule 4 Drafts are forfeited if the club exceeds its SBP by more than 15%).

Money collected from the tax on clubs that exceed their SBP will be distributed to qualifying clubs as Revenue Sharing funds, and forfeited draft picks will be reassigned by lottery. (Any club that exceeds its SBP is excluded from the lottery).

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MLB RULE 4 COMPENSATION DRAFT PICKS 

A Rule 4 Draft compensation pick is awarded to a club if the club is unable to sign a player selected in one of the first three rounds of the MLB Rule 4 Draft (including compensation draft picks between rounds 1-2, 2-3, and 3-4, Competitive Balance draft picks, draft picks awarded to a club after the club loses an Article XX-B MLB Free-Agent Qualified Player, and draft picks assigned to clubs from the SBP forfeited draft pick lottery).

A club must offer a drafted player at least 40% of the slot value in order to be eligible to receive a compensation draft pick if the player does not sign. 
EXCEPTION: A club is not required to offer a drafted player at least 40% of the slot value in order to be eligible to receive a compensation draft pick if the player does not sign if the drafted player is one of the Top 50 pitchers designated by the MLB Commissioner's office prior to the draft and the pitcher declined to submit an MRI

If a player selected prior to the 3rd round of the Rule 4 Draft does not sign, the club receives an extra compensation selection in the next Rule 4 Draft, one slot lower than where the club selected the previous season.

If a player selected in the 3rd round of the draft does not sign, the club receives an extra compensation selection after the 3rd round in the next Rule 4 Draft, with clubs selecting in inverse order of league standings from the previous season. (In the case of two clubs finishing with the same winning percentage the previous season, league standings from two seasons back will be used to break the tie. If the clubs are still tied, league standings from three seasons back, four seasons back, etc, will be used to break the tie).

A club would receive another compensation pick in the next Rule 4 Draft after that if a player selected with an extra compensation pick does not sign (same slot as the extra compensation draft pick for a player not signed after being selected prior to the 3rd round, and between the 3rd round compensation picks and the 4th round for a compensation draft pick not signed after being selected after the 3rd round), but there is no additional compensation pick awarded the following season (three years removed from the original draft pick) if a club is unable to sign that player.

A compensation draft pick awarded to a club after the club is unable to sign a player selected in a previous draft is NOT subject to forfeiture if that club signs an Article XX-B player who was extended a Qualifying Offer from another club.

Beginning with the 2018 MLB Rule 4 Draft, Article XX-B Qualified Player Compensation draft picks will be slotted between the 2nd & 3rd round of the draft (immediately after Competitive Balance Round "B"), between Rounds 1 & 2 (prior to Competitive Balance Round "A") for any club receiving revenue sharing funds that loses a Qualified Player who signs a major league contract worth more than $50M, and between rounds 4 & 5 for Competitive Balance Tax payors (club's payroll exceeds the so-called "Luxury Tax").

If a player selected with a draft pick awarded as the result of a club losing a Qualified Player does not sign, the club receives a compensation selection in the next Rule 4 Draft, one slot lower than where the club selected the previous season. There is no further compensation if a player selected with that compensation draft pick does not sign.

A compensation draft pick awarded to a club after losing an Article XX-B Qualified Player to another club is subject to forfeiture if that club signs a player who was extended a Qualifying Offer from another MLB club.

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MLB RULE 4 COMPETITIVE BALANCE DRAFT PICKS 

"Competitive Balance" Rule 4 Draft picks are slotted between the 1st and 2nd rounds (Competitive Balance Round "A") and between the 2nd and 3rd rounds (Competitive Balance Round "B").

Beginning with the 2017 Rule 4 Draft, Competitive Balance draft picks will no longer be awarded by lottery. Rather, all clubs who qualify (the ten smallest market clubs and the ten lowest revenue clubs, some of which are the same club) will receive Competitive Balance draft picks in either Competitive Balance Round "A" (between the 1st & 2nd rounds) or in Competitive Balance Round "B" (between the 2nd & 3rd rounds), with each club alternating between the two rounds every-other year.

Beginning with the 2018 Rule 4 Draft, Competitive Balance draft picks will no longer be subject to forfeiture by clubs signing a Qualified Player.

A Competitive Balance draft slot can be traded only during a period of time starting on December 2nd and extending up until two hours prior to the MLB First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft). The slot cannot be traded for cash unless it is a financial adjustment made to offset the salary of one or more of the players involved in the trade. Also, a Competitive Balance draft slot can be traded only once (only by the club that was awarded the pick). Once traded, the slot cannot be "flipped" to a third club.

If a player selected with a Competitive Balance draft pick does not sign, the club receives a compensation selection in the next Rule 4 Draft, one slot lower than where the club selected the previous season. There is no further compensation if a player selected with a Competitive Balance compensation draft pick does not sign.

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

MLB RULE 4 SBP FORFEITED DRAFT PICKS 

A Rule 4 SBP Forfeited draft pick that is forfeited because a club exceeded its Rule 4 Draft Signing Bonus Pool limit will be reassigned to another club by lottery to be held on the Wednesday following the MLB Rule 4 Draft signing deadline. All MLB clubs that have not exceeded its SBP limit as of that point in time are eligible to participate in this lottery.

As with Competitive Balance draft picks, Rule 4 SBP Forfeited draft picks can be traded, but only during a period of time beginning on December 2nd and extending up until two hours prior to the MLB First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft), and the pick cannot be traded for cash unless it is a financial adjustment made to offset the salary of one or more of the players involved in the trade. Also, a Rule 4 forfeited draft pick can be traded only once (only by the club that was awarded the pick). Once traded, the pick cannot be "flipped" to a third club.

If a club that is awarded a Rule 4 SBP Forfeited Draft pick subsequently exceeds its SBP, the pick will be forfeited and another lottery will be held (date and time TBA by the MLB Commissioner) to allocate the pick to another club.

If a club trades a Rule 4 Forfeited Draft pick to another club, it cannot subsequently sign a player subject to the club's Rule 4 SBP if signing the player causes the club to exceed its SBP.

If a player selected with a Rule 4 Draft SBP forfeited draft pick does not sign, the club receives a compensation selection in the next Rule 4 Draft, one slot lower than the forfeited draft pick slot from the previous season. There is no further compensation if a player selected with a compensation Rule 4 Draft SBP forfeited draft pick does not sign.

Comments

cubs pick (overall #27) coming in about 2 hours into the draft...they're "on deck" after ARZ picks in a couple minutes.

Seems they are SEVERELY reaching on this one.  MLB had him ranked #99 and only a "possible" starter.  Hope they know something everyone else doesn't.  Maybe a $$$ saver (like Schwarber did) to go get some "unsignables" later.

Hella-fastball or not no starter can last if they know only dead red is coming all the time.  I'd hate to think they drafted a closer in the first round, I know it wasn't Theo, but Andrew Cashner was strictly a closer at least his last year in college, Plus they turned a succesful Hayden Simpson SP to a RP (given he had some health issues) so it's in the Cubs blood to do this.  Alex Lange and Brandon Little have shown little so far (no pun intended)

Best way to make sure you get the third-rounder you want is to take him in the first round.  Makes perfect sense to me.

But I ate a lot of paste as a kid.

Man, I don’t know. Baseball draft is not in the same world as NFL or NBA. You just don’t know. Myriad Cubs Round 1 picks have been total busts, and they are not alone. I will say that post-2016, I am really disappointed in decisions the management has made with drafts, and FA signings. The Yu thing, Happ, zero pitchers developed, the Verlander miss, Heyward, (ok, not post-2016), etc. So, as always, “We’ll see...”. On top of this, the Milwaukee GM, with less money, has made Theo look like Bobo the Fool.

Totally agree.  Since 2015 (the year they drafted Happ), he is the only player to play in the MLB from the Cubs draft (given I think some traded have).  That's no 2016, 2017, 2018 players.  Not one player has shot up and shocked everyone to even play an inning.  Only 4 Cubs Theo drafted pitchers have touched the MLB as a Cub Zastryny, Norwood, Johnson, and Underwood.  Also I know a lot of blame falls on the big 3 execs, but maybe they need to get some new scouts.  Is Clint Eastwood available?

[ ]

In reply to by cubbies.4ever

I don’t know wby you’d expect guys from 2016 onward to be in the majors yet.

2016 they didn’t pick until the third round, but fourth rounder Tyson Miller has been a revelation this year in AA and looks like a legitimate part of the future rotation. Zack Short, Matt Swarmer, Trent Giambrone, Dakota Mekkes, Duncan Robinson (until TJS) in that draft too, all looking like potential MLB pieces. Hatch still has some promise too. 

2017 they might have missed on Little and Lange, but Little especially still has promise I think. Velocity is back up per AZ Phil’s report the other day. Some interesting arms taken further down like Thompson, Eulman, and Estrada have given the Cubs a lot of viable pitching depth right now. 15th rounder Jared Young is in AA already and showing promise. 

2018 of course there’s no one on the radar yet but Hoerner might have been knocking on the door this summer if he didn’t break his wrist. After him Brennen Davis and Cole Roederer were HS picks but both are already in full season ball, so that’s pretty impressive in itself. 

[ ]

In reply to by cubbies.4ever

FWIW... only 20 players from the first 5 rounds of the 2016 draft have played in the MLB (166 picks total) and the most significant contributions seem to be from Shane Bieber and Pete Alonso. And I will buy a beer for anybody who can give me position & team for those two players (w/o looking). :o)

mlb.com had Strumpf at #41 (Jensen at #99). 

"It's Strumpf's hit tool that stands out. He can flat out rake with excellent strike zone discipline, showing the ability to barrel up the baseball consistently. While he doesn't have huge raw power, there's some definite thump from the right side of the plate and he can punish mistakes. While he was a shortstop in high school, he doesn't have the arm or speed to play there, but he should be a reliable defender at second base.

It's the bat, though, that will get him drafted in the early rounds of the 2019 Draft. He profiles as an offensive-minded second baseman with some power, kind of like a right-handed version of Bruin product Kevin Kramer, who made his big league debut with the Pirates in 2018."

the new moneyball is getting the best 3rd round pick in the draft by snagging him in the 1st round.  kudos.

i wonder if they were afraid of him going "early" to another team before their 2nd/3rd pick or if they got the feeling jensen would return to school for his senior year if he didn't get paid.

either way, it'll be interesting to see why they're so high on this dude.

Draft Board Rankings, what are the reputations of the different outlets (Callis, Law, Fangraphs, ect). Does one favor tools whereas another favors players with higher floors? Is one more of an aggregator of industry opinions whereas another may be more indepent in their research and evluations.  Is somebody just bat shit crazy and needs to be ignored?

See a wide range of rankings on players, for example Jensen, and curious if there is something to read into them. 

Alright you want to say 2016-2018 is too early, fine.  Why is Ian Happ the only 2015?  That's plenty of time for the college kids who have 3+ years in the pros + college.  Somebody else should be there.  I'd be willing to bet if you looked at every team they'd have more than 1.    Everybody is using you can't compare NFL/NBA.  What about NHL?  They draft 17 year old kids and they play within a couple years (barring they don't go to NCAA).  So you can't use the for a kids rule.  Given it's a different sport.  Bottom Line:  I'm saying the Cubs draft poor and it might not be Theo's fault.  I think their scouts are failing them.  I hope Jensen/Strumpf prove me wrong.

Just for an interesting side note:  Strumpf at the same time he was getting his name called he hit a HR in a game last night.  Karma?

Draft Evaluation in Context... 

I think that any draft (and MLB) in particular needs to be evluated on an "opportunity cost" basis in addition to a pure performance basis.  If you could go back in time & redraft at that spot, with the same players already off the board, did you make a reasonably valuable choice?

Take 2011 just as a case study... loaded draft. Cubs take Baez @ #9. I love Baez, so I have no issue w/ the pick; however, for argument's sake.. who could have the Cubs taken - George Springer, Jose Fernandez, Sonny Gray, Trevor Story, Jackie Bradley Jr.  Great list of players, you can argue make arguments pro/con for any as THE BEST, but Baez is clearly in that tier.  So good on the Cubs for getting good value relative to availability with their first pick. 

Moving later into the draft, I think evaluation of a draft needs to be based on floor/ceiling calculus. In 2011, Mookie Betts went in the 5th round, #172... even if teams liked MB, everybody passed on him at least 4 times.  If somebody is a low floor/high ceiling player, how many lottery tickets do you want to buy in the draft? What is a good return rate? If somebody told you that over 10 years, your 5th round would yield 9 players that didn't make the MLB & one Mookie Betts, would you take that deal?  I would in a heartbeat. 

Where I think the Cubs draft team has underperformed is actually in the High floor / low ceiling pitcher area.  I never expected 2nd round picks Stinnett or Rob Z to be world beaters, but I at least thought they could be a good-enough 6-7-8th man in the bullpen. 

I think we lose sight of the fact that 4 first  picks in a row are on the team & valuable (or even invaluable) contributers (Baez, Almora, Bryant, Schwarber), & a fifth shows lots of promise & has been in the MLB (Happ). Other first rounders - Missed on Pierce Johnson, but Blackburn became 1/2 of Montgomery. In the second round, Vogelbach became the other 1/2 of Montgomery, Underwood may still be productive (admittedly trending down), Rob Z & Stinnett were misses, & Donnie Dewees became Alec Mills (and we still got DDW back). 

The time horizon is really important too... can pretty much close the book on '11-'12-'13 with some grades still pending (Maples, Underwood, Trevor Clifton). However, the 2014 draft is still up for judgement.

R1 - Schwarber

R3- Zagunis (probably not great, but still could spend a few years as a #5 OF)

R5 - Steele (we'll see)

R6 - Cease (traded for Q - hate/love the trade, just looking at draft)

R7 - Norwood (on 40, looks promising)

R9 - Farris (traded for Eddie Butler, who was turned into 1/2 of Cole Hamels trade)

R16 - Vosler (traded for Rowan Wick)

R26 - Hedges (owning AA, hasn't figured out AAA... probably not MLB, but we'll see)

Point being... ultimate evaluation of that draft could still go either way, and that was 5 years ago.

Chase Strumpf came into the 2019 season off a stellar sophomore season in 2018 (1st team All-Pac 12 and second team All-American) and as one of the top five draft-eligible collegiate bats in the 2019 draft, but then he went into a funk after opponents started pitching around him and he became passive, satisfied to take a ton of walks. I suspect the Cubs evaluation of Strumpf took into account his 2018 performance and also how he hit in the wood-bat Northwoods League in the summer of 2017. 

As a bat-first 2nd baseman Strumpf fits a similar profile as 2017 Cubs draft pick Jared Young, a college 2nd baseman who ended up a 1B-LF guy. Strumpf is a bat who plays 2B. He will have to hit like he did in 2017-18 for him to reach his ceiling, but apparently the Cubs are confident he will. I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up in LF (presuming he hits enough to play there). 

As for Ryan Jensen, he is another in a fairly long list of California college pitchers selected by the Cubs 2016-18, including Tyson Miller, Cory Abbott, Paul Richan, Erich Uelmen, and Ricky Tyler Thomas, all of whom are progressing nicely through the Cubs system (or in the case of Thomas, was part of the trade to acquire Cole Hamels from Texas).

The Cubs have three area scouts working in California (Alex Lontayo, Tom Myers, and Gabe Zappin), and they actually do know their stuff. I can't speak much about some of the other Cubs amateur scouts (although VA-NC-MD-DE-DC area scount Billy Swoope is a "bird-dog"), but Lontayo, Myers, and Zappin are really good. I don't think it's a coincidence that the Cubs top two picks this year and three of their top four picks last year were from California and that five of their first eleven picks last year were from Virginia-North Carolina. 

Every organization has "go-to" scouts, and Lontayo, Myers, Zappin, and Swoope are the Cubs "go-to" guys in the amateur scouting dept. 

erik miller still on the board...cubs pick coming up.  wouldn't mind seeing that one snagged.

Riley Thompson last year and now McAvene this year, Cubs dipping into the Univ of Louisville well waters once again

Given who they selected with their first four picks, the Cubs may be positioning themselves to draft a HS pitcher in the 5th or 6th round who will require a significant over-slot bonus to sign, as happened with Jeremiah Estrada in 2017 and Kohl Franklin last year. 

My theory of Theo loving having pitchers with TJS surgery is once again proving true.  Picks 3, 4, 5 have all had to have TJS.  He must have James Andrews on speed dial.

awesome consolidation of information about these draft picks, Phil...best on the internet...again.

PHIL: Cool. Thanks for the recaps! Interesting, I see that UCSB's Tom Myers has his stamp on several arms and other players this draft. I didn't know he was a former manager in the Cape Cod league (Whitecaps) until recently. The Whitecaps have had some nice alumni including Aaron Judge, Ryan Braun, and Scott Kingery - among others, over recent history.

The guy also has his M Ed too, so it would seem he'd be prepared to combine that theory with his baseball side (he played with several clubs in the majors as well).

Do you see him much at instructs or for other things? Or, is he strictly based in CA? Is he respected? I just am wishing so hard that the Cubs finally graduate a solid pitching prospect to the Big Club someday soon.

PHIL: What happened to the Panamanian Pitcher Didier Vargas who had a nice AZL Rookie Camp in 2018?

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In reply to by The E-Man

E-MAN: LHP Didier Vargas has had a strong EXST performance (better & better with each outing) and (with both Yovanny Cruz and Danis Correa shut-down) will likely make the Eugene Opening Day starting rotation, but if he doesn't he'll almost certainly be in the Ems bullpen. 

AZ Phil, thank you for the amazing draft coverage!  By far the best Cubs draft coverage to be found anywhere.

Cubs supposedly reach agreement with 6th rd (~$250,00) C Ethan Hearn although it said to cost 2nd money round (~$1M), making an overslot of $750,000.  That's a lot to make up in the bonus pool, even with the 5% overage allowance

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In reply to by cubbies.4ever

cubbies.4ever: McAvene, Clarke, Burgmann, Depperman, and Hendrie (maybe Jensen and Strumpf, too) likely agreed to underslot bonuses prior to the draft, and the Cubs could save enough just with those pre-draft arrangements to get the extra SBP they need to sign Hearn.

Herz and Schlaffer are more difficult to figure (because they are HS picks with D-1 commitments), but I doubt the Cubs would have drafted them if they didn't see a pathway to signing them. They may have agreed to sign for slot (or maybe a little bit more, presuming there is SBV space left-over after the Cubs sign Hearn). 

Besides evaluating players, one of the functions of an area scout is to determine if a player is open to signing if drafted, and if so, how much he wants. It's also not unusual for a club and a player to generally agree on a figure prior to the draft. A club does not want to waste a pick in the first ten rounds and lose an SBV slot if they can help it. 

blue jays draft roy halladay's kid (Braden) in the 32nd round.

he's gonna go to penn state.  nice gesture, though.  roy wore #32 most of the time he was in TOR.

One of the writers who was tipping draft picks (I can’t remember which one) had Matthew Allan to the Cubs at #27 and then he quickly changed his call to Jensen. It was the only time he was recanted or was wrong all night. There has to be a story there.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Javier Assad started the Lo-A game (Myrtle Beach versus Stockton) on the Cubs backfields on Wednesday as his final Spring Training tune-up. He was supposed to throw five innings / 75 pitches. However, I was at the minor league road games at Fitch so I didn't see Assad pitch. 

  • crunch (view)

    cards put j.young on waivers.

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  • Childersb3 (view)

    Seconded!!!

  • crunch (view)

    another awesome spring of pitching reports.  thanks a lot, appreciated.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Here are the Cubs pitchers reports from Tuesday afternoon's Cardinals - Cubs game art Sloan Park in Mesa:

    SHOTA IMANAGA
    FB: 90-92 
    CUT: 87-89 
    SL: 82-83 
    SPLIT: 81-84
    CV: 73-74 
    COMMENT: Worked three innings plus two batters in the fourth... allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits (six singles and two doubles) walked one, and struck out six (four swinging), with a 1/2 GO/AO... he threw 73 pitches (52 strikes - 10 swing & miss - 19 foul balls)... surrendered one run in the top of the 1st on a one-out double off Cody Bellinger's glove in deep straight-away CF followed one out later by two consecutive two-out bloop singles, allowed two runs (one earned) in the 2nd after retiring the first two hitters (first batter had a nine-pitch AB with four consecutive two-strike foul balls before being retired 3 -U) on a two-out infield single (weak throw on the run by Nico Hoerner), a hard-contact line drive RBI double down the RF line, and an E-1 (missed catch) by Imanaga on what should been an inning-ending 3-1 GO, gave up another run in the 3rd on a two-out walk on a 3-2 pitch and an RBI double to LF, and two consecutive singles leading off the top of the 4th before being relieved (runners were ultimately left stranded)... threw 18 pitches in the 1st inning (14 strikes - two swing & miss, one on FB and the other on a SL - four foul balls), 24 pitches in the 2nd inning (17 strikes - three swing & miss, one on FB, two SPLIT - six foul balls), 19 pitches in the 3rd inning (13 strikes - seven swing & miss, three on SL, two on SPLIT, one on FB - three foul balls), and 12 pitches without retiring a batter in the top of the 4th (8 strikes - no swing & miss - four foul balls)... Imanaga throws a lot of pitches per inning, but it's not because he doesn't throw strikes...  if anything, he throws too many strikes (he threw 70% strikes on Tuesday)... while he gets a ton of swing & miss (and strikeouts), he also induces a lot of foul balls because he doesn't try to make hitters chase his pitches by throwing them out of the strike zone... rather, he uses his very diverse pitch mix to get swing & miss (and lots of foul balls as well)... he also is a fly ball pitcher who will give up more than his share of HR during the course of the season...   
     
    JOE NAHAS
    FB: 90-92 
    SL: 83-85 
    CV: 80-81 
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day... relieved Imanaga with runners at first and second and no outs in the top of the 4th, and after an E-2 catcher's interference committed by Miguel Amaya loaded he bases, Nahas struck out the side (one swinging & two looking)... threw 16 pitches (11 strikes - two swinging)...   

    YENCY ALMONTE
    FB: 89-92 
    CH: 86 
    SL: 79 
    COMMENT: Threw an eight-pitch 5th (five strikes - no swing & miss), with a 5-3 GO for the first out and an inning-ending 4-6-3 DP after a one-out single... command was a bit off but he worked through it...   

    FRANKIE SCALZO JR
    FB: 94-95
    CH: 88 
    SL: 83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 6th inning... got the first outs easily (a P-5 and a 4-3 GO) on just three pitches, before allowing three consecutive two-out hard-contact hits (a double and two singles), with the third hit on pitch # 9 resulting in a runner being thrown out at the plate by RF Christian Franklin for the third out of the inning... 

    MICHAEL ARIAS
    FB: 94-96
    CH: 87-89
    SL: 82-83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and allowed a hard-contact double on the third pitch of the 7th inning (a 96 MPH FB), and the runner came around to score on a 4-3 GO and a WP... gave up two other loud contact outs (an L-7 and an F-9)... threw 18 pitches (only 10 strikes - only one swing & miss)... stuff is electric but still very raw and he continues to have difficulty commanding it, and while he has the repertoire of a SP, he throws too many pitches-per-inning to be a SP and not enough strikes to be a closer... he is most definitely still a work-in-progress...   

    ZAC LEIGH: 
    FB: 93-94 
    CH: 89 
    SL: 81-83 
    CV: 78
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and tossed a 1-2-3 8th (4-3 GO, K-swinging on a sweeper, K-looking on another sweeper)... threw 14 pitches (11 strikes - one swing & miss - eight foul balls)... kept pumping pitches into the strike zone but had difficulty putting hitters away (ergo a ton of foul balls)... FB velo is nowhere near the 96-98 MPH it was a couple of years ago when he was a Top 30 prospect, but his secondaries are better...   

    JOSE ROMERO:  
    FB: 93-95
    SL: 82-84
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 9th (14 pitches - only six strikes- no swing & miss) and allowed a solo HR after two near-HR fly outs to the warning track, before getting a 3-1 GO to end the inning... it was like batting practice when he wasn't throwing pitches out of the strike zone...

  • crunch (view)

    pablo sandoval played 3rd and got a couple ABs (strikeout, single!) in the OAK@SF "exhibition"

    mlb officially authenticated the ball of the single he hit.  nice.

    he's in surprisingly good shape considering his poor body condition in his last playing seasons.  he's not lean, but he looks healthier.  good for him.

  • crunch (view)

    dbacks are signing j.montgomery to a 1/25m with a vesting 20m player option.

    i dunno when the ink officially dries, but i believe if he signs once the season begins he can't be offered a QO...and i'm not sure if that thing with SD/LAD in korea was the season beginning, either.

  • crunch (view)

    sut says imanaga getting the home opener at wrigley (game 4 of the season).

  • crunch (view)

    cubs rolling out the who's who of "who the hell is this guy?" in the last spring game.

  • videographer (view)

    AZ Phil, speaking of Jordan Wicks having better command when he tires a bit, I remember reading about Dennis Lamp 40 years ago and his sinker that was better after 3 or 4 innings when he would tire a bit and get more sink with a little less speed on the pitch.  The key for Lamp was getting to the 4th inning.