Cubs 2022 MLB First-Year Player Draft

CUBS 2022 MLB FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT PICKS 

DAY ONE (7/17)

1st ROUND (7) 
Cade Horton, RHP 
R/R, 6'1 211, Age 20 
U. of Oklahoma 
COLLEGE REDSHIRT FRESHMAN   
COMMENT: Considered to be the best college pitcher in the draft... was named to the Baseball America Freshman All-American team in 2022... attended Norman HS and then stayed home and enrolled at the University of Oklahoma as a two sport guy (baseball pitcher / third-baseman & football QB) after decomitting from Ole Miss, but eventually gave up football to concentrate on baseball... he didn't play baseball in 2020, he redshirted the 2021 season after undergoing TJS, and finally made his college game debut this past March... 5-2 with a 4.86 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 14 games (11 GS), with 15/64 BB/K, 55 hits (8 HR), and 7 HBP, in 53.2 IP, but went 3-0 with a 2.61 ERA and 6/49 BB/K in 31 innings in post-season tournament play (Big 12 tournament, NCAA regional and super-regional, and College World Series)... set a record by striking out 13 batters in the CWS championship game loss versus Ole Miss and was named to CWS All-Tournament team... best pitch is an upper 80's SL with a high spin-rate, but he also throws a 94-97 MPH FB, an 80 MPH CV, and an upper 80's CH...   
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $5,708,000

2nd ROUND (47) 
Jackson Ferris, LHP 
L/L, 6'4 195, Age 18
IMG Academy - Bradenton, FL  
HIGH SCHOOL 
COLLEGE COMMIT: Ole Miss 
COMMENT: Considered to be one of the top three HS LHP in the 2022 draft... transferred to IMG from Mt. Airy HS in North Carolina in 2020... features a 93-97 MPH FB, a high-spin mid-70's CV, and a deceptive CH... was better in his junior year at IMG in 2021 when he posted a 0.55 ERA with 13/82 BB/K over the course of 50.2 IP than he was in his senior year (2022) when he had some command issues stemming from a mechanical problem with his crossfire delivery... will enroll at 2022 CWS champion Ole Miss if he does not sign with the Cubs...   
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $1,660,400


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


DAY TWO (7/18)

3rd ROUND (86)
Christopher Paciolla, SS 
R/R, 6'2 185, Age 18 
Temecula Valley HS - Temecula, CA 
HIGH SCHOOL
COLLEGE COMMIT: UCLA 
COMMENT: Hit 390/533/695 with 4 HR & 21 RBI with 16/14 BB/K in 29 games for Golden Bears in 2022... has above-average power... good fielder with average arm and below average speed... will likely move to 3B in pro ball... will enroll at UCLA if he does not sign with Cubs... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $735,200

4th ROUND (113)
Nazier Mule, RHP (ex-SS) 
R/R, 6'3 210, Age 17 
Passaic County Technical HS - Wayne, NJ 
HIGH SCHOOL 
COLLEGE COMMIT: U. of Miami 
COMMENT: Last name is pronounced Moo-LAY... athletic two-way player (SS / RHP) with a shortstop arm compared to Shawon Dunston... hit .427 with 8 HR & 37 RBI, 9 doubles, 3 triples, and 14 walks for Bulldogs in 2022... raw power arm off the mound featuring a 92-96 MPH FB (was touching 100 with FB in his junior year) and inconstent slider... 3.23 ERA with 10 hits allowed and 6/29 BB/K in 13 IP for Bulldogs in 2022... played mostly 1B / DH in 2022 while nursing a sore arm... will pitch (only) in pro ball but will be a two-way player at "The U" if he does not sign with Cubs...  
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $538,400 

5th ROUND (143)
Brandon Birdsell, RHP
R/R, 6'2 240, Age 22  
Texas Tech 
COLLEGE REDSHIRT JR 
COMMENT: Friday starter for Red Raiders in 2022... features a 95-99 MPH FB, a mid-80's dive-bomb SL, and a so-so 86-87 MPH CH... has the stamina to be a starter but may be confined to the pen as a two-pitch power arm (FB / SL) in pro ball... went 9-2 with a 2.75 ERA and 1.13 WHIP, allowing 67 hits (7 HR) with 29/106 BB/K, 7 HBP, amd 10 WP in 15 games (15 GS) and 85 IP for Red Raiders in 2022... had a shoulder injury (rotator cuff) in 2021 but was healthy in 2022... was selected by Houston Astros in 39th round of 2019 draft but did not sign and enrolled at Texas A&M... was selected by Minnesota Twins in 11th round of 2021 draft but did not sign and returned to Tech... started college career at Texas A&M, then transferred to San Jacinto JC, before ending up in Lubbock...  
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $402,100

6th ROUND (173)
Will Frisch, RHP 
R/R, 6'0 222, Age 22  
Oregon State 
COLLEGE REDSHIRT SOPH 
COMMENT: Was a swingman for Beavers in 2021 and was supposed to move to starting rotation in 2022 before March TJS put him on the shelf... should be ready for Spring Training 2023... went 3-0 with a 2.42 ERA and 1.16 WHIP, 48 hits (3 HR) allowed with 30/66 BB/K in 27 games (7 GS) and 53.2 IP 2020-21... features a 94-98 MPH FB with sinking action, a swing & miss CH, and an inconsistent SL... profiles as a sinker / change-up bullpen arm in pro ball... was selected by Minnesota Twins in 36th round of 2019 draft but did not sign and enrolled at OSU... was a two-way player (RHP / 3B) at Stillwater HS in Minnesota and was a member of National Honor Society... Stillwater won Minnesota Class 4-A state baseball championship when Frisch was a junior...  
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $303,700

7th ROUND (203)
Nick Hull, RHP
R/R, 6'2 205, Age 22 
Grand Canyon U.  
COLLEGE SR
COMMENT: Is attending graduate school at GCU... worked out of Antelopes bullpen 2018-21 and led WAC in lowest ERA (1.77) in 2021, then became GCU Friday starter in 2022. .. went 7-1 with a 3.72 ERA and 1.22 WHIP, allowing 90 hits (8 HR) and 28/102 BB/K, 4 HBP, and 10 WP, in 16 games (16 GS) and 90.2 IP for GCU in 2022... pitched for Bellingham in West Coast League (a collegiate wood bat league) in 2018, for Mankato in Northwoods League (another collegiate wood bat league) in 2019, and for Orleans in Cape Cod League (the top collegiate wood bat league) in 2021...
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $237,300

8th ROUND (233)
Mason McGwire, RHP 
R/R, 6'4 190, Age 18 
Capistrano Valley HS - Mission Viejo, CA 
HIGH SCHOOL 
COLLEGE COMMIT: U. of Oklahoma
COMMENT: Son of Mark McGwire... two-way player at CVHS (RF / RHP)... features a 89-92 MPH FB and a dive-bomb splitter... older brother Max is a first-baseman at the University of Oklahoma, and Mason will attend OU if he does not sign with Cubs...
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $188,900

9th ROUND (263) 
Connor Noland, RHP 
R/R, 6'3 215, Age 22 
U. of Arkansas 
COLLEGE REDSHIRT JR 
COMMENT: Razorbacks Friday starter... went 8-6 with a 3.65 ERA and 1.23 WHIP, allowed 109 hits (7 HR) with 34/113 BB/K, 8 HBP, amd 2 WP, in 20 games (19 GS) and 116 IP in 2022.... features a reliable if unspectacular three-pitch mix with plus-command, including an 89-91 MPH FB, a mid-80's SL, and a CV... was an ESPN 4-star football recruit at Greenwood HS (top three college football prospect in Arkansas) and came to Fayetteville as a two-sport player (QB in football and RHP in baseball), but he quit football after freshman year in 2019 to concentrate on baseball...    
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $164,500

10th ROUND (293) 
Brody McCullough, RHP 
R/R, 6'4 205, Age 22 
Wingate University 
COLLEGE REDSHIRT JR 
COMMENT: D-2 2022 Southern Region Pitcher of the Year... Bulldogs' Friday starter, went 9-1 with a 2.40 ERA and 1.13 WHIP, allowing 48 hits and no HR with 24/100 BB/K in 12 games (11 GS) and 63.2 IP in 2022... is currently pitching for Hyannis in Cape Cod League, where he has put up a 2.70 ERA with 8/30 BB/K in 20 IP... is having an outstanding summer at the Cape, and was named T-Mobile Cape Cod League Pitcher of the Week for the week ending July 10th... features a low 90's FB, a mid-80's CH, a low-80's SL, and plus command... nickname is "Bird"... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $154,200


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


DAY THREE (7/19)

NOTE: A signing bonus in excess of $125,000 for any player selected in Rounds 11-20 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 (323)
Branden Noriega, LHP 
L/L, 6'2 180, Age 21 
Miami-Dade College  
JC REDSHIRT SOPH  
COMMENT: Pitched for West Virginia in the MLB Draft League (an MLB "partner league" formerly known as the NYP League) in 2022... recorded a 4.91 ERA and 1.41 WHIP, with 6 hits (1 HR) allowed and 10/14 BB/K in 10 games (11 IP) for Black Bears in 2022... attended Miami-Dade College prior to pitching in the MLBDL... spent HS years at Somerset Academy - Silver Palms in Homestead, FL... 

12th ROUND (353)
Mathew Peters, RHP
R/R, 6'4 215, Age 21 
Ivy Tech CC - Northeast (Ft Wayne) 
JC REDSHIRT SOPH  
COMMENT: FB clocked at 100+ MPH in March... previously pitched at Hillsborough CC in Plant City, FL, before coming home to Ft. Wayne... went 1-2 with an 8.03 ERA, allowing 31 hits and 18/30 BB/K over the course of 24.2 IP in 13 games (3 GS) for HCC in 2021...   

13th ROUND (383)
Luis Rujano, RHP 
R/R, 6'5 205, Age 19 
Sunshine State Elite Academy - Kissimmee, FL
HIGH SCHOOL   
COLLEGE COMMIT: South Florida 
COMMENT: Rated by Perfect Game as the #11 HS player in Florida in 2022... features a 96 MPH FB and a CH... will enroll at U. of South Florida if he does not sign with Cubs... was born in Venezuela...

14th ROUND (413)
Shane Marshall, RHP (ex-C) 
R/R, 6'4 210, Age 22  
U. of Georgia 
COLLEGE REDSHIRT JR 
COMMENT: A light-hitting back-up catcher with a plus arm who occasionally threw off the mound in blow-outs... will be converted to pitcher at pro level... hit 210/354/287 with five doubles, 1 HR & 19 RBI, and 21/73 BB/K in 95 games (201 PA) as a catcher over the course of four seasons at Georgia...     

15th ROUND (443)
Haydn McGeary, C-1B  
R/R, 6'5 235, Age 22 
Colorado Mesa University 
COLLEGE REDSHIRT JR 
COMMENT: A bat-first catcher who also plays 1B and corner OF, but is primarily a DH... was named ABCA National Player of the Year in both 2021 and 2022... hit 448/522/930 with 75 HR & 243 RBI, 65 doubles, and 81/88 BB/K in 722 PA (163 games) in three seasons at CMU... is presently hitting 403/482/622 with 4 HR & 28 RBI over the course of 30 games for Bluefield in the Appalachian League (collegiate wood bat summer league)... finished in the top 10 in the nation in HR in his senior year at Thunderbird HS in Glendale, AZ... will transfer to U. of Kentucky if he does not sign with Cubs... first name is spelled Haydn (like the composer)...   

16th ROUND (473)
JP Wheat, RHP 
R/R, 6'5 185, Age 19 
Next Level Academy - Wetumpka, AL 
HIGH SCHOOL
COLLEGE COMMIT: Georgia Tech 
COMMENT: 19-year old HS senior... ex-OF converted to pitcher in his junior year of HS ... features a 91-96 MPH FB, a 69-74 MPH CV, and a 79-83 MPH CH... will enroll at Georgia Tech if he does not sign with Cubs...  

17th ROUND (503)
Andy Garriola, OF 
R/R, 6'5 235, Age 22 
Old Dominion 
COLLEGE REDSHIRT JR 
COMMENT: 2022 second team NCBWA All-American... started all 58 games for the Monarchs and finished 9th in the nation in HR and seventh in the nation in RBI in NCAA D-1 in 2022... hit 324/377/617 with 49 HR & 214 RBI, 53 doubles, and 54/163 BB/K in 784 PA (170 games) over the course of three seasons at ODU... hit 256/319/488 for Cobuit in Cape Cod League (the top summer collegiate wood bat league) in 2021... was named Conference USA Freshman of the Year in 2019... 

18th ROUND (533)
Garrett Brown, RHP 
L/R, 6'7 218, Age 22  
U. of Georgia
COLLEGE REDSHIRT JR 
COMMENT: Posted a 1-3 record with a 6.64 ERA and 1.83 WHIP, 48 hits (4 HR) allowed and 29/30 BB/K, 3 HBP, and 9 WP in 42 IP over the course of 16 games (14 GS) combined in 2020 and 2022... missed the 2021 season after undergoing TJS... was a football QB and also played basketball in addition to baseball at Manchester HS in Georgia... 

19th ROUND (563)
Brock Blatter, RHP 
R/R, 6'6 215, Age 18 
Billings Central Catholic HS - Billings, MT 
HIGH SCHOOL 
COLLEGE COMMIT: U. of Alabama 
COMMENT: Pitched for State College in MLB Draft League in 2022 and displayed a 91-95 MPH FB, a mid-80's SL with a high spin-rate, and a CV... had command issues and posted a 0-1 record with a 3.97 ERA and 2.21 WHIP, allowing 11 hits (no HR) and 14/16 BB/K and 3 WP in 11.1 IP over the course of 5 games (5 GS started) for the Spikes... his HS did not have a baseball team so he had very little game experience prior to 2022... he did participate in a showcase in Arizona during Spring Training 2022 but did not pitch well there... he will enroll at the U. of Alabama if he does not sign with the Cubs, and since he signed the NLI with the Crimson Tide more than a year ago he may want significantly more than $125K to turn pro...     

20th ROUND (593)
Ke'Shun Collier, OF  
L/R, 5'8 160, Age 21 
Meridian CC  
JC SOPH 
COMMENT: "Old school" high-contact lead-off hitter with no power but plus-speed... hit 368/462/496 with 14 doubles and six triples, 37/32 BB/K, 37 SB (10 CS), and 81 runs scored in 80 games played over the course of two seasons at MCC (2021-22)... he was also a star football player (RB/CB/KR) in HS in Mendenhall, MS... he will transfer to the University of South Alabama if he does not sign with the Cubs...