Chicago Cubs Select Kane Kepley with the 56th Pick in the 2025 MLB Draft

[Jason Ross]

Image courtesy of © Steven Worthy / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

With their 56nd pick in the second round, the Chicago Cubs select Kane Kepley of the University of North Carolina. Kepley is diminutive in size, listed a 5"8 and 170 pounds. The slot value for pick #56 is $1,680,000 and Kepley was ranked #60 on the Baseball America big board. 

What will carry Kepley is his high-floor. Kepley showed excellent bat-to-ball skills and has legitimate gold-glove ability in centerfield. He walked twice as much as he struck out on the season and stole 45 bases (in 48 attempts). There is little power projection in someone his size, and getting to double-digit home runs will be an uphill battle. Kepley hit just three home runs in the ACC last season, though he did supplement his triple-slash with 13 doubles and seven triples for a season line of .291/.451/.444

Ultimately, Kepley is likely a high-floor, lower ceiling prospect. There's a strong chance that Kepley will play Major League Baseball simply because his glove is very good. If somehow Kepley can find ten home runs over the course of an MLB season, he could be a very good player, but his bat may never allow him to become a starting caliber player.

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What do you think of Kane Kepley? Let us know in the comment section below!

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[PVG]

JR,  
With reference to your review of this draft pick - Is it no longer possible for a singles hitter to succeed in MLB?  Are guys like Tony Gwynn and Rod Carew who I remember from my baseball youth, not the kind of player that could be developed and flourish?  

If not, why would that be?