2025 MLB Draft Day 2 Thread: Chicago Cubs Draft on North Side Baseball

[Hrubes20]

McKenzie to the Braves. That’s an org that has killed it with prep pitchers lately, 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Dodgers took Aidan West who Greg Z had said the Cubs liked (would've been another $1M-type bonus).

[CaliforniaRaisin]

So if we assume Wing gets ~$1 million, the Cubs are probably out on the Fisher, Appenzeler, Bauer types who'd require $2 million or more (and it sounds like Appenzeler and Bauer are headed to college anyways).

I assume the Cubs can swing another ~$1 bonus type in the top 10 rounds and then another big swing in round 11 (but Hope and Lovich got mid-6-figures).

[craig]

6 minutes ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

MLB Pipeline ranks Wing 121st: 

 

He was pick 121, he was rated #87.  The wide range between mlb #87 and BA at #201 suggests how widely varient these media evals can be.  And probably how widely varient team scouting evals can be as well.  Sounds like a very late riser.  

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

6 minutes ago, craig said:

He was pick 121, he was rated #87.  The wide range between mlb #87 and BA at #201 suggests how widely varient these media evals can be.  And probably how widely varient team scouting evals can be as well.  Sounds like a very late riser.  

Yeah, I totally mixed up the draft spot and ranking.

ESPN had him 95th so that's two out of the three bigger pubs having him top 100.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Cubs 5th rounder: OF Kade Snell, Alabama (senior)

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Pipeline (227th): 

Quote

Recruited by Auburn as a left-handed pitcher, Snell redshirted while dealing with injuries in 2021 before transferring to Wallace-Dothan (Ala.) CC and starring as a two-way player. The national junior college player of the year in 2023, he played both ways at Alabama in 2024 before becoming a full-time left field this spring. He's one of the more attractive discount hitters available as a Southeastern Conference performer with intriguing data and also no college eligibility remaining. Snell offers one of the better combinations of swing decisions, contact and exit velocities in the college ranks. He has a quality left-handed stroke, rarely misses a fastball while handling all types of pitches and drives the ball to all fields. While he's a hit-over-power guy, he has enough strength to provide 15 homers per year and perhaps more if he learns to lift balls in the air more regularly. While Snell will flash close to average speed at his best, he's more of a below-average runner with limited range in left field. He has an average arm and topped out at 93 mph with his fastball as a redshirt junior. Scouts love his competitiveness and leadership, and his all-star summer with wood bats in the Cape Cod League in 2023 is another point in his favor.

BA (200th):

Quote

200. Kade Snell

OF

Ht: 6'1" | Wt: 220 | B-T: L-L

School: Alabama Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 23.0

BA Grade: 40/High

Snell is a 6-foot-1, 210-pound outfielder and lefthanded hitter who began his career at Auburn—where he didn’t play—before heading to Wallace State (Ala.) JC and finally Alabama, where he turned in a breakout 2025 season. Snell slashed .363/.464/.575 with 10 homers and 38 walks to just 18 strikeouts in 58 games. He is a contact king who rarely swings and misses at a fastball—no matter the velocity—and managed an overall contact rate of 89% and an in-zone contact rate of 93% in 2025. In addition to his standout bat-to-ball skills, Snell has shown a savvy approach at the plate and swings often at pitches in the heart of the zone, while holding back when pitchers try to get him to expand the zone. Snell’s value is nearly entirely driven by what he can do in the box. He isn’t a great runner and seems like a pretty straightforward left field-only defensive profile. As a redshirt senior who turns 23 years old a few days after the draft, some teams might view his 2025 performance with skepticism. Still, his SEC performance and contact ability should make him a priority senior sign target inside the first seven rounds.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 40 | Run:40 | Field: 45 | Arm: 40.

ESPN did not rank him in their top 150.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Probably some savings. He's a 23 year old senior.

[Hrubes20]

I’m sure everyone is shocked to see that he was a Cape all-star

[JBears79]

Im guessing guys like Bauer are def heading to college. He has significant control issues and probably has too high a number to be brought out

[Bertz]

Sounds a little more fun than your typical senior sign.  Usually if they're hitters they are 49 with 3 divorces and if they're pitchers they throw 89 or you need to bring in your second hand to count all their arm surgeries.

[bukie]

Lincoln Way West P/OF Conor Essenburg goes 157 to the Braves.

[craig]

Kantro hasn't spent heavily on HS pitchers.  Mule and Gray have been the only bonus guys.  McGwire was a 9th rounder, but Rujano at $210 was the only guy above $200K.  

Hopefully Wing won't join the Mule-Gray TJ bandwagon.  

[allen6510w]

22 minutes ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

So if we assume Wing gets ~$1 million, the Cubs are probably out on the Fisher, Appenzeler, Bauer types who'd require $2 million or more (and it sounds like Appenzeler and Bauer are headed to college anyways).

I assume the Cubs can swing another ~$1 bonus type in the top 10 rounds and then another big swing in round 11 (but Hope and Lovich got mid-6-figures).

Is the 11th round still a "thing" given the draft has been suppressed into 2 days? 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Just now, craig said:

Kantro hasn't spent heavily on HS pitchers.  Mule and Gray have been the only bonus guys.  McGwire was a 9th rounder, but Rujano at $210 was the only guy above $200K.  

Hopefully Wing won't join the Mule-Gray TJ bandwagon.  

Ferris

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Just now, allen6510w said:

Is the 11th round still a "thing" given the draft has been suppressed into 2 days? 

Yes, because the first $150k doesn't count to the bonus pool and there is no risk of losing pool space in rounds 11-20 like there are in the first 10 rounds.

[JBears79]

1 minute ago, allen6510w said:

Is the 11th round still a "thing" given the draft has been suppressed into 2 days? 

Yeah. Draft is 20 rounds

[CaliforniaRaisin]

BA had Snell as one of their 20 sleepers for today:

Quote

Kade Snell, OF, Alabama (BA Rank:198)

The Skinny: Sure, Snell is older and likely destined for left field, but his combination of bat-to-ball, impact, plate discipline and track record is worthwhile on the second day of the draft. 

Scouting Report: Snell is a 6-foot-1, 210-pound outfielder and lefthanded hitter who began his career at Auburn—where he didn’t play—before heading to Wallace State (Ala.) JC and finally Alabama, where he turned in a breakout 2025 season. Snell slashed .363/.464/.575 with 10 homers and 38 walks to just 18 strikeouts in 58 games. 

He is a contact king who rarely swings and misses at a fastball—no matter the velocity—and managed an overall contact rate of 89% and an in-zone contact rate of 93% in 2025. In addition to his standout bat-to-ball skills, Snell has shown a savvy approach at the plate and swings often at pitches in the heart of the zone, while holding back when pitchers try to get him to expand the zone. Snell’s value is nearly entirely driven by what he can do in the box. He isn’t a great runner and seems like a pretty straightforward left field-only defensive profile.

As a redshirt senior who turns 23 years old a few days after the draft, some teams might view his 2025 performance with skepticism. Still, his SEC performance and contact ability should make him a priority senior sign target inside the first seven rounds.

 

[chibears55]

Seems unusual that they have only chosen OFers so far as position picks, usually it SS.

[allen6510w]

5 minutes ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

Yes, because the first $150k doesn't count to the bonus pool and there is no risk of losing pool space in rounds 11-20 like there are in the first 10 rounds.

Thanks.  I guess the only change is that there won't be any late evening calls from agents saying "you know, the HS kid I represent hoped to be draft despite his "I will not sign" pledge and would consider an offer. 

[gflore34]

18 minutes ago, JBears79 said:

Im guessing guys like Bauer are def heading to college. He has significant control issues and probably has too high a number to be brought out

Think there's any thought given to his arm potentially blowing out?  Or, is more NIL money, etc.?

[Outshined_One]

It'd be hilarious if Bruin Agbayani were a Southern Cal commit, but alas, only Michigan.

[JBears79]

2 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

Think there's any thought given to his arm potentially blowing out?  Or, is more NIL money, etc.?

I recall reading in one of Keith Laws mocks or Q and A's that teams were mostly concerned about the control and command. Gotta imagine the TJS risk is definitely a possibility teams are considering but with NIL money now in play for high schoolers, it seems like heading to Mississippi State could be the better option for him. Go there and develop in the SEC and then hopefully come out as a potential 1-1 pick in 2028, (if everything goes according to plan) if he develops his strike throwing and his secondary pitches. The fastball is legit.

[Bertz]

Ohhhhh Hartshorn is super fun