2026 MLB Draft

[Bertz]

Has the Cubs taking Zion Rose, also thought this was interesting, explanation for why he has a couple college SPs not going in the first

Quote

 

• UCLA right-hander Logan Reddemann returned from a flexor injury to throw at the MLB Draft Combine. I wouldn’t be shocked to hear his name in the first round, as he was a top 10 pick before he got hurt, but it’s probably going to be some kind of under-slot deal.

• Both Arkansas left-hander Hunter Dietz and Mississippi right-hander Cade Townsend are slipping a little as teams consider their medicals. Townsend also faded down the stretch in both stuff and results, although he could still pop up in the back of the first round. Dietz is a top 15 guy on talent but has an injury history.

 

[Outshined_One]

Rose kinda makes sense, I guess?  He doesn't quite fit mold when it comes to Top 100 picks from the Cubs, but they've also popped guys bat-first corner college OFs like Kade Snell and Ivan Brethowr in past drafts.

If they're going college OF, it feels like they'd be more inclined towards Gracia, Strosnider, or Robbins.  I'm usually wrong about this stuff, though, so who knows?

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

I like Rose but would be a little disappointed if they took him with Gracia and Strosnider on the board. Robbins I wouldn't want any part of

[Outshined_One]

20 minutes ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

I like Rose but would be a little disappointed if they took him with Gracia and Strosnider on the board. Robbins I wouldn't want any part of

Considering my list of "Guys I don't want the Cubs to draft" has included such luminaries as JJ Wetherholt and Jacob Wilson, I've just decided to drop the list altogether.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

1 hour ago, Outshined_One said:

Rose kinda makes sense, I guess?  He doesn't quite fit mold when it comes to Top 100 picks from the Cubs, but they've also popped guys bat-first corner college OFs like Kade Snell and Ivan Brethowr in past drafts.

If they're going college OF, it feels like they'd be more inclined towards Gracia, Strosnider, or Robbins.  I'm usually wrong about this stuff, though, so who knows?

I think Rose has the speed and athleticism to play CF professionally. At Louisville, he was deferring to Lucas Moore, who is a better defender.

[Bertz]

Oof

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

4 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Oof

damn. I wonder where he goes now

[CaliforniaRaisin]

12 minutes ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

damn. I wonder where he goes now

I’m guessing he ends up at college in Texas.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[Bertz]

16 minutes ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

 

Sahadev had an article in the Athletic this AM with a lot of similar quotes from Kangrovitz.

Combine this with all the mock drafts having them go college bat in the 1st, you wonder if the plan is to take a bat in the first to bank some wins/establish a floor and then go hog-horsefeathering wild on pitching after.

[Outshined_One]

51 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Sahadev had an article in the Athletic this AM with a lot of similar quotes from Kangrovitz.

Combine this with all the mock drafts having them go college bat in the 1st, you wonder if the plan is to take a bat in the first to bank some wins/establish a floor and then go hog-horsefeathering wild on pitching after.

We might also have a similar situation to 2025 brewing.  As memory serves, the Cubs' college SP options at 17 were Gage Wood and a big bag of nope.

Granted, Gage Wood appears to be really good, but there were also concerns about his medicals that caused him to slip.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

I still like the idea of taking Carson Wiggins in the 1st to save pool for other rounds

Edited 19 hours ago by Tangled Up in Plaid

[Outshined_One]

Fansided's Latest Mock

Lots of popular names on the board at this pick.  I like Rabe's profile, but I think he seems more like a top tier relief pitcher than a starter.  Not a bad thing, just not what I'd want out of a first round pick.

[Tryptamine]

Callis was just on 104.3 and said he's hearing that the Cubs are really underwhelmed about the arms they think will be there at #23. Some of the names he mentioned were Zion Rose, Daniel Jackson, Sawyer Strosnider and Bo Lowrance.

[Outshined_One]

Just now, Tryptamine said:

Callis was just on 104.3 and said he's hearing that the Cubs are really underwhelmed about the arms they think will be there at #23. Some of the names he mentioned were Zion Rose, Daniel Jackson, Sawyer Strosnider and Bo Lowrance.

I look forward to a good chunk of this board demanding Jed's head for not drafting a SP, only for the guy they draft to become a Top 25 prospect by season's end, complete with a handful of "How did this guy fall so low in the draft?!" articles during the upcoming lockout.

[CubinNY]

27 minutes ago, Outshined_One said:

Fansided's Latest Mock

Lots of popular names on the board at this pick.  I like Rabe's profile, but I think he seems more like a top tier relief pitcher than a starter.  Not a bad thing, just not what I'd want out of a first round pick.

 I know nothing, but that first sentence scares the horsefeathers out of me. On the other hand it seems it could be written about any pitcher these days. 

[JD94]

Just now, CubinNY said:

 I know nothing, but that first sentence scares the horsefeathers out of me. On the other hand it seems it could be written about any pitcher these days. 

He’s no more risk of injury than anybody else that’s had TJ. He had it after his senior year in HS. Been completely fine since. But yeah… who knows with high velocity  pitchers 

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Can someone sell me on Daniel Jackson? Seems like he's not a lock to stay behind the plate and there's a ton of swing and miss potential. Where would you put him on the board with others like Rose and Strosnider?

[Tryptamine]

Man, there really just isn't anyone I'm particularly in love with that's likely to be around at #23. They've all got fairly big warts and/or the upside just doesn't seem to be worth it. Of the names linked to the Cubs, I think I like Bo Lowrance's bat best, but seeing as that he's destined to be 1B only, that's a whole lot of pressure to put on the bat. I guess Sawyer Strosnider is going to be my guy and just hope they can fix the chasing issues, because he does pretty much everything else well.

[Outshined_One]

10 minutes ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

Can someone sell me on Daniel Jackson? Seems like he's not a lock to stay behind the plate and there's a ton of swing and miss potential. Where would you put him on the board with others like Rose and Strosnider?

There's a bit of Korey Lee and Walker Janek to his profile, where both were popped in the back half of the first round in pretty good draft years (2019 and 2024), and both should end up having reasonably decent MLB careers as guys who can sock a few dingers while providing solid enough defense at catcher.

We had a discussion about teams' and publications' tendency to overrate catchers in the draft a page or two back, and I think it also applies to Jackson, so take that for what you will.  He'll probably end up being a Top 40 pick, which puts him firmly with college hitters like Rose/Strosnider/Robbins, but it comes down to whether you think drafting a guy whose likely ceiling is borderline starter/platoon partner at catcher is a good use of resources with #23.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

2 hours ago, Outshined_One said:

Fansided's Latest Mock

Lots of popular names on the board at this pick.  I like Rabe's profile, but I think he seems more like a top tier relief pitcher than a starter.  Not a bad thing, just not what I'd want out of a first round pick.

I just don't see him having any more reliever risk than any other college pitcher in that range. He has 3 good or better pitches and good control but he's been hurt, just like every other pitcher available in the 20s. (And he might come at a slight discount.)

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Fastball, cutter, slider is a little concerning. Sounds like he needs something that moves arm-side. But touching 100 with 60 control would be hard to pass on

[CaliforniaRaisin]

14 minutes ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

Fastball, cutter, slider is a little concerning. Sounds like he needs something that moves arm-side. But touching 100 with 60 control would be hard to pass on

Yeah, every pitcher in the 20s has an issue. If you are picking one, you're hoping you can get your dev team to level them up (improve a pitch, teach a new pitch to help them, etc). Or you're hoping to get someone injured to improve with better health.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

I don't think Cade Horton had the changeup in college and that ended up being his best pitch last year, so I guess that would give me a little more hopium for Rabe.