2026 Chicago Cubs MLB Draft Day 1 Thread

[JD94]

12 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

Zumach summed it up really well between Rabe and Townsend:
Rabe has a starter's build but does not supinate well and has no feel for spin
Townsend has a smaller frame but spins really well

One thing that's been bandied about: you can't really fix the spin thing. So you look at this and Rabe's best version is probably a super high velo slider (tight, less spin). You can't really go kick-change with him, because you kill spin with a kick and he doesn't have it. But he hasn't had a lot of starting experience so maybe you just say "this is inexperience". 

I do think pitchers can control some of their batted ball data. When you see the EV, he's getting a decent amount of that with the ground balls. So I'm not super worried. 

If you look at Rabe and go "Fastball, tight slider, and I can get him a pitch against lefties" he's super fun. I think I tend to sit Townsend. His knock is, what, he's not big? I'd be more worried about that a decade ago. But I think we've got enough smaller stature pitchers now that if that's your knock, I'll go there. (You have to believe the control)

Makes sense. Thank you. I guess my concerns with Townsend are less about his abilities as a pitcher and more the mental side. He’s talked about how it’s been a struggle coming out really amped up and the mental side when things don’t go perfectly. I know they’ve worked hard with him on that, but that always worries me when guys are struggling with the mental side of things before even becoming a professional. 
 

The other thing with Townsend (which I’m sure if the Cubs draft him they will be sure of) is his health. He came out of his start against Texas and came back a few weeks later and made a few good starts but then just didn’t look right to end the year. Which is also why they just really didn’t pitch him at all in the post season. 

Edited 4 hours ago by JD94

[Jason Ross]

9 minutes ago, JD94 said:

Makes sense. Thank you. I guess my concerns with Townsend are less about his abilities as a pitcher and more the mental side. He’s talked about how it’s been a struggle coming out really amped up and the mental side when things don’t go perfectly. I know they’ve worked hard with him on that, but that always worries me when guys are struggling with the mental side of things before even becoming a professional. 
 

The other thing with Townsend (which I’m sure if the Cubs draft him they will be sure of) is his health. He came out of his start against Texas and came back a few weeks later and made a few good starts but then just didn’t look right to end the year. Which is also why they just really didn’t pitch him at all in the post season. 

If you want a counterpoint to the mental thing: he's a very young kid. Pete Crow-Armstrong has really grown up. He's emotional still, but the Cubs worked with a kid who was clearly "no brakes, all gas" and has gotten him at the plate to apply brakes. Everyone is different, but the Cubs have recent success. 

Injury wise? Absolutely. Rabe has TJS on his record. So I think it's a little "six in one hand and half a dozen in the other" here. At this point, I assume every pitcher will blow out their elbow. 

I'm down if the Cubs go with Rabe. I do think Townsend fits their model better, but who's to really say the Cubs' model is the right one currently?

[JD94]

10 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

If you want a counterpoint to the mental thing: he's a very young kid. Pete Crow-Armstrong has really grown up. He's emotional still, but the Cubs worked with a kid who was clearly "no brakes, all gas" and has gotten him at the plate to apply brakes. Everyone is different, but the Cubs have recent success. 

Injury wise? Absolutely. Rabe has TJS on his record. So I think it's a little "six in one hand and half a dozen in the other" here. At this point, I assume every pitcher will blow out their elbow. 

I'm down if the Cubs go with Rabe. I do think Townsend fits their model better, but who's to really say the Cubs' model is the right one currently?

Absolutely. And good point on PCA. I’ll just trust the decision makers. If it’s Cade, I’ll get on board with that. I really like him despite how it comes off. He’s clearly extremely talented. If they go somebody else, Jackson, Rose, etc that’s understandable too. A lot of unknown in this draft seemingly. Should be a fascinating day!

[Outshined_One]

All know is that at least a quarter of this board is going to hate the first three picks. Doesn't matter who they take or how it happens, but people will find a way to complain.

Since this team is deathly allergic to using first round picks on HS guys, my current preferences for #23 are:

Unrealistic Hope, but I Can Dream: Curiel

Slightly Less Unrealistic Hope: Hacopian

Upside Pitchers Who Probably Won't Be Available: Peterson, Dietz, Flukey

Expected, and Cool with It: Rose, Hughes, Gracia

Kinda Unexpected, but Cool with It: Rabe, Townsend, Kuhns

Sure, Why Not?: Robbins, Strosnider, Jackson, Reddeman, Carlon, Edwards

Day 2 Is Going to Be AWESOME: Obvious underslot college guy (Carson Wiggins, Dee Kennedy, Chase Brunson, etc.)

[Outshined_One]

Also also, there's part of me that wonders if we're going to see a batshit crazy draft along the lines of 2011, when the Cubs went bananas for guys like Dunston, Gretzky, and Maples. For those who remember, that was the last draft before MLB reined in spending and overhauled the draft.

It's clear MLB is going to do something with the draft in the new CBA, so I have to wonder how teams and players are going to approach this one.

[Jason Ross]

FWIW, Zumach mocked Daniel Jackson as his final mock. Mentioned a few other names. 

https://baseballtribune.substack.com/p/mlb-mock-draft-2026-20?r=1tfnx7&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true

[NorthsideAvenger]

2 hours ago, Jason Ross said:

Joe Doyle has the Cubs taking Cade Townshend. Mentions Daniel Jackson.

He's always a good one to listen to. A few years ago he had the Cubs on Cade Horton before most else. 

I would be cool with Stargate.

[PeanutPunch33]

The Cubs should draft Logan Hughes, or else watch the Brewers take him and turn him into one of the best hitters in the sport.  

[Outshined_One]

1 minute ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

The Cubs should draft Logan Hughes, or else watch the Brewers take him and turn him into one of the best hitters in the sport.  

Just resign yourself to the fact that anyone the Brewers take is going to piss you off five years from now in some capacity or another.

[PeanutPunch33]

Just now, Outshined_One said:

Just resign yourself to the fact that anyone the Brewers take is going to piss you off five years from now in some capacity or another.

Haha no doubt about that.  That organization has a magic wand or something. 

I'd love Hughes though.  Prototypical slugging corner OFer.  That power plays to all sides of the field.  

[Rcal10]

45 minutes ago, Outshined_One said:

All know is that at least a quarter of this board is going to hate the first three picks. Doesn't matter who they take or how it happens, but people will find a way to complain.

Since this team is deathly allergic to using first round picks on HS guys, my current preferences for #23 are:

Unrealistic Hope, but I Can Dream: Curiel

Slightly Less Unrealistic Hope: Hacopian

Upside Pitchers Who Probably Won't Be Available: Peterson, Dietz, Flukey

Expected, and Cool with It: Rose, Hughes, Gracia

Kinda Unexpected, but Cool with It: Rabe, Townsend, Kuhns

Sure, Why Not?: Robbins, Strosnider, Jackson, Reddeman, Carlon, Edwards

Day 2 Is Going to Be AWESOME: Obvious underslot college guy (Carson Wiggins, Dee Kennedy, Chase Brunson, etc.)

Great list. My guess is the Cubs do not take anyone from this list. I think they go with a guy ranked outside the first round to save money for someone later. So no one has mentioned yet. 

[Jason Ross]

18 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Great list. My guess is the Cubs do not take anyone from this list. I think they go with a guy ranked outside the first round to save money for someone later. So no one has mentioned yet. 

There are names on that list who are ranked outside of the top-23 and will cut underslot. 

As of now the betting favorites are Jackson, Rose and Townsend. I would be very surprised if Outshined didn't list who they pick. They might go Wiggins here just to get him in, but beyond that, I doubt they're going very far off that board. And outside of Carson Wiggins, I think you're talking a small underslot here, if anything. 

Expect them to not look for one big savings but a few hundred here or there with their first few picks if they are indeed squirreling away for a big prep guy.

[Outshined_One]

16 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Great list. My guess is the Cubs do not take anyone from this list. I think they go with a guy ranked outside the first round to save money for someone later. So no one has mentioned yet. 

If I had to guess, I'd put the Rose/Gracia/Hughes grouping at about a 40% likelihood with your prediction as the next most likely.

The really, really hard part about predicting this draft for the Cubs is there are a handful of teams right in front of the Cubs who tend to favor guys that fit the Cubs mold (namely the Red Sox), so it's not like you can get too attached to anyone who starts to slip into the 15-20 range.

[Jason Ross]

Fangraphs mocks Hughes. I'm alright on Hughes. Reminds me of Waldschmidt who I really liked a few years ago.

[Bertz]

 

 

[Jason Ross]

Why does the MLB make it impossible to follow along with their draft. 10 picks on peacock, then MLBN, then MLB.Com or Mlb.TV. Stop making me change the channel. 

[Outshined_One]

2 minutes ago, Bertz said:

 

 

I get that Emerson has the higher ceiling, but Roch is the poster child for "Don't overthink it."

[NorthsideAvenger]

1 minute ago, Outshined_One said:

I get that Emerson has the higher ceiling, but Roch is the poster child for "Don't overthink it."

Agreed but there is a segment of Sox fans that want Emerson. I feel like that will be a mistake. 

[Jason Ross]

One of these tables has Collazo, Callis and Broz. The other has Harold Reynolds. I'll take the adults table, please. 

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Of all the sickos watching the MLB draft, who is tuning in and saying "Oh boy, glad Harold is on the broadcast"

[chibears55]

Gonna watch for these 3 arms, maybe one can fall to the Cubs at 23.

Cameron Flukey, Tegan Kuhns, and Cole Carlon

Whomever falls to 23 is going to be special 

RYNO 🙂

[Bertz]

18 minutes ago, Outshined_One said:

I get that Emerson has the higher ceiling, but Roch is the poster child for "Don't overthink it."

1000% this.  Especially with the Sox finally becoming as fun as they have

[Outshined_One]

[chibears55]

Thought this started at 12, when is the first pick

[Jason Ross]

We have more commercial breaks than pick announcements and the internet already knows who the Rays are picking with 1.2. This is atrocious.