Cubs Sign RHP Jake Stinnett, LHP Carson Sands, LHP Justin Steele And RHP James Norwood From 2014 Draft

[North Side Baseball]

CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs have signed second-round selection Jake Stinnett, fourth-round selection Carson Sands, fifth-round selection Justin Steele and seventh-round selection James Norwood from the 2014 First-Year Player Draft. Terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Stinnett, 22, posted a 2.67 ERA (35 ER/118.0 IP) and an 8-6 record in 17 games, all but one in a starting role, for Maryland this season in his senior year. He struck out a school single-season record and Atlantic Coast Conference-high 132 batters and walked just 30. Stinnett also led the ACC in complete games (four) and innings pitched, and became the seventh pitcher in program history to throw a no-hitter when he turned the trick in game one of a March 1 doubleheader against Massachusetts.

Sands, 19, was 11-1 with a 0.58 ERA and one complete game in 14 outings, 12 starts, for North Florida Christian this past season. He struck out 100 in 60.2 innings, good for an average of 14.8 strikeouts per 9.0 innings, while walking just 24. The southpaw posted a 1.28 ERA while going 7-2 in 11 games (nine starts) in his 2013 junior season. Sands pitched for Team USA for three summers, winning a gold medal with the 18-and-under team in 2012.

Steele, 18, was 5-1 with a 0.98 ERA in eight games for George County this past season. He struck out 92 in 43.0 innings, good for an average of 19.3 strikeouts per 9.0 innings. He walked just 12 and threw two no-hitters. He was named 5A Player of the Year by state coaches. Steele went 14-4 with a 1.62 ERA in three high school seasons at the varsity level, striking out 210 in 125.1 innings of work for an average of 15.1 strikeouts per 9.0 innings while issuing just 40 walks and allowing one home run.

Norwood, 20, went 8-2 with a 2.68 ERA (28 ER/94.0 IP) in 15 starts this season to cap off a three-year college career at St. Louis University.

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