Cubs Mock Draft Update: Chicago Takes Speedy Prep Shortstop, Talented College Arm

This draft cycle, we’re going to try something new. Every few weeks, I’ll be posting an article listing out who the Cubs would select based on their position on the consensus draft board. As the consensus board is updated, the players in those spots will be adjusted and I’ll post another update.

This is not a true mock draft. Rather, I’m hoping it’ll give readers an idea of the caliber of talent in each of the team’s first few picks. Additionally, it should help readers who want to dig into draft coverage a bit more get familiar with the class.

Here would be the Cubs' first two picks by consensus draft ranking, as of Jun. 19, 2025.

First Round (17th Overall): Steele Hall, SS, Hewitt-Trussville HS, AL
Hall is one of the buzziest names in the prep class. So despite being nestled close to 50th in the first few iterations of the consensus board, expect him to climb significantly as the cycle goes on. He also reclassified from the 2026 class, so he'll be one of the youngest prospects in the class at 17 on draft day. He's a right-handed hitting, prep shortstop out of Alabama, committed to the University of Tennessee.

Despite an undersized frame, Hall is an explosive athlete and an elite mover. He has bounce, lateral quickness and legit plus to double-plus speed. Add a plus arm to the mix and he has a chance to stick at shortstop at the next level.

Offensively, it's a hit-over-power profile, but the power is headed in the right direction—underpinned by a compact swing and improved bat speed. The power grade might get to average when it's all said and done, with all of his other tools above average or better.

Second Round (56th Overall): Anthony Eyanson, RHP, LSU
Eyanson has checked so many boxes as a starter: solid track record at UCSD, a good performance for the US Collegiate National Team, a strong stint on the Cape. All that came before shoving for LSU in what will be his lone season in the SEC prior to being drafted.

The righty has a good frame at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, and an easy, repeatable delivery. It's a fastball that sits in the 93-96 mph range, with good riding life at the top of the zone. His slider has become a plus pitch. It sits in the low-to-mid 80s with a ton of drop, and generates plenty of miss both in and out of the zone. There's a curveball with good depth, too, and a changeup, which is more of a developmental pitch. All of this is underpinned by really solid strike-throwing.

As the SEC tournament is set to kick off, Eyanson has started 14 games with a 2.01 FIP, a 36.1 K%, and a 9.0 BB%. That's mighty impressive production that has catapulted him into the top 100 consensus players. I wouldn't be surprised if he climbed even higher down the stretch of this cycle.

Check out our 2026 mock draft board, updated regularly, and with detailed player write-ups!