Jason Ross

Yes. They did this a few years ago too where they just picked almost exclusively pitchers. This is a draft that was expected to be pitcher heavy. As well, you may notice a slight different type of pitcher...Zombro has more influence in the draft room than he did before, so I'd expect to see that reflected too.

I like all of the arms the Cubs are grabbing. All of them you can squint and see where there's upside. There's velocity that you don't have to dream on outside of the kid who weighs 100lbs and is 6'5", and each one feels like you can envision roles on MLB teams with a bit of cleanup but without full rebuilds.

The perfect Cubs' pitcher doesn't exis- "Cubs draft low slot pitcher with cut-ride on his fastball. Also he's on the IL".

Greg has him on the high end of that. So I'd say "yeah, that's the end of the savings"

Blomker looks, physically, like Jameson Taillon.

Greg didn't think he was signable. So that's fun-fun.

LSU commit. That's a no joke sign.

There goes Willits. Stop ruining all of our fun.

Woodruff went to the IL-60. His season is effectively over.

Yeah. Triantos being a little under a 100 wRC+ hitter in Iowa isn't the worst "disappointment" all things considered. You can probably add Wiggins/Conrad injuries to the list too, but both are back now. Those things go to show how good it's been when that's the knock. There are other individuals that maybe one person likes over another you can point to as a bummer, but broad spectrum? Everyone at the top of the rankings has had some positives, and even Long is hitting now (maybe he just got healthy) and Triantos has maintained the look of a possible bench player. It's really been a good year so far.

Very good. There was fear entering the year that the Cubs had a bottom-5 or so farm system. Right now, I think they're middle of the pack. That's because of breakouts and development. Should give everyone a good feeling as they continue to promote and trades prospects that they are capable of replacing what they lose. Obviously we'd all like more pitching coming through, but even there the Cubs have found a few bubblers. Hard to be anything but pleased. Johnny Long (who is on fire right now) and James Triantos are like the biggest disappointments so far.

Zumach thinks maybe one. Doesn't get the idea the Cubs saved any slot Day 1. My guess is that the Cubs take one kinda-fun prep guy who comes in below Hartshorn/Wing between 5-10. And then their typical upside-y 11th round guy ala Zyhir Hope/Eli Lovich kind of guy.

Yep. He's a fascinating one. it isn't hard to see what people are dreaming on, and why it might not be so cheap to grab him.

This time Jed probably has a legit reason for belief in added velo. Give the kid a major league regime and see if you can add 20-25lbs on this kid.

Yeah...Pomeranz might just be cooked.

I think so! This draft had very little separation between like the 15th best prospect and the 50th best. You can make arguments for or against almost any player in that range at any draft position. Townsend has positives in stuff and mentality. Some negatives in his command and consistency. The best version of him is a strong playoff pitcher. The worst version probably means he ends up a reliever in some fashion. But I like the upside.

Nice!

I'm a weird way, these are my favorite drafts: the ones where I'm not over the moon with anything but every pick has upside. The ones where you'd fall in love with player X usually ends up a bummer when they inevitably flop. This year feels like 4 solid lottery tickets, all of whom have pretty significant upside, and some real flaws with them. They drafted a talent in every spot, but one who requires development. Enough that I'm sure they got something with someone, just not sure if it's Jada or Sorrell or Townsend or Bailey. Nor do I think I care which one it is.

https://northsidebaseball.com/forums/topic/57207-2026-chicago-cubs-mlb-draft-day-1-thread/

The Chicago Cubs selected Dylan Marionneaux with the 126th pick in the 2026 MLB Draft Saturday afternoon. Marionneaux is a pitcher at Northwestern State University. The right-hander had entered the transfer portal this year and had interest from the University of Miami, though ultimately would transfer to the SEC and the Alabama Tide. The slot value for the 126th pick in the MLB draft is $609.200. Marionneaux stands 6'3" but is listed only at 163lbs. In his most recent season at Northwestern, he struck out 81 hitters over the span of 84 innings pitched, while sporting a 3.51 ERA on route to making the All-Southland first team. According to Baseball America in 2025, Marionneaux lives in the upper-80s and threw mostly fastball-slider: "Though Lane made history with eight innings in a combined no hitter, the performance of the week goes to Northwestern State’s Dylan Marionneaux, who silenced New Orleans with a complete game shutout in which he struck out nine to just one walk and allowed two hits. "Marionneaux, who sits in the high-80s and primarily relies on just a fastball and slider, didn’t allow a base runner after the fifth inning. He has given up just one earned run over his last 21.1 innings." This is is a developmental pitcher with prototypical height who could add velocity through strength training. It's also a good sign that multiple SEC programs, such as Alabama and LSU, as well as Miami, were all sniffing around the pitcher in the transfer portal. View full rumor

One listing I found on him had him at 6'2" and 145lbs. There's not a lot on his stuff outside of a few things of high 80's. But I like it. He's a fun developmental dart throw.

Miami, LSU and Alabama were all in on his recruitment. Big program. He's 6'3". looks like he's rail thin; 165lbs was his most recent listing. Hits high 80's but not hard to think with 30lbs he can be 92-94.

Yeah, I'd expect that it's going to be a lot of college lottery tickets who are pitchers and then a fun 11th round guy from here on out.

I doubt it. Zumach had him at $1.2m or so in his mock. I'd assume he comes in at, if not a bit over (maybe the small savings with Townsend goes to Jasa for neutral spending?)