Jason Ross

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?)

And there's a positive: he basically didn't throw it. And he's coming to an organization that loves the fastball. If you can get him a feel for it a bit more, it should clean up control issues.

Some of them get good paydays. But especially cold weather kids aren't getting big SEC NIL deals. You won't be buying out a Vandy recruit with $1m. But a Seton Hall recruit who will transfer to an SEC school before his junior year? You can buy them out.

I love this pick. RHP who can hit high 90's and has more in him. He looks like Cam Schlitter (he isn't Cam Schlitter). Big upside. And has floor as a nasty reliever.

Hey. It's Jasa.

Probably $1m to get some of the prep arms who are "interesting but aren't top-recruits". They can likely find this amount. You probably go with a cold weather kid who is under recruited.

This construction noise needs to stop. I keep thinking my cat is horsefeathers with the horsefeathers in the sink because of it and all she's doing is behaving for once.

This is the correct choice.

Dibbs on Carl Weathers.

Seniors effectively have to sign. It won't change the math for a senior.

Roboscout has a tendency to really like high K, high power college kids. Keep that in mind. But Bailey was their second best projected college bat behind just Daniel Jackson.