Draft Notes: Rodon Stumbling? Beede Off? Aiken Rising? More

carlos rodonIt’s still early – the draft is on June 5, 6 and 7 – but the amateur landscape is already starting to shift with respect to the draft. Some of the latest Cubs-related notes …

  • One name flying up the lists is high school lefty Brady Aiken, a 6’4″ polished pitcher with great stuff and a mid-90s fastball. The Cubs reportedly sent their “scouting director” (which could be VP of Scouting and Player Development Jason McLeod, or it could be Amateur Scouting Director Matt Dorey) to watch his second start of the year last year. Aiken is clearly on the Cubs’ radar with that fourth pick, together with a bunch of other names, of course.
  • How high has Aiken climbed at this point? Well, Keith Law now has him in the conversation for first overall.
  • Speaking of Aiken and the Cubs, Patrick Mooney looks at a long list of the guys the Cubs might be considering at the top of the 2014 draft, and Aiken is among 12 names. There are the usual suspects, but also some names you we may have not yet heard: high school shortstop/pitcher Nick Gordon (yes, Tom’s son), Oregon State outfielder (one of the few college bats in consideration up in the draft) Michael Conforto, TCU lefty Brandon Finnegan, Indiana University catcher/outfielder Kyle Schwarber (one of the better college power bats), and LSU righty Aaron Nola. Mooney’s is a great piece for background on all of the guys who could go at the top of the draft.
  • The question of NC State lefty Carlos Rodon as the first overall pick continues to be a really interesting one. Rodon went out on Friday and laid an egg against Maryland, giving up eight runs over just 4.2 innings, allowing six hits and four walks (and two HBP). He did strike out eight, but, all in all, it was apparently an unimpressive outing. We’ve already discussed questions about Rodon at the top, and the slim chance he could slide to the Cubs at four. Starts like this will only hasten those questions.
  • Jim Callis still sees Rodon as the top overall pick with ace upside, even if he’s no longer believed to be the better-than-David-Price guy he was previously thought to be.
  • Rodon wasn’t the only one who stunk in his latest start. Vanderbilt righty Tyler Beede, who had been absolutely dominant this year, lasted just 2.2 innings against Mississippi State. He gave up 11 runs (five earned) over that stretch, allowing six hits and five walks. He struck out just two.
  • East Carolina’s Jeff Hoffman wasn’t dominant on Friday either, for that matter, pitching against Charlotte: 7 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 2 K.
  • Dan Kirby, collaborating with John over at Cubs Den, writes about some of the potential college arms the Cubs could consider in the second round. Given the draft approach of the last two years, it’s pretty likely that the Cubs will be grabbing a pitcher with that selection.
  • written by

    Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

    more cubs news

    Now We Know Why Ian Happ Was Removed Mid-game

    In the top of the seventh inning of today's 8-3 win over the Miami Marlins, Alexander Canario trotted out to left field in place of Ian Happ. At first, we thought (or maybe just hoped) that Craig Counsell was giving...

    Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 8, Marlins 3 – April 19, 2024

    And just like that the Chicago Cubs are the first team in the NL Central to reach 12 wins! They're not technically in first place yet because the Brewers (11-6) have played fewer games, but we're talking about a matter...

    Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson with Back-to-Back Slick Defensive Plays

    With a lefty Marlins starter on the mound this afternoon, Nico Hoerner lead off today's game for the Chicago Cubs. And he did it in style, ripping a leadoff double to the left-center field wall, before coming into score a...

    Pre-Gamin’: Marlins at Cubs – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    *The Cubs were rained out yesterday, but today? Today, we've got a Friday 1:20 start at Wrigley Field, and that means all is right in the world. Before you take a look at the Cubs lineup against Miami, check out...

    MLBits: The White Sox Might be the Worst Team Ever, What Games I’m Watching this Weekend, More

    Happy Friday! Well, for everyone except for the pilots who were supposed to be manning the Colorado Rockies flight last week but instead allowed a member of the Rockies coaching staff to hop in the pilot's seat for a fun...

    Can I Interest You in a Positive Injury-Update on Justin Steele?

    Justin Steele, arguably the single most irreplaceable player on the Chicago Cubs 2024 roster, went down with a hamstring injury just 4.2 innings into his Opening Day start against the Rangers on March 28. In his place, the Cubs sixth...

    FAA Reportedly Investigating How a Passenger on Colorado Rockies Team Flight Was Seen Accessing the Cockpit

    If you do this job long enough, it's really wild to see the range of topics that can somehow become attached to sports. That is to say, I did not envision myself at some point writing about flight safety, cockpit...

    Cubs Farm Report | April 19, 2024: Kevin Alcántara is Heating Up!

    The Iowa Cubs were rained out, but the rest of the farm was in action, and so was Kevin Alcántara, who picked up four hits and now has seven in his last three games as he breaks out of an...

    It’s Not Kyle Hendricks Last Chance (But…), Ben Brown, Jameson Taillon, and Other Cubs Bullets

    Well, the rain stole one from us yesterday, which is a blessing and a curse. On the bright side, the bullpen gets an extra day of rest (on top of the day Hayden Wesneski bought them). But on the flip...

    The Chicago Cubs Are Not Stealing Bases So Far This Year

    The Chicago Cubs are against theft. Of bases: https://twitter.com/codifybaseball/status/1781046629103231339 The Chicago Cubs this year have stolen just three bases, the fewest in all of baseball. Dansby Swanson has stolen two bases, Nick Madrigal has stolen one. That's it. I don't...

    Latest News

    Now We Know Why Ian Happ Was Removed Mid-game

    In the top of the seventh inning of today's 8-3 win over the Miami Marlins, Alexander Canario trotted out to left field in place of Ian Happ. At first, we thought (or maybe just hoped) that Craig Counsell was giving...

    Pre-Gamin’: Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat (6:00 CT), Projected Lineups, How to Watch, More

    The Bulls and Heat go at it for the last spot in the NBA Playoffs. Let's get it. https://twitter.com/chicagobulls/status/1781299357574213738 Game Info Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls – 6:00 p.m. CT on ESPN (TV) and 670 The Score (Radio) Chicago Bulls Coby White...

    Scottie Pippen’s Youngest Son Will Play at Michigan

    A familiar last name will be in the Big Ten next season. Scottie Pippen's kid, Justin, has committed to the University of Michigan, according to Krysten Peek of Yahoo Sports. The youngest son of the Chicago Bulls legend, Pippen started...

    Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson with Back-to-Back Slick Defensive Plays

    With a lefty Marlins starter on the mound this afternoon, Nico Hoerner lead off today's game for the Chicago Cubs. And he did it in style, ripping a leadoff double to the left-center field wall, before coming into score a...

    Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 8, Marlins 3 – April 19, 2024

    And just like that the Chicago Cubs are the first team in the NL Central to reach 12 wins! They're not technically in first place yet because the Brewers (11-6) have played fewer games, but we're talking about a matter...

    Blue Jays vs. Padres Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Friday, April 19, 2024

    Following a two-homer game in a loss to the Yankees, Daulton Varsho leads the Toronto Blue Jays (10-9) into action as -112 favorites against the San Diego Padres (11-10). First pitch from PETCO Park at 9:40 PM ET on Friday,...

    Diamondbacks vs. Giants Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Friday, April 19, 2024

    Jung Hoo Lee will look to extend his 10-game hitting streak when the San Francisco Giants (9-11) take on the Arizona Diamondbacks (9-11). The Diamondbacks are listed as -121 favorites on the moneyline for the contest, which starts at 10:15...

    Dodgers vs. Mets Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Friday, April 19, 2024

    The New York Mets (10-8) will put their four-game win streak to the test when they visit the Los Angeles Dodgers (12-9) Friday at 10:10 PM ET on MLB Network. Bookmakers consider the Dodgers to be -201 favorites, while the...

    Jonas Valančiūnas Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Kings – Friday, April 19, 2024

    The New Orleans Pelicans face the Sacramento Kings at 9:30 PM ET on Friday, in the NBA Play-In Tournament, and one of the 3-pointer over/unders available for this matchup requires only one make from Jonas Valančiūnas.Jonas Valančiūnas' Three-Pointer Prop Odds...

    Brandon Ingram Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Kings – Friday, April 19, 2024

    Brandon Ingram must make two 3-pointers to beat his prop when the New Orleans Pelicans meet the Sacramento Kings on Friday at 9:30 PM ET, in the NBA Play-In Tournament.Brandon Ingram's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the KingsBrandon Ingram's over/under for...

    more cubs news