NEWSLETTER
As we know, the Cubs are choosing seventh in the 2022 MLB Draft. It’s usually not until the college baseball season begins at the end of each winter that I begin to throw myself into the Draft, but 2021 was no ordinary season. With so much of the talk surrounding the MLB team centering on their spot in the reverse standings, the 2022 Draft has had an outsized importance compared to a typical year. So with the minor league season in the rearview, I decided to dive into draft discourse a little early.
I like to break up draft classes into quadrants: college or high school, hitter or pitcher. The 2022 draft class is loaded on the offensive side, with high-end prep hitters and big depth in the college hitting class. The pitching class is lagging significantly behind, and so far I’d put the prep arms above the college arms. But as we know, the most important baseball for determining where these prospects will be selected next July is still to come.
Here is a 23-name introduction to the class, and I can promise you: we’ll have a lot more on this topic come spring.
College Hitters
Not Making It To Pick Seven: It’s not difficult to imagine a scenario with four college hitters going before the Cubs pick next year. However, right now I would say only two plays seem particularly unlikely to be available: Brooks Lee and Jace Jung. Lee, a shortstop that plays for his Dad at Cal Poly, had a great summer between the Cape and Team USA, answering the inevitable questions that will arise from playing in a non-power conference. Jung, whose brother Josh is a top prospect in the Rangers system, hit 21 home runs with a 17% strikeout rate in 56 games with Texas Tech. He’s a superbly advanced hitter. Both players seem destined to move from the middle infield over to third base, but in both cases, the bat should handle the transition just fine.
In the Cubs Range: After starring on USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team this summer, third baseman Jacob Berry has ensured he’ll be in the Cubs discussion all spring. He’s transferring from Arizona to LSU this season, and he needs to answer two questions in the SEC: can he stick at third base, and can he keep the strikeouts at a manageable rate? If both answers are yes, does he even make it to 7?
Your mileage may vary on catchers in the first round, but Georgia Tech backstop Kevin Parada has the offense-defense combination to be the latest one drafted in the top ten. I’ll be looking for growth in his plate approach this spring.
Jacob Berry announced his transfer to LSU last night and today, he's 2-for-2 with a double and this bomb off Drew Thorpe. Fouled off an 82 CH prior, then got all of 92. Him and Crews will be a fun duo to watch in Baton Rouge. pic.twitter.com/jR2XpZrNTU
— Tyler Jennings (@TylerJennings24) July 4, 2021
Keep Your Eye On: If you tell me there’s a good player in superscout Billy Swoope’s area, my ears are always going to perk up. This year’s college class has two: James Madison’s Chase Delauter and Virginia Tech’s Gavin Cross. DeLauter was great in the Cape Cod League this summer, Cross excelled with Team USA. DeLauter has more tools, Cross’ pedigree will probably leave you more confidence about the bat.
(Note: There’s about 4 more I wanted to include in this section, but we’ll hit on them next time. But, shoot, let me just say: Brock Jones!)
High School Hitters
Not Making It To Pick Seven: It’s probably been since Bryce Harper that the prep class has offered someone with the body and tools combination of IMG Academy’s Elijah Green. While I think Green started the summer as the odds-on favorite to be the 2022 top pick, it does seem like his strikeout rate is getting more and more attention. Even if his game continues to get nitpicked, and even if his bonus demands are massive, I have a hard time believing there’s a world where he’d drop out of the top five. But it’s interesting to note that Baseball America has Georgia infielder Termarr Johnson ranked above Green, a short left-handed hitter with elite bat-to-ball skills.
In the Cubs Range: I don’t actually believe that Druw Jones will make it to pick seven next July, but it’s early enough that we can still dream. Son of the former Braves great, Druw had a really good summer answering some of the questions surrounding his bat’s upside. Sticking with the Major League genes, we turn to Cam Collier (son of Lou), who re-classified from the 2023 Draft to next year’s edition. Draft models are going to love that one of the youngest players in the draft class also has some of the best line drive skills.
Keep Your Eye On: Shortstop Cole Young has the feel of a guy that becomes a top ten pick if you let him get to Duke, one of those checks-every-box types.
High School Pitchers
Not Making It To Pick Seven: Georgia right-hander Dylan Lesko will be one of the more decorated high school pitching prospects we’ve had in a while come draft day. He’s athletic and fluid, polished and explosive. There’s trust in four pitches. Not a lot of scouts are likely to walk away from Lesko’s spring starts unimpressed.
In the Cubs Range: I expect the Cubs to get really familiar with Brock Porter in the months to come. The 6-foot-4 Michigan right-hander reached the high 90s this summer with his fastball and gets 15+ mph separation between the heater and a good changeup. Progress on a slider will probably determine how high he goes.
‘22 RHP Brock Porter (MI) absurd in the 1st. FB sat 95-98, explosive out of hand, SL has added power, CH is plus right now. Plus-plus arm speed with some projection remaining. 6 whiffs in the 1st. #PGDraft #WWBA #Clemson commit @PG_OhioValley @B_Sakowski_PG pic.twitter.com/8qSQxAFQv0
— Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) July 11, 2021
Uber-athletic Brandon Barriera has the fluidity and bit of cross-body deception that reminds of D.J. Herz. I don’t know how lefties will ever hit Barriera’s slider, but I also don’t know if a prep pitcher with this build can get into the top ten.
Keep Your Eye On: A could Midwest guys (and Vanderbilt commits) that have my eye are Oswego, Illinois native Noah Schultz and Indianapolis product Andrew Dutkanych. The lefty is a ridiculous 6-foot-9, while Dutkanych has the kind of arm action that you dream about. I also should point out IMG Academy lefty Jackson Ferris, who the Cubs surely have developed a familarity with after scouting third-rounder Drew Gray aggressively this past spring.
College Pitchers
Not Making It To Pick Seven: No one qualifies here. At this faraway moment, the 2022 Draft threatens to be the first of the 2000s to not have a college pitcher taken in the first seven picks.
In the Cubs Range: That being said, I do think Arkansas’ Peyton Pallette is going to have a big spring and catapult into the top ten. He’s just 6-foot-1, but I think teams will overlook that when they see spin rates in the three thousands. The Cubs scouted the heck out of that Arkansas team this season, you can bet they know Pallette well.
If two-way player Reggie Crawford throws 60 innings this spring for UConn, don’t be surprised if he vaults into the top ten. Crawford has had tons of success in the Big East as a power-hitting first baseman, but the intrigue lies with the triple-digits fastball that he has shown on a few occasions.
Here’s footage of @UConnBSB @BourneBraves 1B/LHP Reggie Crawford, confirmed up to 1️⃣0️⃣1️⃣ mph in relief tonight. Massive two-way upside for one of the most exciting talents in college baseball. #PGCape pic.twitter.com/BcL5dnW3Zm
— PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) June 28, 2021
Keep Your Eye On: If Connor Prielipp can come back from Tommy John surgery and show a fully healthy, rehabbed left arm, teams as high as the Cubs will have no choice but to consider the draft’s nastiest breaking ball. A similar thing could be said for Vanderbilt southpaw Spencer Jones, who I don’t believe has had Tommy John, but also hasn’t pitched for the Commodores yet in his college career.
And Hey Don’t Forget About: You guys know this guy, Kumar Rocker? He’ll be back in the mix next July, and you can bet the Boras Corp will have all sorts of proof that his shoulder is healthy as can be. But can they do so while finding a suitable way to continue developing him over the next nine months?
