NEWSLETTER
Exactly two weeks from right now you’ll be reading about who the Cubs drafted on Day One of the 2018 draft and what to expect from Day Two. With the Cubs having five picks in the Top 100, there is every reason to be excited about this draft.
Within reason.
While the Cubs will draft plenty of quality prospects, I don’t think we can expect them to find anyone better than that – a quality prospect. In other words, the Cubs’ are probably going to spend their early picks on the exactly the sorts of players they are loaded with right now. They’ll draft pitchers who project as middle of the rotation starters if things go right, hitters who are good in many areas but lacking something to keep them from elite status, and hard throwing relievers who could move quickly but are unlikely to leave the bullpen.
What the Cubs probably won’t draft, because there won’t be any available, is what they are so very badly lacking – near-term impact talent. This draft is very unlikely to produce another Kyle Schwarber or Kris Bryant or Javier Baez or Ian Happ. The Cubs will be scouring the talent pool for player with that sort of potential who have been missed by every other team … and such things do happen (Mike Trout is a famous example, and I’d add Kyle Hendricks to that list if you want a Cubs example) … but we can’t expect that they’ll find one.
That said, given the very weak state of the Cubs’ farm system right now, I would not be at all surprised if their first round pick immediately becomes the best prospect in the system. I wouldn’t rule out this draft producing multiple Top 10 prospects, either. With the exception of Adbert Alzolay, the prospects at the top of the Cubs’ farm system have generally taken a step back this spring. The door is certainly open for a new player to go straight to the top spot.
Triple A: Iowa Cubs
Iowa 6, Round Rock 5
A ninth inning insurance run proved to be the difference for Iowa.
Double A: Tennessee Smokies
Tennessee 3, Mississippi 2
This seems like a good time to point out that the Smokies’ bullpen is still really good.
High A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Myrtle Beach 8, Lynchburg 5
The Pelicans spent the entire game coming back from a five run deficit. They capped their rally with five in the eighth.
Low A: South Bend Cubs
Lansing 2, South Bend 1
The very sketchy South Bend defense allowed yet another unearned run.
Other Notes
