LIVE: The 2018 MLB Draft, Day One – Rounds One and Two (Picks: Hoerner, Davis, Roederer, Richan)

The MLB Draft is here!

No, it’s not quite the spectacle for fans of the Cubs as it is for, say, fans of the top-picking Tigers, Giants, Phillies, White Sox, or Reds, but at an organizational level, it’s no less important to the club. And that’s especially true this year, when the Cubs have four of the top 78 selections, each of which will be made tonight.

More on the structure of the draft, the dollars available for the Cubs’ picks, and the timing/coverage, here in the primer. The first round will start tonight at 6 pm CT. You can watch right here when the live stream kicks in:

The Cubs’ top pick is number 24 overall, their highest selection since they took Ian Happ 9th overall back in 2015. There won’t be a sure-fire, can’t-miss guy there on the board at 24 for the Cubs, but there will be a big-time prospect available for the picking.

As we saw last year with the Cubs’ (slightly later) first round picks Brendon Little and Alex Lange, you’re looking at huge talent with minor flaws or limitations or health questions or upside concerns there in the first round. The college bat who’ll definitely hit and can contribute well enough defensively? Not gonna be on the board. But the high upside high school bat? Or the great college defender? Or solid college bat without an obvious defensive home? Or the very solid college arm who missed a little time last year? All types that’ll be there.

And yes, high school arms with significant upside will be there, too – lots of “top ten talent” types. To be sure, you can get an ace in this area if you (1) have the stones to risk a nothingburger in the first round, and (2) correctly select AND develop the one guy in 10 from that group who’ll break out in four years. I’m not saying I’m opposed to it at some fundamental level if the Cubs are really convicted they have found that guy and he’s on the board. But I am saying I think it’s very unlikely, and that’s just fine with me.

You can watch along on MLB Network tonight, or on a live stream at MLB.com.

We’ll update this post with the Cubs’ picks as they roll in. Let’s party.

ROUND ONE

24. Chicago Cubs – Nico Hoerner, SS, Stanford. Hey, it’s a college bat! The last time the Cubs took a college bat in the first round, it was Ian Happ in 2015. Hoerner, 21, is an All-Pac 12 performer, and a guy most of the rankings services had in the 35 to 50ish range. It looks like a safe and possibly under-slot pick, leaving funds to go deep on high schoolers later on. More to come. UPDATE: Here’s a short write-up on the pick, and some video to get you started.

ROUND TWO

62. Chicago Cubs – Brennen Davis, OF, AZ HS. There you go with a high school pick. Davis is a raw, athletic outfielder with a commitment to Miami. He was a basketball player in high school (and he’s a lanky 6’4″ right now), who dealt with hamstring issues his senior year. It’s unsurprising then that there is far from a consensus on what kind of talent he is – and that’s how it is with prep players sometimes. You can “win” a scouting competition if you’re right on an 18-year-old that other teams haven’t seen as much, or don’t have as much conviction in. You can also totally whiff. I like that the Cubs are taking a chance here. UPDATE: Here’s a short write-up on the second round pick, and some video to get a look.

COMPENSATORY

77. Chicago Cubs – Cole Roederer, OF, Cal HS. Another high school position player for the Cubs, Roederer was ranked 161 at Baseball America and not in the top 200 at MLB Pipeline or top 130 at FanGraphs. That’s not to say the talent isn’t there for a smaller but powerful outfielder with a strong commitment to UCLA (and, again, sometimes there’s just not enough consensus and time on high schoolers for services to confidently rank them higher, except for the really elite guys). I tend to think, like with Davis, the Cubs don’t go this route this early unless they had a very good sense that they could afford Roederer. The slot value at this pick is about $775,000. We’ll have to dig deeper on him soon.

78. Chicago Cubs – Paul Richan, RHP, San Diego. The first pitcher of the draft for the Cubs, and it’s a college righty. Unlike with the high schoolers, there’s a lot of consensus on Richan’s ranking, which is right around the 150 to 175 range. You could say that makes him a reach for the Cubs here, but it could also be a matter of getting a high floor college pitcher in under slot. Apparently Richan, who was a weekend starter, has a good fastball and slider, but also works with a changeup and curveball. As far as non-first-round-type starting pitchers go, Richan looks like as safe as a bet gets to emerge as a real prospect, which is a starting point. Whether he emerges as a big-league-caliber starter, of course, is a matter for the next few years.

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

Justin Steele, Hamstrings and Hindsight, Montgomery and Bieber, Roster Options, More

You can't know what's going to happen on the injury front. Trying to predict the unpredictability of player health has been the longest-running vexatious part of a modern front office's job, and I recognize that kind of thing before getting...

The Morel Foul Ball, Madrigal’s D, Busch Heads Up, Langford Respect, and Other Cubs Bullets

Ah, now the obligatory off-day after Opening Day. And an Opening Day loss no less, which always makes today that much better, right ... You could hang on so many things from the opening loss - one-run losses in heavily-scrutinized...

Justin Steele Injury Update: New Classification, MRI Tomorrow, IL Stint Coming? Steele and Counsell Speak

A significant update on Justin Steele came from Craig Counsell tonight after the Cubs extra innings loss in Texas. In short: Yes, a stint on the Injured List is likely for Justin Steele. But we still don't know how severe...

Enhanced Box Score: Rangers 4, Cubs 3 – March 28, 2024

It took exactly one day for the Cubs' ace to sustain what may be a significant injury, for their closer to blow a save, for the umpires to significantly impact the outcome of a critical play (this time in the...

OMG: Michael Busch Scored the 9th Inning, GO-AHEAD Run, Because He Just Never Stopped Running

That was absolutely incredible. To all the little kids out there, when your coach tells you to never stop running, this is why. Rookie Cubs 1B Michael Busch (the guy the Cubs got from the Dodgers this offseason to be...

Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Rangers – Lineups, Pitching Matchup, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

*SHORT COURTS: It's Time To Bring The Home Court, Home! Looking for a unique way to celebrate your athlete or team before you peruse the FIRST CHICAGO CUBS LINEUP of the Year? Don't miss out! For just one more week...

The Cubs Are Among the Most Returning-y Teams

I am still mostly incapacitated at the moment, so apologies for the short shrift on such an otherwise blessed day. In between pokes and prods, I wanted to share a chart I saw that was pretty interesting, even if unsurprising:...

Maybe the Cubs Are the Favorites in the NL Central, After All?

ESPN was the first to throw some love the Cubs way this week, with an overwhelming majority of their writers, analysts, and editors picking the Chicago Cubs to win the NL Central in 2024. But the love doesn't end there....

The Season Begins, Love for Morel, Counsell’s Value, and Other Cubs Bullets

You know where you want to spend your Opening Day morning? The hospital! Suffice to say, this is not how I imagined getting HYPED for the Cubs' opener. I guess I'll just have to think about all the possible lineup...

Cubs vs Rangers: The First Series of the Year!

Cubs vs Rangers — THE REGULAR SEASON IS HERE! Wake up and rejoice. Later tonight, the Cubs will begin their march toward October Baseball against the (reigning World Series champion) Texas Rangers in Arlington. Justin Steele is getting the nod...

Latest News

Marlins vs. Pirates Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Friday, March 29, 2024

The Miami Marlins (0-1) are favorites (-132) on the moneyline when they square off against the Pittsburgh Pirates (1-0) Friday at 7:10 PM ET, live on BSFL.Miami's Andrew Jacob Puk and Pittsburgh's Martin Perez have been named the starters for...

Rays vs. Blue Jays Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Friday, March 29, 2024

The Tampa Bay Rays (0-1) and Toronto Blue Jays (1-0) meet Friday at Tropicana Field, starting at 6:50 PM ET on SNET. The Rays are -122 moneyline favorites for the contest, however, the Blue Jays are favored against the spread...

Astros vs. Yankees Probable Starting Pitchers – March 29

The New York Yankees (1-0) visit the Houston Astros (0-1) for a road game on Friday at 8:10 PM ET.The Astros will look to Cristian Javier versus the Yankees and Carlos Rodon.Astros vs. Yankees Pitcher Matchup and Game InfoWhen: Friday,...

Bet $5 with FanDuel Promo Code, Win $200 Bonus Including NCAA Tournament

This weekend is packed with great sports action including the NCAA Tournament, MLB, and NBA for bettors. Check out the FanDuel promo code to score a $200 bonus if your first $5 bet wins! If you live in NC, you...

DraftKings Promo Code: Get $150 for $5 Bet on College Basketball and More Sports

This time of the year on the sports calendar is truly special with the MLB season starting, college basketball in full swing, and much more! Don't miss out on the chance to grab a bonus by using the latest DraftKings...

Rays vs. Blue Jays Probable Starting Pitchers – March 29

The Toronto Blue Jays (1-0) play on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays (0-1) at Tropicana Field. The game is set to start at 6:50 PM ET on Friday.The Rays will call on Aaron Civale versus the Blue Jays...

Marlins vs. Pirates Probable Starting Pitchers – March 29

The Pittsburgh Pirates (1-0) play on Friday in Miami against the Miami Marlins (0-1). First pitch is at 7:10 PM ET.The Marlins will call on Andrew Jacob Puk against the Pirates and Martin Perez.Marlins vs. Pirates Pitcher Matchup and Game...

Duke vs Houston Predictions and Odds: March Madness Best Bets

We have a couple of number-one seeds in March Madness action tonight including Houston (32-4) as the Cougars take on Duke (26-8). Check out the odds and more for Duke vs Houston which tips off tonight at 9:39 pm ET...

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offseason Preview: 2024 Free Agents and Team Needs

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers enjoyed a successful 2023 season, capturing their third straight NFC South title and pushing the Detroit Lions in a thrilling Divisional Round matchup. This strong showing translates to a relatively stable roster with few glaring weaknesses...

Fanatics NC Promo Code Scores Up to $1,000 in Bonus Bets Over 10 Days: Dive into North Carolina Sports Betting

After a long wait, legal sports betting has finally arrived in the Tar Heel State. Fanatics NC, along with host of other sports books are up and operating in North Carolina. This exciting development opens doors for fans to wager...

more cubs news