The 2019 MLB Draft kicks off tonight with the first two rounds, during which the Chicago Cubs will pick 27th and 64th.
It’s just about to get underway, and we’ll update the notable bits as they happen. Watch live:
This is what it looks like when a draft is extremely thin on college pitching:
For the first time in #MLBDraft history, the top 6 picks are ALL position players (Rutschman, Witt Jr., Vaughn, Bleday, Greene, Abrams). pic.twitter.com/VOcAk4CIUP
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) June 4, 2019
It’s been almost all college hitters in this draft so far, and the Cubs have done a big old zag while everyone was zigging:
With the 27th pick of the 2019 #MLBDraft, the @Cubs select @FresnoStateBSB RHP Ryan Jensen: https://t.co/OHooNdL3XW pic.twitter.com/XATobknXmN
— MLB Draft (@MLBDraft) June 4, 2019
In a draft most were criticizing as having the worst crop of college pitchers in a long, long time, the Cubs wind up taking a college pitcher in the first round – and it’s a guy who was generally not ranked among the top 50 in the draft. This will take some time to unpack, but generally speaking, this front office has earned some leeway when they surprise.