Chicago Cubs: Team goes pitching heavy with first day draft selections

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With three picks in the first two rounds, the Chicago Cubs selected three pitchers

The Chicago Cubs’ ideology of stashing as many infield prospects as possible paid off in 2016. By not drafting a pitcher in the first round since 2010, the Cubs were able to pick Javier Baez, Albert Almora, Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, and most recently, Ian Happ with their first round selections.

On Monday night, however, the Cubs finally broke their mold and draft not one, but two pitchers in the first round.

Entering this year’s draft, there was a great need for pitching depth in the Cubs’ system. Most importantly, the Cubs needed to select arms that would rise through the majors in a hurry.

With Jake Arrieta and John Lackey likely leaving in free agency after the 2017 season, picking pitchers who would fast track to the majors was no doubt a goal of the Cubs’ front office going into Monday. Through the first two round of the draft, the Cubs get a gold star for their selections.

Let’s dive deeper into who will now be wearing a Cubs’ uniform.

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Brendon Little, LHP, State Junior College of Florida

27th overall

Brendon Little is 20 years old and has the experience of a college pitcher on his side. After spending one year at the University of North Carolina, Little transferred to the State Junior College of Florida. There, Little found success, as he posted a 2.53 ERA in 85 1/3 innings pitched this season. In addition to that, Little struck out 133 batters in just 15 starts, for an average of just under 8.9 strikeouts per start.

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Little works with a fastball that runs in the mid-90’s, but can be thrown up to 97 MPH. In addition to his above average fastball, Little also features an outstanding curveball.

Despite having two plus pitches, Little lacks a solid third pitch. He does have a change-up, but more work will be needed if Little hopes to use that pitch at the professional level.

With only two serviceable pitches, Little may need to make the transition to the bullpen. That change may not come right away with the Cubs, as they may want to see if he can find success as a starter.

Even though the Cubs need starting pitching, Little could become the go-to lefty out of the bullpen in a couple of years. With Mike Montgomery likely headed to the starting rotation at some point in the near future, Little could assume the role left by Montgomery. With his history of being a starter, Little could provide the Cubs with a lefty long man by 2020.

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Alex Lange, RHP, LSU

30th overall

With a pick earned by the loss of Dexter Fowler, the Cubs selected a tall right-hander for the future. Lange, 6-4, works up to 96 MPH with his fastball, and uses a slurvy pitch as his main secondary offering. Also in the mix is a change-up, but like Little, Lange’s change-up needs work before it is big league ready.

In 2016, Lange did not impress many. He posted an 8-4 record with a 3.79 ERA and 125 strikeouts in 111 2/3 innings pitched. Lange also walked 49 batters in 2016 and offered up 92 hits in 17 starts.

Lange’s 2017 season was much better. The right-hander won nine games for the Tigers and posted a 2.92 ERA. In 2017, Lange tossed 111 innings and increased his strikeout total to 134 while also lowering his walks to 40. That increase in strikeouts paired with a decrease in walks is a good sign in the progression of a pitcher.

Also trending in the right direction for Lange is his opponent batting average. In 2016, batters hit .270 off Lange. This season, opposing batters hit just .233.

All the numbers seem to be trending up for Lange, who will look to carry his college success over to professional ball.

If Lange can remain healthy, and continue to refine his change-up, there is no reason he can’t be a middle of the rotation or even top of the rotation talent.

Unlike Little, Lange projects to remain a starter. This will bode well for the Cubs, who hope Lange will only take two or three years to reach the majors.

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Cory Abbott, RHP, Loyola-Marymount

67th overall

Sticking to the script, the Cubs picked another college arm with their lone second-round pick on Monday. Unlike the Cubs’ first two selections, Abbott does not blow people away with his fastball. To make up for his fastball reaching only 92 or 93 MPH, Abbott features a variety of above average breaking balls. This variety includes a slider, curveball, and change-up. According to some, Abbott’s slider is his best breaking pitch, followed by his curveball, and change-up.

With at least three pitches already, Abbott looks to remain a starter in the Cubs’ system. Abbott had plenty of chances to start in college as he made 12 starts in 2016 and 15 more in 2017. Last season was not kind to Abbott as he recorded a 4.24 ERA with 34 strikeouts, and 22 walks in 70 innings pitched. Despite opponents hitting .317 off him in 2016, Abbott bounced back this season. In 15 starts, Abbott went 11-2 with a 1.74 ERA and 130 strikeouts in 98 1/3 innings pitched.

Despite striking out almost one hundred more batters in 2017 than the previous year, Abbott only walked six more batters. This, no doubt, signifies a development in command that will prove invaluable at the professional level.

Abbott has the skill set to be a solid four or five starter at the big league level. Even though Abbott lacks an electric fastball like the Cubs’ previous picks, he can still run it up good enough to keep hitters honest.

If starting does not pan out, Abbott features good enough breaking pitches to make him a solid reliever. Of course, the Cubs hope Abbott will stick as a big league starter, but only time will tell.

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Time to build up the pitching

Now that the Cubs have their World Series title, Theo and company can go out and start drafting some home-grown pitching to go with the home-grown crop of position players. Through day one of the draft, the Cubs have done a good job.

So far, the Cubs have drafted three pitchers who could make a significant impact on their starting rotation. Lange may be the best option out of the three to become a starter at the big league level. However, even if Little and Abbott fizzle out as starters, they still would have great skill sets as relievers.

Next: Chicago Cubs scorecard filled with 4-6-3’s in loss to the Mets

The Cubs own pick 105 in the third round, and the last pick in each of the following rounds.

Rounds three through ten will be held Tuesday, June 13 at one pm eastern, with rounds 11-40 the following day, Wednesday, June 14 at noon Eastern.

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