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

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.