Chicago Cubs: Potential options in the upcoming MLB Amateur Draft

More established talent

Seth Johnson, RHP, Campbell

Of the players in this list, Seth Johnson may be my favorite of the bunch. A big right-handed starting pitcher from Campbell University, Johnson stands at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds. He possesses a very smooth compact delivery, allowing him to display the power of his arm effortlessly.

The college starter deploys a four-pitch mix: fastball, slider, curveball, and changeup. Of the four, the fastball is undoubtedly Johnson’s most reliable pitch as he sits the mid-’90s and carries good location and control. Concerning the other three pitches, Johnson’s slider is admired as his second-best pitch. It has been regarded as being above-average, and if he can gain more movement progressing forward, it could be a lethal pitch.

His changeup and curveball are works in progress. At points, his curveball has been solid, however not yet developed enough to be a consistent go-to pitch. Working with his changeup is something which should help propel him moving into the future, as it is his newest pitch.

Last season at Campbell in 11 starts, Johnson finished 3-3 with a 4.72 ERA, 77 strikeouts in 61 innings. Impressively, he gave up just one home run over that span and allowed opposing hitters just a .248 average. If he can continue to work on his breaking pitches, Johnson has the potential to be someone special at the next level.