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Cubs: Here are the five Chicago Cubs 2020 Draftees
Chicago Cubs create tons of excitement with five upside picks in the 2020 MLB draft.
While 2020 continues to be one of the stranger and most controversially depressing years in documented human existence, Chicago Cubs fans were able to put on a few smiles over the past few days given the draft their team just had.
As with everything else in this seemingly forsaken year, the draft was completely different this season due to a lack of rounds, scouting, games played, and for some teams- slot money for picks. Only five rounds this season (after lasting 40 rounds since 2012 and 50 rounds from 1998-2011), clubs had to have a razor-sharp focus during the attenuated draft.
With no margin for error, the Cubs went for high-upside talent in all five picks. While some may be closer than others to displaying that talent at Wrigley Field, all five can get there if developed effectively.
Will that happen? Probably not. However, with only five draftees, you can be sure these guys will be followed closely as they progress through the Cubs system (whenever that system can start up again, that is). Read on for a recap on all five of the Cubs exciting picks in 2020- including a bit of a philosophical shift in the first round where they went with a prep player instead of a college guy for the first time since selecting Albert Almora out of high school in 2012.
Chicago Cubs: This guy was once a pretty athletic shortstop…
First off- I’m not here to try and tell anyone that Ed Howard IV is going to be the second coming of Ernie Banks. If he is, the Cubs will have done exceptionally well in this draft regardless of what the rest of the guys in this slide show do. Howard is probably not going to hit 512 career home runs, and he probably won’t have a statue outside of Wrigley Field in 50 years. But wouldn’t it be fantastic?
Picture this: hometown kid Howard with a statue outside of Wrigley and a flag flying from a pole on the scoreboard. While it’s way too early to project much of anything with a guy who hasn’t even faced college pitching, let alone professional hurlers, it’s safe to say that from what scouts are saying, Howard may have the chops to stick at the most versatile position on the field. If you can play short, you can play anywhere- an idea you hear all the time when talking about guys like Javier Baez and Nico Hoerner getting moved around the field.
The 6’2″ 185 lb. Southside (Mt. Carmel) product, which everyone around Chicago already knows from his Jackie Robinson West Little League days back in 2014, Howard had dreams of being a hometown pick of the White Sox. This team helped him along in his quest for big-league glory through their ACE program. He’s a fan of White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson and has even communicated with his idol. If he ends up any bit like Banks or even Anderson, the Cubs have done a marvelous job with this mid-round pick.
Chicago Cubs: Kershaw is not a bad guy to be getting pitching advice from
In the second round, the Cubs went a completely different route than the first, selecting Burl Carraway with the 51st pick of the draft. From all accounts, Carraway is a possible steal at that position in the draft. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s already getting tips on throwing sliders from none other than Clayton Kershaw.
A hard-throwing left-hander, Carraway had one of the highest-rated fastballs amongst pitchers in the draft (3rd among college guys) and has a nasty curveball to complement it. He is only 6 feet tall and has a bit of a strange delivery, so it bears watching whether or not he can repeat his delivery consistently with that max effort mid-to-upper 90’s heat while staying healthy.
By all accounts, between his upper 90’s fastball and ability to drop a crazy hammer, the 21-year-old Carraway could be on the fast track to a Cubs uniform. While some have speculated that could come this year depending on what happens with the schedule and minor leagues, it’s most likely we could see him in 2021. As with Howard and many of the other top draft picks of the Epstein/Hoyer era in Chicago, Carraway is a character guy who is also a baseball rat and loves the game.
Chicago Cubs: Athlete with prodigious power? Yes, please.
In the third round, the Cubs decided to go with a stud athlete who looks a lot more like a Big 10 safety or linebacker than he does a baseball player. Nevertheless, Jordan Nwogu of Michigan was the Cubs pick at number 88.
Nwogu is a hitter the Cubs are hoping can be passable in the outfield (probably left) with some more seasoning and work. On the offensive side, though, Nwogu has ridiculous power, bat speed, and an eye that gets more discerning with each and every year.
After taking two guys FanGraphs had going before Chicago drafted them, the Cubs went with a bit of a reach with Nwogu, according to FanGraphs. Still, it comes with this caveat about the athletically-built Michigan man: he has big-time raw power and first-round potential. Not bad for the first three picks in this abbreviated draft.
If Nwogu can improve his defense just a tad and continue to progress with his mastery/command of the strike zone, his natural abilities and power could be awe-inspiring.
Chicago Cubs: We’ve had a little success with a big lefty who throws 105
The Cubs may or may not have had some success with a left-handed pitcher who comes out of the pen throwing BBs. You may recall during that glorious run to the 2016 World Series (yes, I know- that feels like it was decades ago at this point and it’s only been four years!) that the Cubs went out and traded away Gleyber Torres for the best closer in the game in Aroldis Chapman.
Chapman was lights out for almost the entire time he was with the Cubs and only started slowing down and struggling a bit after former skipper Joe Maddon wore him into the ground in the playoffs because he didn’t trust anyone else in the pen.
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With that in mind, it’s hard not to think about the possibilities of another huge lefty coming into games in the late innings throwing blistering fastball after fastball when you see the video of the Cubs fourth-round pick. Another guy the Cubs were probably surprised they were able to snag this late in the draft, Luke Little is a 6’8″ left-handed pitcher who caused a bit of an internet stir when video of his bullpens showed consistent triple digits on the radar gun. Gearing up to 105 mph on the gun in the video, Little (who is anything but at his height) has the kind of arms scouts salivate over.
Of course, the reason he lasted until the fourth round with that kind of arm is simple- control. From San Jacinto Junior College in Texas (where former big leaguers Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte went), Little was poised to have a huge season after getting in the best shape of his life and adding velocity to his already bullet-like heater. Even if he improves his control just a tad, a lefty throwing 100 coming out of the pen is always a welcome addition to a big-league club.
Chicago Cubs: High upside prep arm caps draft for Northsiders
Last but not least for the Cubs could be the most exciting of the five Cubs picks- a high school kid and East Carolina commit who just started pitching and supposedly has very little wear and tear on his arm. That would be Koen Moreno, the 18-year-old 6’2″ right-handed pitcher from Panther Creek High School in North Carolina.
Next. Hometown Howard a great story. dark
Moreno doesn’t wow with velocity or pure stuff, but there tons of good vibes and feels around this guy- he’s got a bit of a whip action and a nice frame for pitching, alright throws in the lows 90s and has topped out at 94, and features a deadly changeup as his best pitch. He’s also super athletic and supposedly is going to sign with the Cubs despite limited slot money in the fifth round.
From all accounts, Moreno is the kind of guy who gets better all the time, has a nose for the game and could end up being a diamond in the rough at the end of this 2020 draft.