Cubs Draft: Top high school prospects team should consider in 2021 MLB Draft

Cubs Draft: Irving Carter, RHP, Calvary Christian

The willingness to lean into a starting pitcher at the high school level is not one team’s take lightly. The last time the Cubs selected a high school pitcher in the draft was 2005, in the third round. To say it is a thing that is almost non-existent. Notwithstanding, it has become clear the Cubs are moving in the direction of a rebuild leading us to Irving Carter at pick number 21.

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Carter is currently a part of a rotation, which is one of the best in the country. Calvary Christian is a dominant program, having captured two state championships in the past three years. At the helm of those wins is Carter, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound right-handed pitcher.

Committed to Miami, it may not be easy to sway a guy like Carter, especially towards the end of the first round. If there is a team, however, who could do it, it would be the Cubs. Carter has a potent three-pitch mix working primarily from his fastball, which sits currently in the low-90s but has been seen to touch 94-95 mph.

Add in a biting slider and an above-average changeup, along with that windup and delivery, and you nearly have a prototype of Trevor Bauer. I’m joking, mostly. Carter has been known to display a “bulldog-like demeanor” in his starts leading me back to the Bauer comparison. Again, mostly kidding.

Carter is the perfect size in terms of his development already to this point. He will continue to grow into his frame and hopefully use it to his advantage. As the scouting report at Baseball America discussed, his status and availability could turn into a reliever role, which is not terrible as the Cubs’ pen has been hammered with injuries in the bullpen. If things fall into place for the Cubs, it will be the job of Tommy Hottovy and the gurus at the pitch lab to help Carter succeed.