Chicago Cubs: 4 can’t-miss options at the seventh pick in the draft

Cubs: 4 options with the seventh pick in the MLB Draft: Jacob Berry

Jacob Berry has been one of the most prolific bats in college baseball for the past two years at Arizona and LSU, and is likely to be a top 10 pick in the draft.  Though his defense leaves a lot to be desired, similar to Jung, which will likely drop him further than he originally was projected to go, Berry has the offensive profile of a first overall pick, with a class-best 65-grade power stroke (Pipeline), paired with a 60-grade hit tool, Berry has the makings of a dominant major league hitter.

Berry put up jaw-dropping numbers in his freshman of the year campaign at Arizona but has staggeringly gotten better in the SEC. Berry had a solid 19.4 percent strikeout rate his freshman year but cut that number all the way down to 8.8% percent in Baton Rouge. Berry also walked more than he struck out and finished the year with a slash line of .370/.464/.630.

The problem for Berry is that his defensive miscues are unavoidable. He was a complete liability at third base and in left field and the best-case scenario for him in the field is sticking at first base but carries a big risk of being a long-term designated hitter. Still, the offensive makeup could be very hard to turn down for Jed Hoyer and the front office.

Cubs: 4 options with the seventh pick in the MLB Draft: Cam Collier

Son of former major leaguer Lou Collier, Cam Collier is perhaps the biggest wild card in this entire draft, but the talent is undeniable. Though the consensus is mixed, with Pipeline having him at 12, Keith Law having him all the way up at two, and others having him toward the middle, there are a lot of different ways the draft could shake out. But one thing that’s certain is that the Cubs have done their homework, and have consistently been linked to Collier.

Though Collier was originally slated to be a part of the 2023 draft, Collier graduated high school early, reclassified, and went to Chipola Junior College for spring ball. Collier is one of the youngest players in the draft, and he’ll be just 17 years old on draft day, but that didn’t stop him from tearing up the JuCo competition this spring. He slashed .333/.419/.557 in 52 games at Chipola against competition that was much older than him, providing a snapshot of his offensive potential.

Collier has been praised for his bat speed and bat-to-ball ability and his defense is also seen as a plus. This kid has a good arm and most believe he’ll be able to stick at third base. Collier seems to be one of the prospects the Cubs seem locked in on, and it is easy to see why.

Cubs: 4 options with the seventh pick in the MLB Draft: Termarr Johnson

While this draft is stocked with potentially high-end-level bats, none may be a better pure hitter than Termarr Johnson. Johnson is rumored to be the guy the Cubs want the most, and it’s easy to see why. Johnson has a 70-grade hit tool along with a 60-grade power tool, making him an absolute force at the plate.

Though he plays shortstop now, he’s likely to move to second or third base where he should be a quality defender. If Johnson is even a league-average defender, that paired with his offensive potential should make him potentially a top player in the league.

The question is whether or not he’ll fall to the Cubs. He’s a guy who was seen as a top-five lock at one point, but he won’t be cheap to sign, and is likely to move away from short when there are several other elite shortstops with encouraging offensive profiles at the top of the draft as well. All of this could add up to have him fall into the Cubs range, and if it does, it’ll be nearly impossible to pass up on the type of potential Johnson has to offer.

The Cubs are in the perfect position to land a premium bat that could anchor the emerging farm system for years to come. There will be no shortage of options for the Cubs and these four are just the tip of the iceberg.

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It’s not inconceivable that the Cubs could take a look at players like Zach Neto, Gavin Cross, or Jordan Beck at the seventh spot either, or perhaps one of the top shortstops like Jackson Holliday or Brooks Lee could fall to them. Maybe the Cubs have power-hitting backstop Kevin Parada fall to them and have the opportunity to fill the biggest positional void in the organization. The draft could fall a lot of ways, but there are very few bad options for Jed Hoyer to choose from.