Checking in on the Cubs' first 5 picks from their 2025 draft class

Given their recent losing streak, that included being swept by the Milwaukee Brewers, the Chicago Cubs have been faced with the sobering reality that as an organization, they are not as successful as they want you to believe. While the Cubs will always have the ability to flex their financial might over their division rivals, they are lacking where it matters most: drafting and player development.

The Cubs' farm system has taken a clear step backward over the past year, and as Jed Hoyer and Co. looked to find sustained success, it goes without saying that the decisions they make during the MLB draft will need to be better.

The Cubs' 2025 draft class has some success stories, but there's a major concern.

It's why the 2025 MLB Draft was an important moment for the organization. The Cubs needed a prospect or two from last year's draft class to pop, and to their credit, they have found a gem or two. The problem is they are faced with a glaring miss with their first-round pick.

First Round: Ethan Conrad, OF Wake Forest

The Cubs aren't strangers to drafting a college player with an injury history. They tapped into strategy last summer with the selection of outfielder Ethan Conrad. Conrad was recovering from shoulder surgery at the time of his selection, but the Cubs were confident that he would be good to go by the start of spring training this year.

Conrad has yet to play a professional game for the Cubs after experiencing a back injury during spring training. Since then, the Cubs haven't exactly confirmed when Conrad will take the field again. Given the injury, there were questions over why the Cubs selected Conrad, and they are only growing louder with each passing day.

Second Round: Kane Kepley, OF North Carolina

The Cubs were clearly thinking about the impending departure of Kyle Tucker and a possible trade of Owen Caissie or Kevin Alcantara when they selected back-to-back outfielders in the first and second rounds of last year's draft.

The good news is that Kepley's career with the Cubs is off to a much better start than Conrad's. He's slashing .282/.461/.415 with a wRC+ of 141 through his first 194 plate appearances with High-A South Bend.

Third Round: Dominick Reid, RHP Abilene Christian

With Cade Horton sidelined through a good chunk of the 2027 season and injury questions surrounding Jaxon Wiggins, there was some surprise that the Cubs waited until the third round to take a pitcher. A three-year college starter, the Cubs may be hoping that Reid can ascend quickly through the team's farm system. He's carrying an ERA of 3.52 through his first 9 starts with Low-A this season, and striking out over 24% of the hitters he's faced.

Fourth Round: Kaleb Wing, RHP Scotts Valley HS

Only 19 years old and drafted out of high school, it's going to be several years before the Cubs see Kaleb Wing at Wrigley Field. Wing was recently promoted to Low-A, and tossed four scoreless innings in his debut. If the Cubs' farm system is going to gain tractions in the years ahead, it will be due to pitches like Wing emerging.

Fifth Round: Kade Snell, OF Alabama

While the Cubs have seen breakouts from Kepley and sixth-round pick Josiah Hartshorn, it's been a slower start for Kade Snell. He posted a wRC+ of 45 during his first 112 plate appearances in Low-A last summer, and that mark has risen to 83 through 174 plate appearances this season.

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