Cubs come tantalizingly close, but Tigers snag Cameron Flukey in 2026 MLB Draft

In the weeks leading up to the 2026 MLB Draft, the Chicago Cubs were repeatedly connected to Coastal Carolina right-hander Cameron Flukey, whose draft stock reportedly took a hit after he suffered a rib injury that cut his collegiate season short this spring.

On Saturday, the Cubs came so close to having the opportunity to draft Flukey - but wound up seeing him go to the Detroit Tigers at #22 overall. Chicago responded by taking Mississippi right-hander Cade Townsend at #23 in a move that acknowledged a glaring organizational short-coming.

Flukey came into this weekend's draft as the class' #15 prospect, according to both MLB Pipeline Baseball America - so it's clear there was at least some degree of concern across the game. He was the fifth pitcher taken in the first round and joins a Tigers' system that is extremely heavy on position players but is in need of high-ceiling arms.

Being able to add Flukey to the system would have been a huge draft day victory for Jed Hoyer - but the fact the Cubs did what needed to be done and took a college arm with their first-round pick, which makes missing on Flukey at least somewhat more palatable.

What will the Cubs do with their remaining draft picks on Saturday?

Chicago isn't done. The Cubs have three more picks within the top-100 (62, 75, 98) and also hold the #126 overall pick on Saturday. The big question is how many of those picks will wind up being pitchers like Townsend given how clear the organization's need is on that side of the equation.

Flukey would have been a steal - similar to Ethan Conrad a year ago, whose stock fell due to a shoulder injury suffered in his final season at Wake Forest. But, like I said, at least Hoyer stuck to the plan, pivoted quickly and came away with a polished college arm to headline his 2026 draft class.

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