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2023 MLB Draft: The Guys That Should Be Available at 13 for the Chicago Cubs

We've already seen six college bats that could be available when the Cubs pick at 13, but this week we'll be looking at three more that will almost definitely still be available. The Cubs should have their pick between two very different third basemen and a shortstop with wildly different projections depending on who you talk to.

Riley Cavanagh|
Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
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Brock Wilken 3B Wake Forest

Athletic: #18

Fangraphs: #28

MLB.com: #24

Another third base option, Wilken profiles a little differently from the deceptively speedy, all-star caliber defender that Brayden Taylor was. Wilken is a straight-up slugger. This season he hit .357/.516/.835 with 31 homers and 15 doubles. This season he cut his strikeouts (54) way down and doubled his walks (67) while also doing his best Anthony Rizzo impression by getting hit by 11 pitches. 

MLB.com raved about Wilken in their scouting report:

"Wilken burst onto the college baseball scene in 2021, setting a Wake Forest freshman record with 17 homers during the spring and winning Cape Cod League MVP honors during the summer. He encored by slamming 23 homers as a sophomore and breaking the school mark with 27 entering the NCAA playoffs this spring, burnishing his reputation for having as much raw power as anyone in his class."
MLB.com

Fangraphs also loves the power but also touches on where the struggles may come against higher level competition:

"Wilken has plus-plus present raw power and has hit several balls harder than 115 mph during his career at Wake, and he generates that power with a comically simple swing. He's an extremely patient hitter who rarely chases, and most of Wilken's whiffs come against sliders that finish in the strike zone but that he simply can't reach."
Fangraphs

Keith Law doesn’t love the power as much but he still recognizes that he has an excellent bat to ball ability with easy extra base pop:

"He has a very good swing with great balance and excellent hip rotation, showing 55 power right now, with improved exit velocities down the stretch and one of the best barrel rates among college prospects in the draft class."

Last week was the week of the shortstop in terms of options that the Cubs could have, and so far this week it’s been the week of the third baseman. Wilken has shown success as a power hitter every year in college, and he’s shown success with the wooden bat in the Cape Cod League as the MVP after his freshman season. He’s not going to be as agile as Brayden Taylor, but he has a stronger arm and more pop in the bat and the major league squad could absolutely use both of those things right about now. 

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