2024 MLB Draft: Checking in on five college prospects tied to the Chicago Cubs

It’s been a little over a month since we checked in on the MLB Draft and the prospects that could be available to the Chicago Cubs when they make the 14th selection.

Charlie Condon OF Georgia
Likelihood of availability at 14: <1%

We knew a month ago that Charlie Condon was going to be a reach for the Cubs at 14. In the time since he’s made that reach seemingly impossible by hitting baseballs to a degree that is bordering on unfathomable.

This season, against SEC competition mind you, Condon is hitting .458/.570/1.067 with 20 homers, more walks (27) than strikeouts (21), and as many extra-base hits (32) as games played. It will take something truly unfortunate to occur for him to be available at 14, but he’s one to keep an eye on as a fan of baseball in general because he has star written all over him.

Hagen Smith LHP Arkansas
Likelihood of availability at 14: 10%

One that we considered to be a possibility a month ago but has gone to another stratosphere is Hagen Smith. 

The 6’3 lefty is currently undefeated at 6-0 with a 1.76 ERA over 41 innings. He’s allowed his opponents to bat just .144 off him while maintaining a K rate of better than 18 per nine innings and a walk rate of just a little over 3 per nine innings. 

It wouldn’t come as a shock if Smith had moved himself into the realm of the first pitcher off of the board in July, so it would come as a shock if he were available to the Cubs at 14.