Checking in on last year's picks as the Cubs prepare for the 2024 MLB Draft

Ahead of Sunday's 2024 MLB Draft, we thought now was a good time to turn the clock back one year and check in on some of the top picks from last summer. This year, the Chicago Cubs carry the 14th overall pick, giving them a chance to infuse even more impact talent to a farm system that's skyrocketed up rankings lists in recent years.

Headlining last year's class is Matt Shaw, the former Maryland standout who, even straight out of college graded out as a guy with a 'plus' hit tool. The 22-year-old's numbers were hot out of the gate, but have cooled since making the jump to Double-A Tennessee earlier this year. Still, we're talking about a guy with an .862 career OPS in the minors so it probably won't be too long before he gets a chance to make his mark in Chicago.

The team's second-round pick in 2023, Arkansas right-hander Jaxon Wiggins, did not pitch last summer and got off to a rocky start in Rookie ball this year before settling in with Myrtle Beach. In six starts a Class-A, Wiggins has a 0.810 WHIP and 2.14 ERA, showing why the Cubs were so high on him last summer.

Cubs prospect, Gators breakout Josh Rivera has struggled at Double-A

It took until his final year at Florida that Josh Rivera finally put it all together at the plate, but he did so at a perfect time, setting himself up for the jump to pro ball. He torched Rookie ball pitching, quickly earning a promotion to Myrtle Beach last season. He leveled off a bit there to close out the season and has really hit some tough times at Tennessee in 2024, slashing just .173/.276/.272 in 62 games.

Chicago's fourth-round pick, Will Sanders out of South Carolina, didn't throw a professional pitch last year, making his debut with High-A South Bend earlier this season. He hasn't hit his stride yet, with an ERA approaching 5.00, but Chicago likes his pitch mix and he profiles as a potential mid-to-back-of-the-rotation arm if he can iron some things out.

Given the issues the Cubs face at the catcher position at the big league level, last year's fifth-round pick, Michael Carico out of Davidson, seems especially worth checking in on. Unfortunately, there's not much to report. He has just 22 career MiLB games to his name and hasn't done much in limited action.

Now I could go on for days and days running through all 20 picks, but for now, we'll stick with those picks from the first five rounds. I will add one late-round standout, though, in 19th-round selection Nick Dean, also out of Maryland. The right-hander dominated at A-Ball, punching out 36 in 27 innings, bouncing between the bullpen and rotation. At High-A South Bend, he still owns a respectable 3.23 ERA across eight starts and a relief appearance, so he's a guy to keep an eye on as a potential 'feel good' late-round success story.