Ranking the Chicago Cubs first round draft picks since 2013

7. SS Ed Howard 2020

During the pandemic shortened 2020 draft, the Cubs selected hometown shortstop Ed Howard, who attended Mount Carmel High School in Chicago. In his junior year of High School, Howard hit .421 with 11 doubles, four triples, and three home runs in 35 games. He was chosen 16th overall by the Cubs and was expected to quickly make his way through the system. It hasn't quite worked out that way, as a pair of injuries have limited Howard's playing time to just 103 games in two seasons at Low A Myrtle Beach and the High A South Bend Cubs respectively. He is looking to stay healthy and bounce back with a full season of work this year, and hopefully climb back up the prospect rank from his current position of 23.