Ranking the last 10 Chicago Cubs first-round draft picks, from worst to best

6. RHP Cade Horton: 7th overall in 2022

The 2022 draft bared some nice pay-offs on the pitching side for the Cubs. They selected Cade Horton out of Oklahoma with the seventh overall pick, which was controversial at the time because of his limited work in college and a small sample of success in the College World Series.

But Horton stormed through the Minors in 2023, with a 2.65 ERA in 21 starts with 117 strikeouts in 88 1/3 innings pitched. He was promoted to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs in 2024 and looked destined for a Major League call-up before going down with a season-ending shoulder injury.

Horton still has a lot to prove, especially when it comes to staying healthy for a full season. But he is still just 23 years old and currently ranked the 42nd-best prospect in baseball (third in the Cubs system) according to MLB Pipeline. His ceiling is incredibly high and he may end up being a cog in the starting rotation one day.

5. 3B Cam Smith: 14th overall in 2024

Former Florida State slugger Cam Smith was drafted less than six months ago, and his mark has already been felt in Chicago and the larger baseball world for that matter. After his 14th overall selection, Smith immediately went on a tear with the Low-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Smith's hot streak featured the 21-year-old homering in six straight games and earning a promotion after just 15 professional games.

It was a similar story with the South Bend Cubs, and Smith was with the Double-A squad by the end of the season. Given the Cubs' need at third base, many fans were hoping Smith would continue his herculean rise through the system and emerge as a young star in the Majors. But those hopes were dashed after the Kyle Tucker trade.

Smith was the main piece in the deal alongside Isaac Paredes, effectively gutting the Cubs' third base depth. Smith's departure was definitely disappointing, but it's important to keep in mind that he only has 134 professional plate appearances to his name. Whether it's in Double-A, Triple-A or in MLB, his stats will come back down to Earth at some point.

The main point here is that the Cubs have become much better at hitting on their draft picks in recent years, and Smith is a testament to that. Although he won't be a factor for the Cubs anymore, the fact that a team like the Astros was willing to make him a main component in a deal that saw them ship their best player to Chicago says a lot. Even if Smith doesn't pan out with Houston, the Cubs nailed it with this pick.