The Chicago Cubs have completed their selections in the 2018 MLB Draft, and there will be plenty of new faces populating the team’s minor league clubs in the coming years.
With the 24th overall pick in the first round, the Cubs picked shortstop Nico Hoerner out of Stanford University. In his final season of collegiate baseball, Hoerner hit only two home runs, but drove in 40 RBI and collected a total of 25 extra-base hits. He also stole 15 bases and was caught just four times.
He batted .345 and had an excellent .884 OPS in his final season with the Cardinal.
Here are the rest of the Cubs’ first 10 selections:
OF Brennen Davis – Basha High School (Arizona)
In his final high school season, Davis hit a stellar .444, with three home runs and he only struck out a total of five times. He also stole 13 bases for his team, which plays its games just 10 minutes away from the Cubs’ spring training facility.
OF Cole Roederer – Hart High School (Arizona)
Chicago Baseball
According to NBC Sports Chicago, Roederer hit for a .392 batting average in his final high school season, slugging seven home runs and posting a 1.439 OPS.
RHP Paul Richan – University of San Diego
Richan had a rough final season at San Diego, posting a 4.62 ERA and a 4-6 record. He did strike out 101 batters however, and the Cubs feel he could develop into a solid hurler.
CF Jimmy Herron – Duke University
The Cubs seemed to emphasize speed at the top of the draft, with Herron stealing 22 bases in his final season with the Blue Devils.
RHP Ethan Roberts – Tennessee Tech University
In 49 innings pitched, Roberts posted a 2.94 ERA and struck out 65 batters, picking up a pair of saves.
2B Andy Weber – University of Virginia
In 54 games, Weber collected 27 extra base hits and drove in 49 RBI. He posted a .415 on-base percentage and walked 22 times.
RHP Kohl Franklin – Broken Arrow Senior High School (Oklahoma)
According to Prep Baseball Report, Franklin’s fastball is already topping out at 93 MPH, and the 6-foot-4 pitcher has four different pitches in his arsenal, including a sharp curve ball.
CF DJ Artis – Liberty University
The outfielder posted a .917 OPS for the Flames this season, with four home runs and 23 RBI on the season. He also walked 52 times and stole 26 bases.
RHP Zach Mort – George Mason University
Mort posted a 6-3 record with a 2.48 ERA in 15 starts this season. He struck out 108 batters in 105 innings of work, and had a stellar 1.01 WHIP.
These are the rest of the players the Cubs selected in the 2018 Draft:
RHP: Derek Casey, Riley Thompson, Cameron Sanders, Riley McCauley, Jake Reindl, Layne Looney, Carlos Vega, Blake Whitney, Niels Stone, Tyler Ras
LHP: Josh Sawyer, Chris Allen, Mitchell Parker, Jack Patterson
Catchers: Hunter Taylor, Jacob Campbell, Pierson Gibis
Infielders: Luke Reynolds, Tyler Durna, Jake Slaughter, Levi Jordan, Clayton Daniel, Miguel Pbaon, Henry Vilar, Itamar Steiner
Outfielders: Ezequiel Pagan, Jamie Galazin, Dalton Hurd, Julian Boyd, Drew Wharton, Edmond Americaan, Chase Hanson
In total, the Cubs took 18 pitchers, three catchers, 11 outfielders, and 10 infielders. A total of 29 collegiate players were drafted by the Cubs, and 13 high schoolers, including two from Illinois, were picked.
