Frank Thomas in waiting? Cubs hope '22 pick lucky No. 7 originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Heads up when seven is up in the 2022 MLB Draft next summer.
That’s when the Cubs will make their first-round pick, after they secured the seventh spot with Friday’s 4-3 loss to the Cardinals.
The Cubs last held a top-10 pick in 2015, taking Ian Happ ninth. They drafted in the top 10 five straight seasons from 2011-15, also landing Javy Báez (ninth), Albert Almora Jr. (sixth), Kris Bryant (second) and Kyle Schwarber (fourth).
They’ve had the No. 7 pick twice before, taking Scot Thompson in 1974 and Herman Segelke in 1976. Thompson played eight big-league seasons; Segelke pitched in three games.
Dating back to 2000, the list of seventh-overall picks includes an MVP, a Cy Young Award winner and eight All-Stars.
Well, one MVP and Cy Young. Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw won both awards in 2014.
Along with Kershaw, the other All-Stars on the list are Prince Fielder, Nick Markakis, Troy Tulowitzki, Yonder Alonso, Mike Minor, Matt Harvey and Aaron Nola.
If you go back a little further, the list of No. 7 picks includes a Hall of Famer. The White Sox drafted Frank Thomas there in 1989.
From 2000-2018, all but three seventh-overall picks reached the big leagues. One — outfielder Matt Laporta — was a top prospect with Milwaukee when traded to Cleveland in 2008 for CC Sabathia.
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Laporta played four big-league seasons from 2009-12.
Perhaps it'll be a lucky number seven for the Cubs as they add young talent to the farm system in this rebuild period.
Here’s a full look at those drafted seventh overall since 2000.
2000: RHP Matt Harrington (Rockies) — didn’t sign
2001: LHP Chris Smith (Orioles — didn’t reach big leagues
2002: 1B Prince Fielder (Brewers)
2003: OF Nick Markakis (Orioles)
2004: RHP Homer Bailey (Reds)
2005: SS Troy Tulowitzki (Rockies)
2006: LHP Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers)
2007: 1B Matt LaPorta (Brewers)
2008: 1B Yonder Alonso (Reds)
2009: LHP Mike Minor (Braves)
2010: RHP Matt Harvey (Mets)
2011: RHP Archie Bradley (Diamondbacks)
2012: LHP Max Fried (Padres)
2013: LHP Trey Ball (Red Sox) — didn’t reach big leagues/last pitched in minors in 2018
2014: RHP Aaron Nola (Phillies)
2015: OF Andrew Benintendi (Red Sox)
2016: LHP Braxton Garrett (Marlins) — made MLB debut in 2020
2017: 1B Pavin Smith (Diamondbacks) — made MLB debut in 2020
2018: LHP Ryan Weathers (Padres) — made MLB debut in 2021
2019: LHP Nick Lodolo (Reds)
2020: SS Nick Gonzales (Padres)
2021: LHP Frank Mozzicato (Royals)