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Recapping Cubs’ Final 17 Picks in 2025 MLB Draft

Photo of Jacob Zanolla Jacob ZanollaJuly 15, 2025

The Cubs wrapped up their draft on Monday, going heavy on pitching after taking two outfielders and a righty pitcher on Day 1. They picked up two more left-handed outfielders early on Day 2, but their 13 pitchers — two lefties — set the trend over the last 17 picks. There were a pair of catchers and one infielder sprinkled in there as well.

Let’s get into it.

Round 4 (Pick 121): Kaleb Wing, RHP, Scotts Valley HS

Wing, a two-way player from California, was the first high school player picked by the Cubs on Monday. His arsenal includes a fastball, slider, curveball, and changeup. The 18-year-old only started pitching around 11 months ago, but already has his velocity up to the mid-90s. Wing had a 1.23 ERA this season, striking out 79 batters in 45.2 innings.

Round 5 (Pick 151): Kade Snell, OF, Alabama

Snell entered college as a two-way player, but has since become a full-time outfielder. He excelled in his sophomore season at Alabama, hitting 10 home runs while driving in 52 runs in just 58 games. He had a 131 wRC+, earning himself the title of team captain.

Round 6 (Pick 181): Josiah Hartshorn, OF, Orange Lutheran HS

Perfect Game ranked Hartshorn as the fourth-best outfielder in his class, coming in at No. 29 nationally. He’s a stout 6-foot-2 switch hitter who had a .364 average with 18 walks in 29 games this past season.

Round 7 (Pick 211): Pierce Coppola, LHP, Florida

Injuries have been a big part of Coppola’s story, as he only threw in 21.1 innings during his junior year at Florida. In those seven starts, he posted a 2.53 ERA with 43 strikeouts. While it may be a small number of innings, his 18.1 K/9 is enough to turn some heads. He also limited the longball this year, only allowing one home run. At 6-foot-8 and 245 pounds, he is an intimidating presence.

Round 8 (Pick 241): Jake Knapp, RHP, North Carolina

Knapp is on the older side of things, set to turn 25 in late August. He missed all of the 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery, but the Cubs clearly liked what they saw in his most recent year of college. In 2025 at North Carolina, he started 15 games with a 2.02 ERA and 0.860 WHIP. Knapp showcased excellent command, a stellar 1.4 BB/9 mark.

Round 9 (Pick 271): Colton Book, LHP, Saint Joseph’s

Book had a 3.53 ERA in 86.2 innings during the 2025 season. He had a higher strikeout rate than most, with an impressive 12.7 K/9. He started 14 games this season, the most in his collegiate career.

Round 10 (Pick 301): Justin Stransky, C, Fresno State

Stransky found his power stroke this season with Fresno State, hitting a college-high 12 home runs in 60 games. He had a 118 wRC+ while only striking out 7.4% of the time. He stole 11 bases as well, not always part of the average catcher’s arsenal. On top of his bat, his defensive skillset could help him quickly progress in the Cubs’ system.

Round 11 (Pick 331): Eli Jerzembeck, RHP, South Carolina

Jerzembeck hasn’t pitched in two years due to injuries, but his 2023 was excellent. In 31.2 innings, he had a 2.84 ERA with 36 strikeouts and just six walks. He’s a risk based on his health status, but has a good deal of upside if healthy.

Round 12 (Pick 361): Connor Spencer, RHP, Ole Miss

A right-handed pitcher from Tennessee, Spencer became a trusted arm out of the bullpen for Ole Miss. In 24.2 innings, Spencer posted a 1.054 ERA. His 3.6 BB/9 showed a struggle with walks, but has a good pitch mix that the Cubs can help develop.

Round 13 (Pick 391): Nate Williams, RHP, Mississippi State

A 6-foot-4 reliever from Mississippi State, Williams was a strikeout machine during his senior year. He punched out 45.1% of the batters he faced, giving him a 16.59 K/9. While his 27.2 innings aren’t a huge sample size, it’s clear he can limit contact against good hitters.

Round 14 (Pick 421): Kaemyn Franklin, RHP, Victory Christian HS

This is a fun one for Cubs fans, as Kaemyn is the brother of current pitching prospect Kohl Franklin. After undergoing Tommy John surgery, Franklin is back on the mound and hitting 91-93 mph on his fastball.

Round 15 (Pick 451): Noah Edders, RHP, Troy

In four games with the Trenton Thunder this summer, Edders worked a scoreless 10.2 innings. He kept hitters at bay with an opposing batting average of .241, and he struck out 67 batters in 65 innings of work while only allowing 27 walks.

Round 16 (Pick 481): Riely Hunsaker, RHP, Lamar

Hunsaker started 14 games at Lamar in his junior year, striking out 70 batters in 76.2 innings. He had a 1.148 WHIP, the lowest of his college career. Maybe the most important tidbit of them all is that Hunsaker is a Tread athlete, giving him an immediate connection to Tyler Zombro and the Cubs’ pitching lab.

Round 17 (Pick 511): Logan Poteet, C, UNC Charlotte

After transferring from Vanderbilt to UNC Charlotte, Poteet had his best college season yet. The catcher posted a .879 OPS, hitting 10 home runs and drawing 27 walks in 51 games.

Round 18 (Pick 541): Connor Knox, RHP, George Mason

In eight games at George Mason in 2025, Knox had a 3.29 ERA with 28 strikeouts. He logged 27.1 innings, posting a 0.951 WHIP. In the MLB Draft League this summer, Knox allowed two runs in nine innings of work.

Round 19 (Pick 571): Caleb Barnett, 3B, Mountain Brook HS

Barnett will not sign with the Cubs, announcing on Monday that he will keep his commitment to Alabama.

Round 20 (Pick 601): Freddy Rodriguez, RHP, University of Hawaii

Wrapping up he draft, the Cubs took a right-handed pitcher from Hawaii. Rodriguez had a 1.089 WHIP in his junior year, coming out of the bullpen for all but two appearances. He then pitched for Harwich in the Cape Cod League, starting four games. He went 17 innings total, with a 1.118 WHIP and 3.71 ERA.

There’s a lot of nuance in these picks, so it’s impossible to know exactly what the Cubs are thinking when it comes to their specific selections. However, it does look like they took a volume approach to pitching, something we saw several years ago when they had a far more deliberate and conservative developmental philosophy. Maybe changes in that facet of the system will yield better results this time.

Photo of Jacob Zanolla Jacob ZanollaJuly 15, 2025
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