Cubs Draft

[DieHardCubbie]

As bigger stories have broken the past few days, this years Rookie Draft went by with little fan fair. This year the Cubs tried to beef up their minor league system, while building for the future.

With the sixth overall pick the Cubs chose the power hitting outfielder Ryan Harvey (Palm Harbor HS, FLA). Recently projected by BaseBall Association as the number one pick, a winter knee injury droped him down to 6.

Jacob Fox (C, University of Michigan) was taken with the 73 pick. A power hitting catcher with a good knowledge of the strike zone. Fox has a .357 BA with 15 HR and 57 RBI with only 22 strike outs in 207 ABs.

The Cubs chose to take a defensive minded catcher, with their 103 pick, in Tony Richie from FSU. Richie has a great arm and blocks and digs the ball well. Offensively, he has good bat speed and power to all fields.

With the 133 pick, LHP Darin Downs (SantaLuces HS) became the newest Cub prospect. This lanky left hander has a three-quarter are delivery. He has a hard sinking fastball that runs away from right handers and bears in on leftys. Downs also posseses a 12 to 6 curve that breaks hard and late.

Rounding out the rest of the Cubs first ten picks are, 163 Sean Marshall (LHP, Virginia Commonwealth), 193 Kyle Boyer (OF, Cal State), 223 Matt Lincoln (LHP, Santa Ana College), 253 Andrew Larsen (SS, Salt Lake CC), 283 Casey McGehee (3B Fresno St.).

As the draft winds down, the next job begins. Signing these kids will be next on Jim Hendry and Andy McPhails list. With a little luck and some seasoning, maybe one day a few of them will be in the bigs. Overall the Cubs had a good draft and looks to have made improvements in several needed areas.

[Arlo]

I thought the emphasis on catching was interesting; Fox could be worth keeping an eye on for fantasy purposes...

[cwebb]

Harvey is a good pick, as both Sosa and Alou aren't getting younger!