As we enter the last month of regular season play at the NCAA division 1 level, The conference tournaments will be starting in a month and then the College World Series. A month after that, the draft. We’re looking at about a 10 week period to get all of these things done in addition to a draft league and a combine. In other words, things are coming together really quickly for the MLB draft.

So far this spring I’ve been really focused on who other people have the Cubs taking at number seven. I’ve also focused on players moving into the first round and some even all the way up into the top 10. But today, things start to take a different turn. 

I’ve become familiar with a lot of names the past couple months near the first round and I feel pretty good about my knowledge on several of them up to about 50 players. 

Beyond the first round, the Cubs pick at number 47 in the second round and at 86 in the third round. Let’s take a look today at who some of the major publications have slotted in and around those numbers.

Second Round #47Third Round #86
MLB PipelineDrew Thorpe RHP Cal Poly

Other Names Available – Adam Mazur RHP Iowa , Jacob Melton OF Oregon State, Thomas Harrington RHP Campbell
Colby Thomas OF Mercer

Other Names Available – Spencer Jones 1B Virginia
Baseball AmericaThomas Harrington RHP Campbell

Other Names Available – Cooper Hjerpe LHP Oregon State, Reggie Crawford LHP Connecticut, Drew Thorpe
Jaden Noot RHP Chatsworth, CA

Other Names Available – Dalton Rushing C/1B Louisville
Prospects LiveAdam Mazur RHP Iowa

Other Names Available – Spencer Jones, Peyton Palette, Kumar Rocker
Dalton Rushing

Other Names Available – Jacob Melton, Ben Joyce RP Tennessee

In looking at this chart, the Cubs are clearly going to get the opportunity to select three very good prospects in the first three rounds. Their fourth pick at 113 will also be a very solid pick and this draft class is deep with bats from both the college and prep ranks. However, all three publications above have a pitcher slotted in at 47. Drew Thorpe, Thomas Harrington (Who Greg Zumach mocked to the Cubs yesterday), and Adam Mazur would all be fine picks for the Cubs to take. Of the three, Harrington is currently the most polished while Mazur is clearly a work in progress and has a very projectable frame that could easily add 25-30 pounds and add a few more ticks to sit at 100.

As for the other names available, Prospects Live’s listing of Kumar Rocker still being on the board is very, very tempting. If only he were pitching somewhere this spring to get a better look at him to see if his fully healthy.

When it comes to the third round pick at 86, the look of names I am familiar with begin to dwindle. It was interesting to see Louisville 1B Dalton Rushing ranked in the same vicinity for PA and PL. But the names that really caught my eye were Jacob Melton of Oregon State and Ben Joyce of Tennessee. Both are electric players and I would be just fine taking either one,m. Although, the more I think about it, I might prefer a hitter in this spot if the Cubs take a pitcher in the second.

If I wanted to really stretch myself to 113, the Cubs fourth round pick, I am not familiar with many of the players in and around those slots just yet. They are pitcher Troy Melton from SD State, LHP Brycen Mautz out of a San Diego HS, and prep pitcher Caden Dana who is rather big at 6-foot-5 and 220 lbs. I am going to have to get to work here when school gets out.