Over Christmas break, I checked out close to 100 players who are eligible for this year‘s Major League Baseball Draft.. Most of them will be in play for the Cubs to take in the top 100. As it stands right now, the Cubs could take three of them if Cody Bellinger re-signs with the team. Or they could end up with four if Bellinger signs someplace else, hence the 3.5 thing. Currently, the Cubs are slotted at 14, 55, and 93. The Bellinger compensation pick would be somewhere around 77 which would move the 93rd pick to 94th. For today’s purposes, we are going to check out both scenarios. That tenable pick is what I like to call a “Ghost Pick” for now.

1st Round – 14

Dakota Jordan – OF- Mississippi State

He’s a freak of an athlete. The thing is he might not be available at 14. Now that he is not playing football, he is dedicating himself to being a full time outfielder. With that focus, he could be a top ten guy with his athleticism. He is sort of a freak athlete with immense strength and speed. He has potential to be a five tool guy, but he’s currently not there yet. The skill sets, though, are all present, but need developed and they could develop quickly with pro instruction.

I have a feeling when I do my five round mock in late March, this pick is going to change

Plan B – Hagen Smith LHP Arkansas, Cam Caminiti HS LHP, and Bryce Rainer HS SS.

All three of these picks would be good, too. Rainer is kind of on the rise as we speak. He has vaulted into the first round and is creeping up quickly towards the middle, depending on which list you read. But I really dig Hagen Smith. He’s fierce, he’s feisty, and he’s got a wipeout slider from the left side. Enough said.

2nd Round – 55

Teo Banks – 3B Tulane

He is not going to get away this year. The Cubs took Banks in 2021 on Day 3 but he went to Tulane instead. He’s got some pop, plays third, and is still growing. I love him!

He was already picked as the American Athletic Conference preseason player of the year. He’s a big kid at 6-foot-3 who actually is a little bit more polished than Jordan. What I dig about Banks most is he’s growing by leaps and bounds each season. They were dramatic changes from his freshman year to his sophomore season And we should see those continue in 2024.

Plan B – Rodney Green OF Cal

I am all about toolsy players this year. Getting guys who are athletic and on the way up seems to be my thing. As for Green, he’s not even the best player on the team. Still, that swing is gorgeous!

The Ghost Pick – Comp B- 77

Will Taylor – OF – Clemson

Taylor was one of my favorite players 3 years ago, but he wanted to do 2 sports at Clemson. He did until he blew out his knee, a devastating injury for a wideout. Now, Taylor is all baseball all the time.

Plan B – Michael Massey – RP Wake Forest, JD Dix, HS SS

I could really see the Massey pick here. That would be the perfect spot to take a reliever, especially the best in the draft.

3rd Round – 93

Ryan Johnson – RHP – Dallas Baptist

Ryan posted a 116/22 K/BB ratio for the Patriots as a sophomore last spring. He also pitched well with the U.S. Collegiate National Team, boosting his case to go on Day 2, maybe even Day 1. Here is what Pipeline said of his skill set.

In an unusual look for a starter, Johnson uses his low-80s slider more than half the time, but it’s a weapon with plenty of lateral movement, and he locates it well. His fastball can hit 100 mph and usually parks at 92-96 with arm-side run, though it doesn’t dodge as many bats as might be expected. His upper-70s curveball and his fading mid-80s changeup are both fringy offerings, with the latter more reliable. 

Plan B – Gage Jump LSU LHP, Gage Ziehl RHP Miami

Picking from either of the two Gages, Jump might be a player who deserves to be in that spot. You might also take him for need because he is left-handed. Still, he does belong somewhere around this range so it is not a stretch. When it comes to Ziehl, the pitchability is already there along with the offspeed stuff. The question the Cubs would ask themselves would be how much do they think they can improve his fastball to get it from the low 90s into the mid 90s.

As you can clearly see, there’s a lot of choices the Cubs are going to have to make in the first 100 players. This draft, as it stands right now is a little bit more heavy on hitters in the first 100 picks, but there are some pitchers who are going to work their way into the discussion in every mock for the next six months.

Here’s the plan for the next few months

I am getting ready for my busy season at school starting in the second week of February. But at some point Greg Zumach and I will discuss the draft in a video form. He will have his top 100 draft picks coming out as well. In addition, he will mock the entire first round. At some point in late, late March, I’ll have a five round mock draft of picks just made by the Cubs. That’ll be followed up by a seven rounder, probably in early May. In mid June, Greg and I will do our 10 rounders and also have another video. I’m excited for the baseball season to get going and learning about the draft is just a nice little appetizer before it does.