Chicago Cubs 2019 MLB Draft Profile and Interview: JJ Goss

The Chicago Cubs will make their first pick in the upcoming MLB Draft with the 27th overall pick. Cy Ranch High School’s JJ Goss would be a perfect pick.

The Chicago Cubs hold the 27th overall pick in the first round of the upcoming Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. The team has recently loaded up on pitching prospects after going all-in on hitting prospects in early years of Theo Epstein’s tenure as President of Baseball Operations.

The team’s top 10 prospects consist of five pitching prospects. How about adding one more to the fold? Cypress Ranch High School’s starting pitcher, JJ Goss, would be a great pick for the Cubs in the first round. He is ranked as the tenth-best pitcher in the upcoming draft and the 26th best prospect overall.

So what do you need to know about him? Goss is a 6′-3″ and 185 pound right-handed pitcher from Cypress, Texas. He has a verbal commitment to play college baseball at Texas A&M but could very well find his name being called at the end of the first round.

Goss tossed a perfect game with nine strikeouts back in early April and needed just 71 pitches to do it. He has a good frame standing at 6′-3″ and 185 pounds and figures to fill in as he matures. His slider is ranked among the best in the draft and features a fastball that has topped out at 96 mph.

Scouts love his ability to consistently throw his slider for strikes, especially from a 3/4 arm slot:

"Fastball topped out at 94 mph, has been up to 96 mph since the National, gets outstanding sinking life pretty consistently. Nice slider with tight spin and good shape, throws his slider for strikes and has advanced feel for it. Firm change up with the same type of sinking action as his fastball. – via Perfect Game"

We covered those topics and more during a recent Q&A with Goss.

Q&A with JJ Goss

Q: First, thank you for doing this interview with me. I want to congratulate you on your perfect game last month. What did that mean for you to accomplish something like that, especially on just 71 pitches? At what point in the game did you realize you had a perfect game going?

A: Thank you and it felt just like another day on the mound doing what I love and I realized it when I had 3 outs left.

Q: I know you have one of the best sliders in the draft and that your fastball has touched the mid-90’s. Do you consider yourself as more of a power pitcher? Also, can you speak a little on the development of your changeup?

A: I like to think of myself as more of a power pitcher and the changeup finally started coming along after many days of long tossing with the grip and playing around with it and getting use to throwing it..it became more consistent.

Q: I’ve read several articles indicating that you have a ton of confidence in your pitches. Can you touch on what makes you so confident on the mound?

A: I think that’s the biggest key is to be the most confident when you’re on the mound allowing you to throw anything in any count.

Q: I know you have committed to Texas A&M, but what would it mean for you to be drafted 27th overall by the Chicago Cubs?

A: It would just be a dream come true.

Q: Where are some areas in your game that you feel you need to get better at?

A: Just pitch consistently over and over.

Q: Do you model yourself after any current major league pitchers?

A: Justin Verlander.

Q: What is something you would want Cubs fans to know about you if your name is called come June 3rd?

A: That I’ll give my best every time I get the chance on the mound.