Chicago Cubs: 5 biggest steals on Day 3 of 2019 MLB draft
By Ryan Sikes
Heading into the final day of the 2019 MLB Draft, the Chicago Cubs added some solid prospects. Let’s look at the five best steals of Day 3.
The Chicago Cubs addressed several needs with the first 10 picks of the 2019 MLB Draft and primarily went heavy on the relief pitchers. It’s no secret that the Cubs need bullpen help and recently bolstered the back end of it by signing free-agent closer, Craig Kimbrel.
The team took Fresno State Ryan Jensen with their first-round pick. He was a starter for the Bulldogs but scouts like him better as a back-end of the bullpen guy. They grabbed UCLA’s second basemen Chase Strumpf in the second round, who promptly smacked a home run in the NCAA Los Angeles Regionals immediately after being selected.
They likely found their future closer in the third round in Louisville’s Michael McAvene who throws an easy 100 mph fastball with tailing action. Chris Clarke out of USC was the team’s fourth-round pick and figures to be a contributor in the bullpen as well.
In Round 6, the team drafted arguably the best high school catching prospect in Ethan Hearn. He has reportedly already signed with the Cubs, forgoing his commitment to Mississippi State. The team grabbed a lefty starting pitcher in DJ Herz in the 8th round, whose fastball and curveball are already well ahead of schedule.
Herz has a commitment to North Carolina in the fall, so it will be interesting to see if he signs with the team. Perhaps the biggest steal in the first 10 picks is North Florida’s right-hander Brad Deppermann. He was drafted in the 7th round and threw 95.0 innings with 108 strikeouts to just 24 walks and allowed opponents to bat just 0.217 off him last season.
The Atlantic Sun Conference pitcher of the year was a unanimous ASUN first-team all-conference player and has a good chance at being a solid Major League pitcher. His fastball already touches 94 mph and as Deppermann matures, he could add a few more notches to that velocity.
Let’s take a look at who the five biggest steals were in Rounds 11-40.