Chicago Cubs: 5 biggest steals on Day 3 of 2019 MLB draft
By Ryan Sikes
4. Chris Kachmar, RHP (Lipscomb University)
As a relatively unknown prospect, the Chicago Cubs grabbed themselves a potential starting pitcher in the 28th round of the 2019 MLB Draft from an unlikely place. Chris Kachmar, the 6-3, 180-pound pitcher from Lipscomb University has tremendous upside.
He began his collegiate career at Fairleigh Dickinson making 16 appearances (12 starts) and threw 68.0 innings while striking out 63 batters. He did walk 41 batters though but finished with a record of 6-3 and a 3.57 ERA.
Kachmar decided Fairleigh Dickinson was not for him and transferred to a junior college in 2017. At Palm Beach State College, he served only as a reliever making 14 appearances and showed much better command. In 57.0 innings, he struck out 48 batters while walking just 19 and gave up just 1 home run.
He transferred to Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee for his junior and senior seasons. In 2018, he made 12 appearances (11 starts) and struck out 66 batters in 65.0 innings while walking just 26. This past season, his command issues reappeared but he threw the most innings of his collegiate career.
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In 94.2 innings, Kachmar struck out 94 batters, walked 41, but finished with a 9-3 record in 15 starts to the tune of a 3.61 ERA. The East Greenville, Pennsylvania native’s fastball tops out just under 90 mph but his changeup has scouts raving.