Chicago Cubs: Several draft picks showing early promise

The Chicago Cubs finished their 2019 MLB Draft last month and are already starting to see several of their picks get off to a fast start.

It’s far too early to make a formal determination on this Chicago Cubs draft class, but it is encouraging to see many of their draft picks getting off on the right foot. The team selected UCLA second baseman, Chase Strumpf, in the second round of the draft. During his time at UCLA, he slashed 0.301/0.414/0.508 with 26 home runs and 121 RBI’s in three seasons.

He was ranked as the 41st best prospect in this draft, so the fact that the Cubs were able to get him with the 64th overall pick was an absolute steal. Strumpf signed his contract with the team and was sent to the Cubs rookie league in Arizona to get his feet wet. He struggled there, slashing 0.182/0.379/0.318 which is nothing out of the ordinary but he’s gotten off to a red-hot start with the Cubs short-season affiliate in Eugene.

Through 5 games, Strumpf is slashing 0.333/0.364/0.619 with 7 hits, 3 doubles, 1 home run, and 4 RBI’s. He has 7 strikeouts and just 1 walk but again, this is fairly common for young guys.

Zac Taylor is another guy that I really liked. The Cubs were able to get him in the 25th round out of Illinois and could end being a player that is a major steal. In his final season at Illinois, Taylor slashed 0.321/0.405/0.612 with 12 doubles, 3 triples, 10 home runs, 29 RBI’s, and 23 stolen bases.

He too was sent to the Cubs rookie league in Arizona, but unlike Strumpf, Taylor was red-hot down there. He slashed 0.400/0.444/0.850 with an absurd 5 home runs, 17 RBI’s and 6 stolen bases. He’s played in just 4 games with short-season Eugene so far, but has maintained his pace, slashing 0.467/0.600/0.667 with 3 doubles, 2 RBI’s, and 1 stolen base.

I was really intrigued by Taylor’s game coming out of Illinois and thought he would someday make a perfect leadoff hitter for the Cubs that they long been lacking since Dexter Fowler departed via free agency after the 2016 season.

Grayson Byrd‘s story to Clemson is extremely interesting in that he originally started at LSU, but wanted to differentiate himself from his father who also went to LSU. He ended up calling Clemson home and slashed 0.346/0.394/0.588 with 16 home runs and 59 RBI’s in his senior season.

Through a combined 12 games between the Arizona Fall League and Eugene, Byrd is slashing 0.333/0.382/0.510 with 1 home run and 11 RBI’s. He’s primarily played first base in those 12 games, but has also seen time at third base and left field, so that will be interesting to see where he ends up sticking.

Like I said before, it’s all very early on in these players’ professional development. On a personal note, I couldn’t wait for them to get going so I could keep tabs on them as they progress and get promoted. For Strumpf, Taylor, and Byrd, this is a great start for them and I hope they can keep it going.