Chicago Cubs: Cole Wilcox is risky choice with 16th overall pick

With the 16th overall pick in June’s draft, the Chicago Cubs need to take a college pitcher with a chance to make an immediate impact.

Beyond the 2020 season, the Chicago Cubs have just Kyle Hendricks and Yu Darvish in the rotation. And while Brailyn Marquez looks like the real deal, there is the strong chance that we don’t see him at Wrigley Field until 2022. That said, the Cubs don’t exactly have an overwhelming amount of pitching talent in their farm system.

While a few candidates could be considered future rotation pieces, I don’t see power pitchers that are going to become the ace or number two starter. That said, I think it’s critical for the Cubs’ brass to be top-heavy on pitching in the 2020 MLB Draft. Although the draft presents a unique challenge this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

With College Baseball being canceled for the 2020 season, MLB and the MLBPA have agreed to shorten the draft to at least five rounds. There is the potential for them to expand it to ten or more rounds in the future, but it’s going to impact how player’s approach the draft. For example, high school players on the fringe of being selected just outside the first five rounds are going to play collegiate baseball.

And likewise, upperclassmen with eligibility in the same position are going to return to school for another year. That said, the Cubs can still add tremendous value in the draft, and quite frankly, it’s time to fix the lack of pitching prospects in the farm. Depending on free agents to become assets, whether it be the rotation or the bullpen, has burned the Cubs in more ways than one.

So looking ahead to the 16th overall selection in the MLB Draft, the Cubs should take a long look at Cole Wilcox. At 6-foot-5, 232 pounds, Wilcox already has the prototypical number one starter size. The sophomore at the University of Georgia found something in the Cape Cod League between his first and second years.

Typically in this league, hitters prove to scouts they can translate their skillset to wood-bat leagues, and pitchers work on their mechanics. In 2019, Wilcox posted a 4.07 ERA in 19 appearances – including six starts – while striking out 64 batters in 59.2 innings. He had the propensity to be wild, allowing 38 walks but limited batters to a .216 average.

He cleaned up his mechanics and looked strong before Georgia’s season was shutdown. In four starts, Wilcox posted a 1.57 ERA – along with a 3-0 record – while striking out 32 batters. More importantly, he allowed just two walks in 23.0 innings and a .209 average. I would have liked to see a more proven track record that he’s beyond his mechanical issues, but that’s where we are right now.

Still, his fastball reportedly touches 100 mph, and scouts rave about both his slider and changeup. He will likely need another pitch for sustained success in the majors, but with the support of the Cubs’ pitching lab, he should be able to develop one. He’d be a risky pick, but also one that could end providing the Cubs with a much-needed “ace” pitching prospect. And another one alongside Marquez doesn’t hurt either.