Chicago Cubs Draft: Vanderbilt’s Jake Eder pro comparisons

Vanderbilt starting pitcher Jake Eder could be an intriguing option for the Chicago Cubs in the second round. Whose skillset closely profiles his in MLB?

Baseball America ranks Jake Eder as the 71st best prospect in this draft class, and he presents an intriguing opportunity for the Chicago Cubs in the second round. The Ocean Ridge, Florida native gets lost in a Vanderbilt rotation that features both Kumar Rocker and Mason Hickman.

However, Eder was a regular in the weekend rotation for the Commodores and became a consistent contributor from day one on campus. During his freshman campaign, he made 11 appearances – including nine starts – and struck out 37 batters in 33.0 innings while limiting batters to a .210 average.

His command left a lot to be desired as he allowed 22 free passes, which equates to exactly six walks per nine innings. He participated in the New England Collegiate Baseball League that summer, improving his walk rate to 3..6 BB/9. Eder also struck out 34 in 25.0 innings of work.

Back on campus, he made 19 appearances as a sophomore, all out of the bullpen, and struck out 41 batters in 39.1 innings. He spun the team’s second-best ERA among relievers (2.97) and was critical in Game 3 of the College World Series, clinching the final out in Vanderbilt’s title run.

That summer, Eder participated in the Cape Cod League, making four appearances – including three starts – and struck out 15 batters in just as many innings. More importantly, he walked just four batters. He transitioned to the rotation this year, making four starts and struck out 27 batters in 20.0 innings before the shutdown.

Per BA, his command is inconsistent, as demonstrated by his issues with walks, and his pitch arsenal consists of a fastball that tops out at 96 mph and average pitches in both his curveball and changeup.

He’d be a risky pick in the second round, as scouts have noted that he struggles to repeat his delivery, but he could potentially become a dominant starter with the assistance of the Cubs’ pitching lab. He’ll need another pitch to stick in the rotation long-term. If not, he has the potential to be a high-leverage bullpen arm.

At 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, Eder has the prototypical size scouts look for in a starting pitcher. The big lefty throws from an overhead arm slot and his mechanics are correctable, which makes him such an intriguing selection in the second round

Based on his stats at Vanderbilt, he profiles closest to both Nationals’ Patrick Corbin and Marlins’ Caleb Smith.

Corbin 2019: 3.25 ERA, 7.5 H/9, 1.1 HR/9, 3.1 BB/9, 10.6 K/9

Smith 2019: 4.52 ERA, 7.5 H/9, 1.9 HR/9, 3.5 BB/9, 9.9 K/9

Eder Vanderbilt career: 4.00 ERA, 7.1 H/9, 0.7 HR/9, 4.6 BB/9, 10.2 K/9