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Re-Grading Every Cubs First Round Pick Under Jed Hoyer

An A+ in 2013? An F in 2017? Hindsight is 20/20, but the Cubs can learn a thing or two from it.

By Zoe Grossman

Jed Hoyer, Cubs President of Baseball Operations, speaks on the phone before a game at Wrigley Field
Jed Hoyer, Cubs President of Baseball Operations, speaks on the phone before a game at Wrigley Field / Griffin Quinn/GettyImages
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2013: 3B Kris Bryant, 2nd Overall

Grade: A+

Bryant, a crown jewel in the Cubs' 2012-2016 rebuild, is undoubtedly the most valuable draftee of Hoyer's Cubs career. A World Series ring along with MVP and Rookie of the Year accolades is more than enough to earn the Cubs the highest mark of honor for drafting and developing him.

While Bryant may now seem like a shell of himself with the Rockies, Cubs fans shouldn't forget how monumental he was. He is one of 30 players all-time to win both a ROY and MVP, and he's one of just four to win the two awards in back-to-back seasons.

From his trade to the Giants in 2021, the Cubs received prospects Alexander Canario and Caleb Kilian - which was far from Hoyer's best work.

Outfielder Canario has shown flashes of brilliance in his few appearances with the Cubs but has yet to get a real shot.

Kilian has struggled massively with the Cubs, posting a 12.42 ERA in 16.2 IP before going to the 60-Day IL with a shoulder strain early this season.

2014: C Kyle Schwarber, 4th Overall

Grade: B

Schwarber missed nearly all of his sophomore season in 2016 with a torn ACL and LCL, but he got his storybook ending when he came back just in time for the World Series to slash .412/.500/.471 with a .971 OPS.

It's a shame that the NL DH wasn't a thing during Schwarber's Cubs tenure: his -10.2 defensive WAR is a massive difference from his 19.5 figure on the offensive side. It didn't help that he had to convert to the outfield from catcher, two positions requiring vastly different defensive skill sets.

This meant Schwarber could never quite be a complete player for the Cubs. His power, though, is something that the current lineup is sorely missing.

Schwarber led the NL in home runs in 2022, and he hit 47 last season. In retrospect, it looks bad on the Cubs to let him walk after one bad season in 2020. He is now playing some of the best baseball of his career on the MLB's best team, which sure stings to watch for many Cubs faithful.

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