According to a report from Scout.com, the Cubs released former first round draft pick Ryan Harvey on Tuesday. Harvey was drafted with the sixth overall pick in 2003 from Dunedin High School in Florida. In six seasons in the Cubs’ system Harvey was never promoted past the Double-A level.
Ryan Harvey compiled a career batting average of .247 in 471 games with a career .298 OBP. Harvey was ranked as high as third in the Cubs’ organization by Baseball America in 2004 and 2005…and eighth in both 2006 and 2007. Ryan Harvey possessed “some of the rawest power in the Cubs’ system” and was “blessed with one of the strongest arms” in the system. Due to his inability to hit, the Cubs’ talked about “auditioning Harvey on the mound“…Harvey pitched in high school.
Ryan Harvey became the latest first rounder to be released by the Cubs….Brian Dopirak in 2008 and Bobby Brownlie, Chadd Blasko, Luke Hagerty and Matt Clanton in 2007.
According to Scout.com, the Cubs paid Ryan Harvey $2.4 million when they signed him in 2003.
Ryan Harvey’s Page on the Baseball Cube