After taking Kris Bryant with the second pick in the draft, the Cubs’ focus shifted to pitching as expected with the second round selection. The Cubs used the 41st overall pick on LHP Rob Zastryzny from the University of Missouri.
Zastryzny’s fastball tops out at 94 mph (reports during the SEC Tournament indicated that he hit 95 mph with his fastball) with excellent sinking and running life at times and his best secondary pitch is a low 80s changeup that has very good arm speed and matches his fastball in life. Zastryzny has the ability to spot the baseball low in the zone and throws a serviceable curveball that can set up hitters but does not have a lot of swing and miss to it right now.
Rob Zastryzny (ZAS-tris-knee) was Missouri’s Friday night starter and posted a 2-9 record with a 3.38 ERA. In 90 2/3 innings, he struck out 82 batters while walking only 24.
As a senior in high school, Zastryzny struck out 198 batters and posted a 0.20 ERA but the 6-foot-3, 195 pound junior was undrafted out of Corpus Christi High School in Texas.