The Cubs focused on pitching in the second day of the draft. After taking Mark Zagunis, a catcher from Virginia Tech in the third round, the Cubs used their next seven picks on pitchers. The Cubs selected seven pitchers (four right handers, three left handers) on Friday and have used eight of their first ten picks in the draft to add pitching to the system.
If the Cubs are able to sign all three prep pitchers, the additions of LHP Carson Sands, LHP Justin Steele and RHP Dylan Cease could pay dividends for the Cubs down the line. Selecting the three high school pitchers in the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds will take over-slot bonuses to sign them but as Patrick Ebert said, it could turn out to be a good haul for the Cubs.
The Cubs went pitching heavy in the second day of the draft and John Manuel thinks if they can sign their picks, the Cubs had a big day.
According to Chris Cotillo, the Cubs have already signed Mark Zagunis, the team’s third round pick, with an under-slot deal for $615,000. The Cubs should be agreeing to under-slot deals with first round pick Kyle Schwarber and second round pick Jake Stinnett in the coming days. The high school pitchers might take up to the signing deadline, which is July 18 this year.
C Mark Zagunis (Virginia Tech) – Third Round (78th Overall)
Mark Zagunis is 6-foot, 205 pounds and hits and throws from the right side. Zagunis is athletic, and more so than most college catchers. The former high school quarterback was second on his team in stolen bases with his plus-speed.
Zagunis will take a walk and his line-drive approach should allow him to hit for average. His combination of speed and power was labeled as impressive.
MLB.com Scouting Grades – Hit: 45 | Power: 40 | Run: 55 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45
Defensively, Zagunis is considered below-average behind the plate. According to Baseball America, “he needs reps receiving and blocking, and his above-average arm strength hasn’t translated to throwing out base stealers.” Zagunis has thrown out less than 20 percent of would be base stealers over his college career. Zagunis started 28 of 62 games behind the plate in 2013, the other games were spent in corner outfield spots. If the Cubs do not feel he can be taught how to be a better backstop, he can play the outfield.
In 53 games this spring, Mark Zagunis hit .330/.426/.426 with 10 doubles, three triples, two home runs, 32 walks, 20 strikeouts and a .852. Zagunis hit nine home runs in 2013. The lack of protection in the lineup was the reason given for drop in home runs this spring.
Mark Zagunis has reportedly agreed to a $615,000 signing bonus.
Third Round Slot Allotment – $714,900
LHP Carson Sands (North Christian HS – Florida) – Fourth Round (109th Overall)
Carson Sands has very good stuff and now that the Cubs have drafted him, they will have to sign him and it could take as much as double the slot allotment to get him to forgo college for professional baseball.
The lefty is 6-foot-2, 205 pounds with a good pitcher’s build “with room to get stronger.”
MLB.com Scouting Grades – Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45
The 19-year old has touched 95 mph on the gun with his fastball and he showed better feel for his changeup this past spring. Sands’ breaking ball (12-6 curveball) has average potential, flashing above-average. According to Baseball America, Sands repeats his delivery and can throw strikes with all three of his pitches.
Carson Sands has committed to Florida State.
Fourth Round Slot Allotment – $480,600
LHP Justin Steele (George County HS – Mississippi) – Fifth Round (139th Overall)
Justin Steele throws his fastball in the 88-92 mph range and can run it up to 94-95 mph. Steele had issues maintaining his velocity a year ago, but was reportedly more consistent with his velocity this spring.
MLB.com Scouting Grades – Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45
The 18-year old southpaw is 6-foot-1, 180-pounds with a lean, athletic build. Steele hides the ball well and has a quick arm. Steele’s velocity has a tendency to fall into the 85-87 mph range in the later innings of his games. He throws a changeup that is ahead of his breaking ball, “a slow, looping curveball that needs a lot of work.”
Justin Steele broke his left wrist last summer and had a screw inserted to repair it according to Baseball America. Steele played his high school ball on Claude Passeau Field, named after the former Cubs pitcher.
Fifth Round Slot Allotment – $359,900
RHP Dylan Cease (Milton HS – Milton GA) – Sixth Round (169th Overall)
Dylan Cease “is one of the hardest throwing high school pitchers in the 2014 draft class” according to MLB.com. Cease suffered an elbow injury this spring and is trying to avoid Tommy John surgery. There are reports that he tried PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) therapy.
Cease was throwing his fastball in the upper 90s before his injury in March. Cease was sitting in the 92-95 mph range and touched 98 mph.
MLB.com Scouting Grades – Fastball: 65 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50
When Cease is right, the ball jumps out of his hand and his curveball has shown flashes of being an above-average pitch. Cease also throws a changeup that shows average potential.
Dylan Cease is a Vanderbilt commit and the Cubs will have to go over-slot to sign him.
Sixth Round Slot Allotment – $269,500
RHP James Norwood (St. Louis University) – Seventh Round (199th Overall)
James Norwood reportedly has a big-time arm and can hit 94-95 mph on the gun with his fastball (several reports have him touching 97 mph). Norwood is considered a “little raw” but he has a feel for his changeup to go along with a very strong build.
MLB.com Scouting Grades – Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound right hander was projected to be drafted in rounds three to five “after displaying one of the best fastballs among college starter in this year’s class.”
One of the youngest college pitchers in the draft, Norwood could end up as a starter in the big leagues, but he projects slightly better in the backend of a bullpen with his power arm.
James Norwood was 8-2 with a 2.68 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP in 15 starts this spring with 64 strikeouts and 28 walks.
Seventh Round Slot Allotment – $201,900
LHP Tommy Thorpe (Oregon) – Eighth Round (229th Overall)
The Cubs selected lefty Tommy Thorpe in the eighth round. The junior from Oregon is 6-foot, 195-pounds and throws his fastball in the upper-80s and can run it up into the low-90s. Thorpe features a curveball and a changeup that sits in the 77-81 mph range. Thorpe’s breaking ball and changeup have been described as plus pitches.
Thorpe was 11-4 in 16 starts with a 2.14 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP this spring that included 90 strikeouts in 105 innings with 33 walks. Thorpe was Oregon’s Friday starter this past spring.
Tommy Thorpe understands how to pitch and projects as a reliever.
Eighth Round Slot Allotment – $161,800
RHP James Farris (Arizona) – Ninth Round (259th Overall)
James Farris was projected to go in the first 10 rounds of the draft, and the Cubs took him in the ninth round. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound right hander does not have big stuff and knows it according to Baseball America. Farris depends on his command and has been a durable starter.
Farris throws his fastball in the 85-89 mph range and features a changeup, which was described as his best pitch. Farris adds and subtracts with his fastball to get more life and also throws a curveball that might not be effective in pro ball.
James Farris was 6-6 in 16 games, 15 starts, this spring with a 3.40 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. In 113 2/3 innings, he allowed 46 runs, 43 earned, on 113 hits with 19 walks and 100 strikeouts.
The Astros selected Farris in the 15th round of last year’s draft. Farris decided to return to Arizona for his senior year instead of going pro. The Cubs could sign Farris to an under-slot deal.
Ninth Round Slot Allotment – $151,000
RHP Ryan Williams (East Carolina) – Tenth Round (289th Overall)
Ryan Williams was a teammate of Jeff Hoffman at East Carolina. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound senior received rave reviews about his makeup. Scouting information for Ryan Williams was not available.
Ryan Williams was 11-3 in 32 games this past spring with a 1.81 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. In 99 2/3 innings, Williams allowed 20 earned runs on 88 hits with 11 walks and 76 strikeouts.
Tenth Round Slot Allotment – $141,000
The Cubs signing bonus pool for the first 10 rounds of this year’s draft is $8,352,200 million. If the Cubs sign a player in rounds 11-40 for more than $100,000, the excess is counted against the team’s bonus pool. If the Cubs draft a player in the first 10 rounds they are unable sign, the assigned slot value is removed from their bonus pool allotment.
If a team exceeds its draft pool by 0-5 percent it receives a 75 percent tax on the overage. If a team exceeds its bonus pool allotment by more than five percent and up to 10 percent, the penalty is the loss of a first round pick and a 75 percent tax on the overage. If a team exceeds its bonus pool by 10-15 percent, the penalty is the loss of a first and second round pick, plus 100 percent tax on the overage. If a team exceeds its bonus pool by more than 15 percent, the penalty is two first round draft picks and 100 percent tax on the overage.
The 2014 First-Year Player Draft concludes on Saturday with rounds 11-40. Day three of the draft begins at 12:00pm CDT.