The organization that had the best collection of position players many in the game had ever seen in one system before the season started added two more bats with the selections of OF/2B Ian Happ and OF Donnie Dewees.
The Cubs selected two of the top college bats with the team’s first two picks in the 2015 First-Year Player Draft.
OF/2B Ian Happ was considered by some as the best pure hitter in the draft. While there are questions about where he will play in the field, the switch-hitter has an excellent swing from both sides and should hit at the highest level.
OF Donnie Dewees could be the Cubs’ leadoff hitter and center fielder one day. Baseball Prospectus liked this pick for the Cubs in the second round and said some dropped a 65 hit tool on him.
Jason McLeod admitted the Cubs liked RHP Dillon Tate (Rangers), LHP Tyler Jay (Twins) and RHP Carson Fulmer (White Sox), the three pitchers selected before the Cubs drafted Happ with the ninth pick. The Cubs also did their homework on LHP Brady Aiken. The Indians took the gamble with Aiken when they drafted him with the No. 17 pick.
According to a report from Comcast SportsNet, Casey Close is Happ’s advisor. Close also represents Kyle Schwarber.
The Sun-Times was the first to report the Cubs will likely try to sign Happ to an under-slot deal. Each of a team’s picks in the first 10 rounds is assigned a value. If a player signs for less than his slot allotment, the draft pool money saved on that pick can be used to sign other players. The Cubs signed Kyle Schwarber, Jake Stinnett and Mark Zagunis to under-slot deals last year and used the bonus pool money saved on the first three picks to sign LHP Carson Sands, LHP Justin Steele and RHP Dylan Cease.
Jason McLeod said the possibility of signing Ian Happ to an under-slot deal was not the reason the Cubs drafted him in the first round. The Cubs have an idea of what it will take to sign him, simply said if they didn’t the Cubs would not have drafted him.
McLeod is hoping to get Happ signed and in the system pretty soon.
Ian Happ said he likes what he has heard about the Cubs’ organization from players like Kyle Schwarber. Happ is willing to play wherever the Cubs ask him to. Happ admitted that while he was at Wrigley taking batting practice prior to the draft, he was trying to hit the construction workers in the bleachers.
The Cubs are expected to focus on pitching during day two, and there is one very interesting name that is still available.
Assigned Pick Values for the Cubs first 10 rounds:
- Round One (Pick #9) – $3,351,000
- Round Two (Pick #47) – $1,292,100
- Round Three (Pick #82) – $731,000
- Round Four (Pick #113) – $503,100
- Round Five (Pick #143) – $376,700
- Round Six (Pick #173) – $281,900
- Round Seven (Pick #203) – $211,300
- Round Eight (Pick #233) – $174,200
- Round Nine (Pick #263) – $162,800
- Round Ten (Pick #293) – $152,000
2015 MLB Draft Schedule
- Day One – Monday, June 8 – Round One, Comp A, Round Two, Comp B
- Day Two – Tuesday, June 9 (11:30am CDT) – Rounds 3-10
- Day Three – Wednesday, June 10 (11:00am CDT) – Rounds 11-40
Cubs 2015 Draft Results
- Round One (Pick #9) – OF/2B Ian Happ
- Round Two (Pick #47) – OF Donnie Dewees
- Round Three (Pick #82) – LHP Bryan Hudson
- Round Four (Pick #113) – OF D.J. (Darryl) Wilson
- Round Five (Pick #143) – LHP Ryan Kellogg
- Round Six (Pick #173) – RHP David Berg
- Round Seven (Pick #203) – RHP Craig Brooks
- Round Eight (Pick #233) – RHP Preston Morrison
- Round Nine (Pick #263) – LHP Tyler Peitzmeier
- Round Ten (Pick #293) – SS Vimael Machin
Will update throughout the second day of the First-Year Player Draft to include the players the Cubs take in rounds 3-10. A recap of the Cubs’ day two selections will posted, along with a full report on the player the Cubs select in the third round.