Chicago Cubs Have Signed 18 of 20 2023 Draft Picks Thus Far

The Chicago Cubs had a very solid showing in the 2023 MLB draft. With the 13th overall pick, Chicago nabbed a top-10 draft prospect in Maryland shortstop Matt Shaw. They followed that up by taking an intriguing risk on RHP Jaxon Wiggins, who was projected to be a first-round pick before losing his 2023 season to Tommy John surgery. Florida shortstop Josh Rivera, who I am really high on, came in the third round for the Cubs.

As the draft continued, Chicago continued to load up on college talent with a sprinkling of high school guys they think they can develop over the course of the next several seasons. College players tend to be easier to sign for MLB teams, but the Cubs took some risks signing players who could choose to return to college to improve their draft stock like 4th-rounder Will Sanders.

The Cubs have until July 25th to sign all of their draft picks. So far, they have already inked 18 of the 20. Here are all of the details we know about those signings.

Round 1, Pick 13: Matt Shaw, 2B, Maryland

Slot Value: $4,848,500

Status: Signed for $4,848,500

Commentary: 

As predicted, Shaw comes in right at slot value. As a junior, the future second baseman could have returned to school if he wanted, so the Cubs weren't going to be able to sign him for a figure super below the slot value. As a guy with plus contact and power, the slot value seems more than fair.

Round 2c, Pick 68: Jaxon Wiggins, RHP, Arkansas

Slot Value: $1,101,000

Status: Unsigned

Commentary: 

I was hopeful Wiggins was a guy who may come in just under slot when the Cubs drafted him. However, he was a first-round prospect before his injury, and the fact that he remains unsigned tells me that he is seeking more than his slot value. That or there are red flags with his medicals as he returns from Tommy John.

The Cubs have roughly $1.65 million left, so they have the money needed to get this done if they so desire. All things considered, I'm now anticipating Wiggins will get between $1.2 and $1.4 million. The Cubs wouldn't have drafted him this high if they didn't know whether or not they could sign him.

Round 3, Pick 81: Josh Rivera, SS, Florida

Slot Value: $872,400

Status: Signed for $725,000

Commentary: 

Rivera was a senior with the Gators, so the roughly $150,000 saved here makes a lot of sense for Chicago. His senior season was super productive, and Rivera has always had the talent of a top prospect, so I am super excited to see what he can do as a professional ball player.

Defensively, Rivera could stick at short, but he reminds me a bit of Tommy La Stella—mostly playing second with some third base sprinkled in. We will have to see. Offensively, Rivera hit .348 with 19 home runs as a senior playing in the SEC. That's stellar stuff.

Round 4, Pick 113: Will Sanders, RHP, South Carolina

Slot Value: $591,800

Status: Signed for $600,000

Commentary: 

The signing for just over slot value fits right where we thought it would for Sanders. Like second-round pick Jaxon Wiggins, Sanders was thought to be a first-round prospect before he was derailed by injury this season. He sported a mid-threes ERA as a freshman and sophomore before things sort of fell apart as a junior. If he can return to form, he has middle-rotation potential.

Round 5, Pick 149: Michael Carico, C, Davidson

Slot Value: $416,900

Status: Signed for $400,000

Commentary: 

I was pleasantly surprised to see the Cubs sign Carico for an under-slot deal. The Davidson product has an insane offensive profile after he slashed .406/.559/.843 with 21 doubles, 21 home runs, and 46 BB to just 35 SO in 2022. Carico broke his wrist early in 2023, so we didn't get to see an extended look this past season, but that offensive production seems legit. While I am not sold Carico sticks at catcher, it is certainly possible, especially looking at a backup catcher/DH type of player, and it will all depend on how Chicago develops him.

Round 6, Pick 176: Alfonsin Rosario, OF, P27 Academy (South Carolina)

Slot Value: $325,600

Status: Signed for $325,600

Commentary:

Rosario coming in right at full slot makes sense for the Cubs, and it is nice they didn't have to go over slot to sign the 19-year-old. For Rosario, it is all about the raw power, speed, and overall athleticism. At 6-foot-6 with power and a strong arm from the outfield, Rosario just needs to refine his skills to make this gamble worth it for Chicago. He's a big risk, but he was the top high school player from South Carolina for a reason. Moreover, he has the best name among the Cubs' draft picks by far.

Round 7, Pick 206: Yahil Melendez, SS, B You Academy (Puerto Rico)

Slot Value: $254,500

Status: Signed for $400,000

Commentary:

As a 7th-round pick, Melendez gets the same signing bonus that Cubs' 5th-rounder Carico did. It makes sense. The 17-year-old shortstop seems like he can stick at the position defensively, and he has time to fill out his 6-foot-3 frame. Melendez was ranked as the 2nd-best shortstop out of Puerto Rico in this draft, and the Cubs bought out his commitment to Rice. He will definitely need a lot of time to develop, but Chicago is loaded with infield prospects in their farm system, making them an ideal team to offer Melendez that time.

Round 8, Pick 236: Brett Bateman, OF, Minnesota

Slot Value: $203,600

Status: Signed for $180,000

Commentary:

As predicted, Bateman produces some savings for the Cubs so they can go over-slot with their riskier picks. Bateman is all about good defense and speed to go along with a contact bat. Yes, he produced a .351/.451/.407 slash line at Minnesota in 2023; however, his Cape Cod League performance was even more impressive. In 13 games, Bateman slashed .500/.519/.587 with 4 doubles. 

Round 9, Pick 266: Jonathon Long, 1B/3B, Long Beach State

Slot Value: $179,400

Status: Signed for $179,400

Commentary:

In 55 games as a junior, Long clubbed 15 home runs and 17 doubles. You may think he sacrificed contact for slugging, yet Long still slashed .312/.404/.600, very similar to his .312 batting average and .411 OBP as a sophomore—only he hit 9 more home runs and 9 more doubles. The contact and power profile are nice to see, and Long seems like he could step into a Low-A lineup right now and provide a solid bat.

Round 10, Pick 296: Luis Martinez-Gomez, RHP, Temple College

Slot Value: $168,300

Status: Signed for $100,000

Commentary:

A significant savings here as the Cubs nab the 20-year-old pitcher for $68,300 under slot. Martinez-Gomez is an awesome pick to me, and the savings make it that much better. The righty touched 97 with the fastball and has a decent slider and changeup to boot. With a 2.83 ERA this past season, the junior-college product could be a long-term project for the Cubs to see how they can develop him. 

Round 11, Pick 326: Zyhir Hope, OF, Colonial Forge HS (Virginia)

Status: Signed for $400,000

Commentary:

Hope seemed like he could be a tough guy to sign away from a commitment to UNC. However, his mom said he's going to sign, so no taksies-backsies. Ultimately, the Cubs signed Hope for $400,000. The lefty had a .530 batting average and .663 OBP this past season in high school, hitting 9 home runs and stealing 29 bases. He will be another long-term project as the Cubs build up his profile, and we are waiting on the final figure to make Hope the 18th player signed by the Cubs from this draft.

Round 12, Pick 326: Carter Trice, 2B, North Carolina State

Status: Signed for $150,000

Commentary:

Trice just reminds me of a guy who is going to grind. He is here to play baseball, play more baseball, and then play some more. The 20-year-old started his collegiate career at Old Dominion where he hit a combined 31 home runs over two seasons. After transferring to NC State, Trice saw a significant decline in his production, slashing .248/.348/.479 with 6 long balls. Still, in 7 Cape Cod games this summer, Trice slashed .300/.462/.500 with a home run and an even 6 BB to 6 SO. The potential for solid offensive production is clearly there.

Round 13, Pick 386: Sam Armstrong, RHP, Old Dominion

Status: Unsigned 

Commentary:

It is reported that Armstrong intends to sign his contract with the Cubs; however, we haven't heard from his mom yet, so we're still saying he is unsigned. In 15 starts in 2023, Armstrong produced a 3.51 ERA and an 8.4 SO9 which, you know, is very decent. Likely, Armstrong's two Cape Cod starts got his name called here. In 10 innings pitched over those two starts, Armstrong didn't allow an earned run, gave up a single hit, walked just 3, and struck out 13. 

Round 14, Pick 416: Grayson Moore, RHP, Vanderbilt

Status: Signed for $150,000

Commentary:

A reliever for Vanderbilt most of the time, Moore produced out of the bullpen as a junior in 2023 after getting knocked around during his first two seasons. This past season, Moore had a 3.08 ERA and struck out an impressive 36 in 26.1 innings pitched. His WHIP of 1.139 was by far the best of his collegiate career, so he is taking that and running with it for a $150,000 pay day with the Cubs. 

Round 15, Pick 446: Ty Johnson, RHP, Ball State

Status: Signed for $125,000

Commentary:

Johnson got picked here by the Cubs because they think they can take his stuff (which is good) and turn it into results (which have not been very good). Johnson had his best collegiate season in 2023 with a 4.53 ERA in 16 games (10 starts). Over his 53.2 innings pitched, the 6-foot-6 righty did strike out 68, but his command was iffy at best. Johnson walked 31 and had a 1.360 WHIP. Chicago must feel they can help him figure out that command in the pitch lab.

Round 16, Pick 476: Daniel Brown, LHP, Campbell

Status: Signed for $150,000

Commentary:

If you thought Ty Johnson was a pitcher with iffy command that the Cubs think they can figure out, just wait until you read about Daniel Brown. Brown's stat line is hilarious. In 2022, he had an ERA of infinite. He gave up 4 runs on 4 walks, 2 BB, and 5 wild pitches over two appearances without recording an out. To be fair, he also did not give up a hit. So, you know, there's that.

In 2023, Brown improved his ERA substantially to just 54.00. In 4 games (1.0 IP), Brown had 4 wild pitches, 9 walks, and 3 strikeouts while giving up 6 earned runs. Again, he did not give up a single hit... because no one ever really needed to swing against him. So why was Brown drafted? He throws 101. 

Round 17, Pick 506: Ethan Flanagan, LHP, UCLA

Status: Signed for $150,000

Commentary:

Honestly, I was surprised that Flanagan signed. As a sophomore who got rocked a bit, Flanagan could have returned to school and tried to improve his draft stock. Instead, the Cubs got him for $150,000 in the 17th. As a freshman, Flanagan pitched mostly out of the bullpen and produced a 3.28 ERA and striking out 76 in 60.1 IP. He did struggle a bit with command, walking 4.2 per 9 innings, but he was—overall—really good. 

As a sophomore, Flanagan had a 5.12 ERA in 9 games (6 starts). I want to see Chicago try him as a starter. He profiles as one. Flanagan has a low-90s fastball to pair with a curveball and a changeup that need to be further developed. 

Round 18, Pick 536: Brian Kalmer, 3B, Gonzaga

Status: Signed for $50,000

Commentary:

Kalmer barely saw the field while playing at Arizona State during his freshman and sophomore seasons. Following that, he went the JUCO route before transferring to Gonzaga where he broke out this past season. In 2023, Kalmer slashed .358/.454/.682 while producing 15 home runs, 16 doubles, and 2 triples. Kalmer could slide over to first base long term, but he's still a great value pick toward the end of the draft.

Round 19, Pick 566: Nick Dean, RHP, Maryland

Status: Signed for $75,000

Commentary:

Consistency will be key for unlocking Dean in the Cubs' farm system. The 6-foot-3 righty looked like a star on the rise during his freshman and sophomore seasons with Maryland as he produced a 3.93 and 2.87 ERA, respectively, in limited action as an underclassman.

Injuries and inconsistency limited Dean's progression, though. After producing a 4.57 ERA in 15 starts as a junior, Dean had a tough 5.54 ERA in his 15 senior starts. Dean has a really good changeup when it is on, and he has shown the ability to throw swing-and-miss stuff. Chicago just needs to determine how to help him not get hit so much. 

Round 20, Pick 596: Drew Bowser, 3B, Stanford

Status: Signed for $150,000

Commentary:

Bowser reminds me a bit of Patrick Wisdom in that he's a corner infielder with a strong arm, great power, and a propensity to swing and miss. Bowser had 18 home runs as a sophomore before hitting another 14 as a junior. He also struck out 158 times over those two seasons. If the Cubs can maintain the bat speed and natural power with a better contact profile, Bowser could be a sneaky steal here.