​The Cubs face mounting pressure to hit on the 23rd overall pick in the draft, a storyline highlighted by The Sporting News. The Chicago club sits in the thick of the National League Central, having navigated a season of constant rotation changes while still staying competitive. As of Thursday’s games, Chicago stood in second place in the division, six games behind the Milwaukee Brewers, keeping hope alive that the team can close the gap. Yet, while the on-field performance remains important, the front office is already turning its attention to the MLB Draft, where the Cubs hold the No. 23 overall selection. It may not be a premier pick, but talent can still be found early in the draft, and there should be strong players available as teams begin to shape the next generation of rosters.
In the previous year, the Cubs selected 17th overall and used that pick to choose Wake Forest outfielder Ethan Conrad, marking a continued preference for developing position players alongside their other organizational goals. The club has not yet selected a pitcher in the first round since 2022, when Cade Horton went seventh overall, signaling a potential strategic shift if the Cubs decide to prioritize pitching once again this time around. Bleacher Report analyst Zachary D. Rymer has suggested that the Cubs should return to the well and pursue another college arm with their first-round pick, arguing that the 23rd slot presents a favorable window for a college pitcher to break into the rotation sooner rather than later.
Rymer notes that the Cubs own four picks inside the top 100, but there is a significant gap between their first pick at No. 23 and their second at No. 62. With such a large difference between the two early selections, there is a lot riding on that first pick to set the tone for the organization’s longer-term trajectory. He argues that the best path to hitting on that pick is likely to be by drafting a college pitcher, one who can transition quickly to the majors and contribute at a high level as soon as possible. The prospect pool in the 20s appears deep enough that the Cubs should avoid reaching and instead target a player who can deliver an impact right away or within a short developmental timeline.
In this context, a potential target like Tennessee right-handed pitcher Tegan Kuhns stands out. Projected to come off the board somewhere in the 20s, Kuhns has shown enough stuff to position him as a frontline starter if he continues to develop and adds a reliable third pitch. The notion of selecting a college pitcher with the No. 23 overall pick aligns with a broader strategy that emphasizes immediate impact and rapid progression through the minor league system, especially given the Cubs’ current needs and the recent history of the organization’s drafts. The conversation around the No. 23 pick is about balancing risk and reward, leveraging the depth of the college arms in the draft’s early portion, and ensuring that the choice accelerates the team’s return to contention.
As the draft approaches, the chatter around the Cubs’ pick continues to emphasize the possibility of selecting a college pitcher who can contribute quickly and help stabilize a rotation that has seen plenty of upheaval this season. The Sporting News, among other outlets, has framed the discussion around the strategic choices facing Chicago at this pivotal moment. With a wide array of prospect talent available in the draft’s 20s range, the Cubs’ decision at No. 23 could shape the club’s competitive window for years to come, underscoring why this draft pick carries heightened significance for a franchise aiming to sustain success in a crowded division.