​It’s another night here at BCB After Dark: the grooviest hole-in-the-wall for night owls, early risers, new parents, and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in out of the heat. The dress code is casual, and we’re always glad to see you. We’ve still got a few tables available, so pull up a chair, sip a cool drink, and feel free to bring your own beverage. BCB After Dark is the place to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it stays within the site rules. The late-nighters are encouraged to kick things off, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up and settle into the afternoon.
Last night, I asked for your pick on the best first-round Cubs selection in history, and Kris Bryant emerged as the clear winner with 53 percent of the vote. That tracks, given he was the second overall pick in the draft, making him the second-highest-drafted Cubs player in franchise history. Shawon Dunston was the only Cubs player ever taken first overall, while Mark Prior and Joe Carter were both second picks in their respective drafts. And there’s a nod to Terry Hughes from 1967 as well.
On Tuesdays, I skip the movie talk but always have time for jazz, and now is that time. Tonight we’re featuring Grammy-winning vocalist Samara Joy performing “Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most” from her New York show on June 28 of this year. Welcome back to those who skip the music, and to those who stay for it, enjoy.
As we approach Saturday’s MLB Draft, I’d like your thoughts on who the Cubs should select with the 23rd pick in the first round. Of course, I can’t promise any of these players will be available at 23, but all of them sit in roughly Baseball America’s 25th–37th range and MLB Pipeline’s 17th–40th range among draft prospects. All of them are college players, since the Cubs almost never take a high school player in the first round. These rankings don’t line up perfectly with what the Cubs or any other team has in their draft room, and some players carry “helium,” meaning their stock has risen on some boards since these lists were published. So don’t treat any ranking as gospel. Not all of these players will be around at 23, but at least one should be, and likely more than one.
Also, when a team’s first pick is at 23, you’re not going to land a flaw-free, risk-free talent. The reality is that any high-ceiling, low-risk option will be gone within the first five picks. So I’m asking what kinds of flaws you’re willing to tolerate and how much risk you’d accept. Since I suspect many of you aren’t deeply familiar with these players, I’m keeping them anonymous in the comments, though I expect those who follow college baseball to have a sense of who they might be.
Here are the choices: Player one is a left-handed pitcher with intriguing upside. Please provide your thoughts, with a minimum response of 500 words.