​The Chicago Cubs entered the 2026 MLB Draft with a clear goal in mind: to take as many pitchers as possible.It’s fair to say they accomplished that goal.The Cubs took 16 pitches in this year’s draft. They started off by selecting Ole Miss starting pitcher Cade Townsend in the first round (23rd overall) and proceeded to select 11 pitchers with their first 13 picks.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPitching was a big need for Chicago entering this draft. Only one pitcher in the organization (Jaxon Wiggins) is ranked as a top-9 prospect in the system, and pitchers like Kaleb Wing (2025 draftee) and Dominick Reid (2025 draftee) are still a few years away from the big leagues.That forced the front office to take pitchers all throughout the draft. While each of the 16 pitchers that Chicago selected is different in their own way, most of them share a common characteristic. They can spin the ball.The Cubs were obviously targeting specific types of pitchers in this year’s draft. It appears the front office was really focused on adding pitchers who can spin the ball rather than other potential traits.Townsend has an elite spin on all of his pitches. He had a plus spin rate on his four-seam fastball, slider, and curveball throughout his college career. That helped him finish with a 3.94 ERA and a 31.9% strikeout rate in his final college campaign at Ole Miss.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Cubs then went on to select Carson Jasa (3rd round), Dylan Marionneaux (4th round), and Dylan Blomker (5th round) with their next three pitcher picks. All three of these pitchers are praised for having a high spin rate.Jasa is known for having a high-spinning curveball. This pitch is often spinning at 2,700-2,900+ RPM. For context, an average RPM on a curveball in the big leagues sits around 2,500 RPM. That high RPM on his curveball helped him strike out 117 batters over 87 ⅔ innings at Nebraska this past college season.Marionneaux has a crazy spin on his cutter/slider offering, and Blomker is known for his elite spin on his breaking balls. Blomker’s slider can even reach up to 3000 RPM, which is elite.The high-spin rate pitchers didn’t stop there, though. The Cubs selected Isaac Morton (6th round), Lance Williams (8th round), and Chase Meyer (9th) in the early rounds. All three of those pitchers fit the theme.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMeyer actually has one of the best spin rates in this year’s draft. His slider usually comes in around 3,200 RPM, placing him among the top spin throwers in the entire class.The Cubs clearly entered the 2026 MLB Draft looking for pitchers who can spin the ball. They accomplished exactly that, as the front office took high-spin rate pitchers with seven of their first 10 picks.