"The Chicago Cubs do not draft in the first round based on big league need, because doing so would be quite silly - you can't project that far out, realistically speaking, and you might forgo total value in exchange for some imagined future need. In the first round, the Cubs (and all smart organizations) draft based on projected future value, likelihood of success, total cost relative to the impact on the bonus pool, etc., etc."
"Where positional considerations MIGHT come into play are things like organizational expertise (maybe you feel you're better at scouting and developing certain types of players), or in contemplation of the value in the draft as a whole (for example, you might take the strength of the draft as a tiebreaker in the first round if you think you can load up in other ways later on)."
"All that said, do you allow organizational needs to impact your decision in the first round? You obviously do in the later rounds, and I think it probably does have at least a slight impact in the first round as well. The Cubs would never draft a clearly inferior player in the first round solely because he's a pitcher and the system is hyper thin on impact-caliber pitching prospects. But if it's a close call and you can get a pitcher you really like at your preferred price tag? Yeah, I could see that."
"MLB Pipeline's first mock of the season sends the Cubs Florida righty Liam Peterson: "23. Cubs: Liam Peterson, RHP, Florida (No. 14)Peterson can miss bats with four different offerings and looks worthy of a top-10 selection at his best, but he lacks feel for pitching. The hope is that he'll be better in pro ball than he has been at Florida (career 4.97 ERA).""
The Cubs do not draft in the first round based on big league need because projecting that far ahead is unrealistic and could reduce total value. First-round selections are driven by projected future value, likelihood of success, and total cost relative to the bonus pool impact. Positional considerations can matter through organizational expertise in scouting and developing certain player types, or by using draft strength as a tiebreaker when other ways of adding talent are planned later. Organizational needs influence later rounds and may slightly affect the first round. The Cubs would not choose a clearly inferior player solely because the system lacks pitching prospects, but they could take a pitcher they strongly prefer at the right price in a close decision. Recent 2026 mock drafts from MLB Pipeline and Baseball America both project the Cubs selecting a college pitcher in the first round, including Liam Peterson from Florida.
Read at Bleacher Nation
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