Chicago Cubs 2020 MLB Draft Grade and Recap

By: Will Farlow

The Chicago Cubs went into the 2020 MLB Draft with needs in pitching, infield, and outfield as they retool their farm system. Cubs rookie scout Dan Kantrovitz was thrilled did a good job of making some smart picks in his first Draft for the Chicago Cubs. Cubs fans should be excited with the five new players headed to the North side of Chicago . Here is my overall draft grade for the Cubs and some info on each of the new Chicago Cubs players.

Round 1: Pick 16 – Ed Howard  SS  Mount Carmel High School  (Illinois)

The high school shortstop is staying home in Chicago with this pick by the Cubs. This is a first round pick Cubs fans will be happy with for many years to come. Scout Dan Kantrovitz following the pick was quoted saying the team was “holding their breaths each pick from 10 to 16”. This is a smart pick by a team that can possibly lose Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, and key infield pieces in free agency in the next few years. Howard is a great defensive , contact hitting shortstop seen by many scouts as one of the best picks from the 2020 MLB Draft.  

Round 2: Pick 51 - Burl Carraway  LHP  Dallas Baptist 

I like this pick in Round 2 for the Cubs as they start to add pitching they can develop in their farm system. Scouts see Carraway as a good lefty in a MLB rotation in the future. Carraway has a nasty combination of a fastball and a curve ball sure to annoy hitters in the NL Central once he is up in the majors. I like the potential for Carraway in a future Cubs rotation.  

​Round 3: Pick 88 - Jordan Nwogu  OF  Michigan

​This is a good pick by Chicago in Round 3 as they need more outfield prospects to develop to the major league team. Nwogu is a play Kantrovitz and the rest of the Cubs front office was happy fell to them I Round 3. Scouts from the Cubs say Nwogu has a rare combo of power and good plate discipline. I think this kid could be a good piece in the Cubs farm system.  

Just got off the phone with #Cubs 3rd round pick out of Michigan OF Jordan Nwogu:

"It's just overwhelming. .... There's a lot of things that excite me. Wrigley Field, I've been there to watch games. The environment. The fan base. I think it's a really good fit for me."

— Russell Dorsey (@Russ_Dorsey1) June 12, 2020

​Round 4: Pick 117 - Luke Little  LHP  San Jacinto College

The Cubs take another left hander here in Round 4 with a development pitcher. Cubs fans will enjoy his ability to throw 105 MPH shown in a video last month of the left hander's bullpen session. Little is a tall 6'8 size , but scouts in Chicago feel improving his pitch design and mechanics properly is vital to his development.  

​Round 5: Pick 147 - Koen Moreno  RHP  Panther Creek High School  

The Cubs grab another good arm here in Round 5 taking high school right hander Koen Moreno. I like Moreno as he brings a good pitch combo of a curve ball, slider, and a mid-90s fastball. Cubs scouts feel he can be a starter in the MLB. This is a good final pick for a Cubs team in need of young pitchers to develop with an aging major league rotation.  

Cubs 1st round pick, Ed Howard vs Cubs 5th round pick, Koen Moreno

Video thanks to the awesome work over at @ProspectsLive pic.twitter.com/5KQbL6DF8S

— Greg Huss (@OutOfTheVines) June 12, 2020