CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 15: A Chicago Cubs grounds crew member cleans off the Chicago Cubs logo prior to game one of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field on October 15, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
The two newest members of the Chicago Cubs farm system, should they elect to sign, were added on Monday, June 3, as the 2019 MLB Draft held its first 78 picks.
Selecting in the first and second rounds, the Cubs made Fresno State right-handed pitcher Ryan Jensen and UCLA second baseman Chase Strumpf their choices. Both come to the Cubs having shown their potential in their amateur careers.
Ryan Jensen, First Round, 27th Overall
Jensen was the ninth pitcher taken Monday night, and the sixth right-hander, as a new MLB record was set with the first six picks all being position players. He’s the first Fresno State pitcher to go in the first round since 2008 and the first Fresno State player at any position to be taken in the first round since 2015. Though he was the Bulldogs’ Friday night starter, his path to the majors may be in the bullpen.
The 6-foot, 180-pound Salinas, Calif. native allowed 82 hits and 36 runs while issuing 27 walks in 100 innings as a junior. His 14-2 record came courtesy of 107 strikeouts and just three home runs allowed. Though he was ranked just 109th in the pool of 2019 draft prospects, the Cubs must have been high on his fastball velocity, which showed 97-98 miles per hour deep into games. The move shouldn’t surprise anyone given the track record of the current front office for the Cubs.
Jensen is the sixth consecutive college pitcher the Cubs have taken with their first pick and the second in three years. He is also the second Fresno State player to be drafted by the Cubs in the past three years. Jensen’s college career hasn’t finished yet, as the Bulldogs are still alive for a berth in the College World Series, so Cubs fans will have to wait to see if Jensen signs. He is slotted to make $2.57 million in his first professional contract based on where he was drafted, though the Cubs are free to sign him for less should he agree.
Chase Strumpf, Second Round, 64th Overall
Staying in Calif., the Cubs got a steal according to the prospect rankings by taking Strumpf with their second pick. The 6’1″ 120-pounder was ranked the 41st-best prospect coming into Monday night and largely because of his bat. He led the Bruins in most offensive categories from the right-hand side of the plate as a sophomore then eventually continued his progress as a junior. Hitting .285 with 44 runs driven in and 46 walks, if he decides to forego his senior year and enter the Cubs’ minor-league system he will profile as an offensive second baseman with occasional power who has good plate discipline and therefore a high on-base percentage. Should Strumpf sign, he is slotted to receive as much as $1.05 million on his first professional contract.
Cubs Pick Schedule
The draft resumes on Tuesday, June 4, with rounds 3-10 at 1 p.m. ET. Rounds 11-40 will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 5. Full coverage will be available on MLB.com. The Cubs may pass on any of their slotted selections and still make picks later should they elect to. The scheduled selections for the rest of the draft for the Cubs are:
Tuesday, June 4
3rd round – 103 overall
4th round- 132 overall
5th round – 162 overall
6th round – 192 overall
7th round – 222 overall
8th round – 252 overall
9th round – 282 overall
10th round – 312 overall
Wednesday, June 5
11th round – 342 overall
12th round – 372 overall
13th round – 402 overall
14th round – 432 overall
15th round – 462 overall
16th round – 492 overall
17th round – 522 overall
18th round – 552 overall
19th round – 582 overall
20th round – 612 overall
21st round – 642 overall
22nd round – 672 overall
23rd round – 702 overall
24th round – 732 overall
25th round – 762 overall
26th round – 792 overall
27th round – 822 overall
28th round – 852 overall
29th round – 882 overall
30th round – 912 overall
31st round – 942 overall
32nd round – 972 overall
33rd round – 1,002 overall
34th round – 1,032 overall
35th round – 1,062 overall
36th round – 1,092 overall
37th round – 1,122 overall
38th round – 1,152 overall
39th round – 1,182 overall
40th round – 1,212 overall
Several of the Cubs’ 40 selections in 2019 will never wear a Cubs uniform but some will, and for those who do, their time playing for the Cubs will have begun with the 2019 MLB Draft.