I’ve been critical of the several previous draft classes run by Jason McLeod under the Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer regime for their lack of focus on power arms and bats. I understand going safe with some picks, but they had a tendency to go safe on all but a couple of picks per year. Sure, they’d roll the dice on an overslot prep arm or bat in the middle rounds every year, but that seemed to be about as far as they would stick their neck out. That approach, more than anything, is what is responsible for the lack of success the Cubs have had developing players chosen outside the 1st round over the last eight years.

They recognized their mistake two years ago and began to draft for greater upside in a handful of picks in each of those drafts, but it seems clear after new VP Dan Kantrovitz finished his first draft last night, he is not going to be near as conservative. After choosing the top prospect at the premium infield spot in the 1st round on Wednesday, he transitioned toward a focus on bigtime power arm and bat upside with his final four selections on Thursday.

2nd Round

LHP Burl Carraway – Dallas Baptist

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 173 | B-T: L-L

A wiry strong lefty with one of the top fastball-curve combos in the draft class, the only reason Burl Carraway didn’t go in the 1st round is he is limited to a relief role. But he is considered the premier reliever in the class and potential closer. His

The Cubs select Burl Carraway, a lefthander from Dallas Baptist with the 51st pick. Here’s his full scouting report: https://t.co/zRMt2mulbP pic.twitter.com/lpQi6otvUy

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) June 11, 2020

Mid-to-upper-90s heat and hard-biting curve allow him to blow hitters away with regularity. They are both nasty (70 grade each). Carraway has only thrown 41.2 career innings, but he’s recorded 72 punchouts in that time. He struck out more than half of the left-handed batters he faced in 2019.

Kyle Peterson says that Burl Carraway is capable of being in the #Cubs bullpen this year. High velocity and a big curveball from the left side. pic.twitter.com/VBclrvgDM1

— Matt Clapp (@TheBlogfines) June 11, 2020

His delivery has some effort, and there are issues throwing strikes (39 BB). If there is one thing that could hold him back from fulfilling a late inning role it is that. His fastball and curve should play against hitters from both sides.

3rd Round

LF Jordan Nwogu – Michigan

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 235 | B-T: R-R

There aren’t many size, speed, strength combos from the collegiate ranks than Jordan Nwogu. He’s produced well, mostly serving as Michigan’s leadoff man, but there is untapped power potential. He’s already begun making adjustments to his swing, but he figures to be a work in progress for a while. His swing is geared to go the other way, so he’ll need to learn to turn on the ball more in order to unlock all of his power.

Here are some swings over time from Jordan Nwogu, borrowed from our friends @TheProsPipeline @d1baseball @2080ball @tedcahill. The first two from 2019. The third from Feb 2020, the last from Nwogu’s final weekend. Lots of changes to set-up and load, clearly takes well to coaching pic.twitter.com/HctcKasm51

— Cubs Prospects – Bryan Smith (@cubprospects) June 12, 2020

.@Cubs 3rd round pick Jordan Nwogu has serious pop

(via @umichbaseball)pic.twitter.com/Fb0Z9KwbOJ

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) June 12, 2020

His defense is not considered a strength. There is a history of adventurous routes. Michigan had good outfield depth so Nwogu was even used as a DH on a regular basis. He doesn’t throw well, so left field is likely where he ends up despite his speed.

Nwogu was a straight-A student as a prep, along with being a defensive end/linebacker who received multiple FBS football scholarship offers. Instead, he chose to accept an academic scholarship to concentrate on baseball for the Wolverines.

4th Round

LHP Luke Little – San Jacinto (Texas) JC

Ht: 6-8 | Wt: 225 | B-T: L-L

There may be no harder thrower in the 2020 draft than Luke Little. While he worked in the mid-to-upper-90s in game action over his career, he’s posted recent video which features him hitting up to 105 on the gun.

The #Cubs selected Luke Little, who has a big, big arm.

Little was clocked at 105 mph on the radar gun in a Twitter video, and at 6-foot-8, the lefty certainly stands out on the mound: https://t.co/TXr225p8H4pic.twitter.com/lEJtoYBmVs

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 12, 2020

There’s lots of risk to go along with the upside. Little has struggled mightily throwing strikes in the past, but after dropping 30 pounds last winter he reportedly showed small sample size (5 G, 9 IP, 3 BB, 17 K) improvement in repeating his delivery and throwing strikes. He backs up his fastball with a low-80s slider, as well as a curve and change. He’s raw, but if he can stay in shape, he may be able to capitalize on his big arm.

#MLBDraft Video:
Luke Little (LHP, @sanjacgator43) in Northwoods action, home plate views, via @NickJFaleris.

Full 2020 Draft Class Video Library: https://t.co/1LmPzzsQUI
2080 Baseball YouTube Channel: https://t.co/qNQgH1VAPv pic.twitter.com/YOkUOeZeiU

— 2080 Baseball (@2080ball) June 6, 2020

Even if that is a hot gun in those videos, there are just not many left handed humans on the planet capable of hitting triple digits, and 6’8″ is intimidating on the mound. Little is going to be a big test for the Cubs Pitch Lab over the next couple of years.

Cubs take Luke Little, who reportedly hit 105 mph in a recent bullpen session. Kiley McDaniel fears he’s just a big arm guy without command and secondaries.

But he’s a 6’8″ lefty that can throw over 100 mph. Get this guy in the pitching lab, maybe he becomes a thing. pic.twitter.com/0dM7hZlCdY

— Matt Clapp (@TheBlogfines) June 12, 2020

5th Round

RHP Koen Moreno – Panther Creek HS, Cary, N.C.

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 170 | B-T: R-R

A highly athletic prep arm with low mileage, Moreno was topping out in the 93-94 range last fall and is expected to continue adding a few more ticks of velocity in the coming years. He’s known for generating high spin rates on his curve, so with refinement there is hope it develops to become plus. Add in good current feel for a changeup and Moreno could end up with at least three above average pitches.

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

Carlos Collazo of Baseball America identified Cubs 5th round pick Koen Moreno as one of his three favorite picks on Day 2 of the draft.

The Cubs get high school RHP Koen Moreno at 147. @CarlosACollazo has been saying Moreno is a sleeper for … well … a while.

Here’s why: https://t.co/U84XhpGfzZ pic.twitter.com/UgALvFmUTO

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) June 12, 2020

Here he is last year facing Cubs 1st round pick Ed Howard:

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