3 Players Cubs Can Target With Their First-Round Pick

The Chicago Cubs have been chasing a World Series ring ever since they won back in 2016. In an effort to do that, they've practically emptied their farm to acquire big-league talent, which has included Aroldis Chapman, Jose Quintana and Cole Hamels over the last few years. It's going to take a while for them to build it back up, but a good first-round selection in this year's draft would go a long way. With that said, let's take a look at who the Cubs could take with the 27th pick in the draft.

3. George Kirby

A right-handed pitcher out of Elon, George Kirby was completely dominant in his junior year, posting an 8-1 record with a 2.07 ERA and 105 strikeouts through 82.2 innings. He put himself on the map with his performance in the Cape Cod League, registering a 1.38 ERA with a 24:1 K:BB ratio in 13 innings. His 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame allows him to hit 98 mph, but his fastball normally sits in the low 90s. That should change as he grows stronger in the minors. His curveball and slider have shown potential to be plus pitches, and he's still working on a changeup. With his sound mechanics, he could be a mid-rotation arm with a nice three-pitch offering, which isn't bad at all. There's still plenty of room to grow for Kirby.

2. Logan Davidson

Logan Davidson is one of many collegiate middle infielders in this draft, but he stands out with his 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame, with good speed and a solid glove. He has a few things working against him, however. The first being that he has struggled with wooden bats, as he has just three homers and a .570 OPS in two summers in the Cape Cod League in comparison to a .939 OPS with 42 homers with the Clemson Tigers. He also strikes out a ton (174 strikeouts in his three years in college), which is thanks to some timing issues as well as a lengthy swing. What the switch-hitter has going for him is that when he gets a hold of a pitch, he puts his plus raw power to use, with 15 homers this year to go with 55 runs batted in. If he can clean up his mechanics, he'll be a fine major leaguer, and should pair well with Javier Baez in the middle infield.

1. Matthew Allan

Matthew Allan is the 12th-ranked prospect, according to MLB.com, but has slid into the 20s in recent drafts, particularly because he's seeking around a $4 million bonus. While that would be above the slot assignment for the Cubs here, it would be worth it considering his front-line potential. Allan is 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, which has only helped him with his strong pitching repertoire. The 18-year-old touches 97 mph with his fastball on a consistent basis and keeps that velocity deep into starts. He also sports a plus curveball and changeup, delivering them all with consistency. The Cubs will likely have to pay a lot to keep the youngster from heading to the University of Florida, but he seems to be well worth the investment. He's just 18 years old and is not done growing, so he could be a beast in just a few short years.