Cubs Select Pete Crow-Armstrong’s High School Teammate with Final Pick in 2023 Draft
The Chicago Cubs wrapped up the 2023 MLB Draft on Tuesday by selecting six pitchers and four position players, including a high school teammate of Pete Crow-Armstrong. Overall, the Cubs ended up taking seven infielders, one catcher, three outfielders and nine pitchers in the 20-round draft.
Day 1: Rounds 1-2
Round 1, 13th Overall: Matt Shaw (SS) – Maryland
Round 2, 68th Overall: Jaxon Wiggins (RHP) – Arkansas
Day 2: Rounds 3-10
Round 3, 81st Overall: Josh Rivera (SS) – Florida
Round 4, 113th Overall: Will Sanders (RHP) – South Carolina
Round 5, 149th Overall: Michael Carico (C) – Davidson
Round 6, 176th Overall: Alfonsin Rosario (OF) – P27 Academy
Round 7, 206th Overall: Yahil Melendez (SS) – B You Academy
Round 8, 236th Overall: Brett Bateman (OF) – Minnesota
Round 9, 266th Overall: Jonathan Long (1B) – Long Beach State
Round 10, 296th Overall: Luis Martinez-Gomez (RHP) – Temple College
Day 3: Rounds 11-20
Round 11, 326th Overall: Zyhir Hope (OF) – Colonel Forge High School
Round 12, 356th Overall: Carter Trice (2B) – North Carolina State
Round 13, 386th Overall: Sam Armstrong (RHP) – Old Dominion
Round 14, 416th Overall: Grayson Moore (RHP) – Vanderbilt
Round 15, 446th Overall: Ty Johnson (RHP) – Ball State
Round 16, 476th Overall: Daniel Brown (LHP) – Campbell University
Round 17, 506th Overall: Ethan Flanagan (LHP) – UCLA
Round 18, 536th Overall: Brian Kalmer (3B) – Gonzaga
Round 19, 566th Overall: Nick Dean (RHP) – Maryland
Round 20, 596th Overall: Drew Bowser (3B) – Stanford
Drew Bowser. Great name. Friends with PCA. Love that.
Bowser, 21, hit 14 home runs during the 2023 season with Stanford. The right-handed hitting third baseman slashed .271/.342/.512, in 272 plate appearances. Obviously not a polished product, as Bowser did strike out 81 times in his junior season, nearly 30% of his plate appearances.
Solid power at the plate for sure, though.
PCA was taken with the 19th overall pick by the New York Mets out of high school and at the time, Bowser was considered one of the best high school prospects in the country as well.
Meanwhile, the Cubs’ 11th round pick Zyhir Hope appears to be their big swing on the final day of the draft. The high school prospect is committed to UNC, but the Cubs showed strong interest in him this spring and are going to need to offer him a decent signing bonus to keep Hope away from college.
Hope also pitches.
As for some earlier picks, shortstop Yahil Melendez will reportedly sign for nearly double his slot value.
Last year, the Cubs were able to sign 19 of the 20 players they picked in the draft. Right-handed pitcher Brock Blatter, who was selected in the 19th round, was the lone player who did not to sign with the Cubs in 2022.