Cubs Sign Undrafted Free Agent Pitcher
The 2023 MLB Draft concluded on Tuesday, but the Chicago Cubs are not done adding talent. After selecting 11 position players and 9 pitchers in the 20-round draft, the Cubs have now reportedly signed undrafted free agent Kenten Egbert, who pitched at Miami (Ohio) during his college career.
Egbert, 22, made 10 starts and had five more bullpen appearances during the 2023 season. The right-handed pitcher tossed 75 innings, posted a 3.96 ERA and recorded a solid 90/29 strikeout to walk ratio as a senior.
If you look at that highlight video, then you will immediately notice that old-school delivery with the exaggerated high leg kick. We’ll see if the Cubs make tweaks to that or have Egbert stick with it if he can keep making it work.
The right-hander began his college career during the postponed 2020 COVID season and Egbert struggled in his first four starts as a freshman before the world shut down. However, since then the starter has put up quality numbers, recording a 3.38 ERA in 133 innings since the beginning of 2021.
Since last summer, MLB removed its capped $20,000 signing bonus for undrafted free agents. There will be no maximum on the signing bonus an undrafted player can receive, although any amount over $125,000 will count against a team’s bonus pool.
2023 Cubs Draft Class
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