The Chicago Cubs
1st. Andrew Cashner, RHP, Texas Christian
1S. Ryan Flaherty, SS, Vanderbilt
2nd. Aaron Shafer, RHP, Wichita State
3rd. Chris Carpenter, RHP, Kent State
4thx – Matt Cerda, SS, California HS
21stx – Logan Watkins, SS, Kansas HS
The organization went college-heavy with this draft (10 of its first 11 picks). Cashner has had a back-and-forth shuttle between the starting rotation and bullpen but spent much of 2010 in the club’s bullpen. Finally given a shot to start in the Majors his shoulder has acted up, sending him to the disabled list. Flaherty has moved rather slowly through the minors despite his pedigree. He’s finally performing well in double-A (.298/.361/.565) but will turn 25 this season. He likely has a future as a platoon or offensive-minded utility player. Carpenter has rebounded from a long list of injuries but durability remains a huge question mark for him. As such, the club has shifted him to the bullpen full-time. He has responded well to the move and has walked 17 batters in 19.2 triple-A innings. Shafer was released this spring and failed to catch on with another organization. Cerda is moving a long slowly in the low minors. He’s shown a solid eye but lacks power and has moved to the hot corner, which doesn’t bode well for his future. Watkins’ overall ceiling is in doubt and his numbers have slide noticeably as he’s climbed the ladder but he has the potential to be a solid utility player in the Majors if he can work on his versatility. In 2009, the organization traded Josh Harrison (6th round), and pitchers Kevin Hart, and José Ascanio to the Pirates for pitchers John Grabow and Tom Gorzelanny. Jay Jackson was looking like a steal in the ninth round, but his stuff has regressed over the past year. Casey Coleman (15th) was an astute pick-up and he’s made six big league starts this season (with modest results). Unsigned Sonny Gray (27th) is probably going to end up as a Top 10 pick during the 2011 draft.
