Given the way 2010 is going for the Chicago Cubs, it’s never to early to start thinking about the future. (And just think how many years Cubs have been resigned to adopt this outlook before Flag Day?) Anyways, critical decisions were made on that short term future today, as the baby bears completed the second day of the 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. The club thus far has selected 30 players. The third and final day of the draft is tomorrow with rounds 31-50. The team also drafted Ivan DeJesus (yes, the same exact name as the below average middle infielder they famously traded for the legendary Ryne Sandberg in 1982.
They picked some local products today including Eric Jokisch out of Northwestern University with their 11th round pick (340th overall).
By Paul M. Banks
The left-handed pitcher is from Virginia , Illinois and was originally drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 39th round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, but did not sign.
The Cubs stayed in the Land of Lincoln again when selecting Algonquin, Ill-native Elliot Soto (infielder) from Creighton University in the 15th round (460th overall) and right-handed pitcher Ryan Hartman from Mt. Zion High School in the 16th round (490th overall).
The Cubs selected outfielder Reggie Golden out of Wetumpka High School in Wetumpka , Alabama in the second round (65th overall) and catcher Micah Gibbs out of Louisiana State University (LSU) in the third round (97th overall). Reggie Golden was recommended by area scout Tom Clark and Micah Gibbs was recommended by area scout Jim Crawford.
Reggie Golden, 18, batted .460 (29-for-83) with 18 walks, 28 runs, five doubles, five home runs, 24 RBI and a .578 on-base percentage in 27 games in 2010 for the Indians. Golden is a five-foot-11, 210-pounder who bats and throws right-handed.
Micah Gibbs is a draft-eligible junior for Louisiana State University . In 2010, Gibbs batted a team-leading .388 (95-for-245) with 47 runs, 14 doubles, three triples, 10 home runs and a .458 on-base percentage in 62 games as the club’s starting catcher. The 21-year-old Gibbs is five-foot-11, 215 pounds, bats switch and throws right-handed. He graduated from Pflugerville ( Texas ) High School, but only played baseball at Leander ( Texas ) High School due to Texas transfer rules.
Through the first two days, the Cubs have selected 18 pitchers (13 righthanders and five left-handers), six infielders, four outfielders and two catchers. Additionally, the Cubs have to date selected 22 college players and eight high school players.
Here is the entire list of Chicago ’s first 30 selections from the 2010 First-Year Player Draft:
Rd. (pick No.) Player Pos. School Birthday B T Ht. Wt.
1 (16) Hayden Simpson RHP Southern Arkansas University 05/20/1989 R R 6-0 175
2 (65) Reggie Golden OF Wetumpka High School ( Ala ) 10/10/1991 R R 5-11 210
3 (97) Micah Gibbs C Louisiana State University 07/27/1988 S R 5-11 215
4 (130) Hunter Ackerman LHP Louisburg College (Va) 10/24/1990 L L 6-1 185
5 (160) Matthew Szczur OF Villanova University (Penn) 07/20/1989 R R 6-1 190
6 (190) Ivan De Jesus OF Cupeyville High School ( Puerto Rico ) 08/27/1992 R R 6-0 175
7 (220) Benjamin Wells RHP Bryant High School ( Ark ) 09/10/1992 R R 6-3 220
8 (250) Cameron Greathouse LHP Gulf Coast CC ( Fla ) 07/29/1990 L L 6-2 210
9 (280) Kevin Rhoderick RHP Oregon State University 08/19/1988 R R 6-0 195
10 (310) Aaron Kurcz RHP College of Southern Nevada 08/08/1990 R R 6-0 175
11 (340) Eric Jokisch LHP Northwestern University 07/29/1989 R L 6-2 180
12 (370) Austin Reed RHP Rancho Cucamonga HS ( Calif ) 10/31/1991 R R 6-5 210
13 (400) Pierre LePage INF Univ. of Connecticut 02/23/1989 R R 5-8 168
14 (430) Colin Richardson RHP Winter Haven High School ( Fla ) 08/13/1991 R R 6-1 180
15 (460) Elliot Soto INF Creighton University ( Neb ) 08/21/1989 R R 5-9 160
16 (490) Ryan Hartman RHP Mt. Zion High School ( Ill ) 05/10/1992 R R 6-3 200
17 (520) Steven Brooks OF Wake Forest University (N.C.) 01/26/1989 R R 6-0 195
18 (550) Ronald Pinckard RHP Baylor University ( Texas ) 08/15/1988 L R 6-1 190
19 (580) Dustin Fitzgerald RHP Hill JC ( Texas ) 12/06/1989 R R 6-4 225
20 (610) Ryan Cuneo INF University of Delaware 10/10/1988 L R 6-3 205
21 (640) Cody Cox RHP Grassfield High School (Va) 12/16/1991 R R 6-6 205
22 (670) Jeff Vigurs C Bryant University (R.I.) 03/10/1988 L R 6-0 190
23 (700) Matthew Loosen RHP Jacksonville University ( Fla ) 04/10/1989 R R 6-2 205
24 (730) Dustin Geiger INF Merritt Island High School ( Fla ) 12/02/1991 R R 6-2 180
25 (760) Eric Rice RHP Palm Beach CC ( Fla ) 09/21/1989 R R 5-11 180
26 (790) Danny Muno INF Fresno State Univ. ( Calif ) 02/09/1989 S R 5-11 175
27 (820) Bryan Harper LHP College of Southern Nevada 12/29/1989 L L 6-5 195
28 (850) Joseph Zeller RHP The Masters College ( Calif ) 10/17/1987 R R 5-10 190
29 (880) Casey Harman LHP Clemson University (S.C.) 03/17/1989 L L 6-1 200
30 (910) Karsten Strieby INF Arizona Western College 02/21/1991 R R 6-6 225