Cubs sign eight of first 10 picks in 2022 draft |
CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today announced they have signed eight of their first 10 selections in the 2022 First-Year Player Draft, including right-handed pitcher Cade Horton, the team’s first-round selection (seventh overall).
The club also signed infielder Christopher Paciolla (third round) and right-handed pitchers Brandon Birdsell (fifth round), Will Frisch (sixth round), Nick Hull (seventh round), Mason McGwire (eighth round), Connor Noland (ninth round) and Brody McCollough (10th round). Horton, 20, garnered Freshman All-American honors from Baseball America and D1Baseball.com following the 2022 season in which he went 3-0 with a 2.61 ERA and notched 49 strikeouts against six walks in five postseason starts, beginning with the Big 12 Championship Game. He averaged 14.22 strikeouts per 9.0 innings in the postseason, allowing two-or-fewer runs in all five outings. The six-foot one-inch, 211-pound Horton went 5-2 with a 4.86 ERA (29 ER/53.2 IP) in 14 games (11 starts) overall in 2022. He recorded 64 strikeouts, good for 10.73 strikeouts per 9.0 innings. He also played 25 games at third base and four at shortstop, hitting .235 (34-for-145) with six doubles, two triples, a home run and 17 RBI. Horton missed the entire 2021 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He graduated from Norman (Okla.) High School where he was named a 2019 Perfect Game All-American in baseball and he also played quarterback. Horton joins left-handed pitcher Jordan Wicks (21st overall, 2021) shortstop Ed Howard (16th overall, 2020), right-handed pitcher Ryan Jensen (27th overall, 2019) and infielder Nico Hoerner (24th overall, 2018) as the Cubs’ first-round picks the last five years. Horton was recommended by area scout Ty Nichols. Paciolla, 18, hit .390 (32-for-82) with nine doubles, two triples, four home runs and 21 RBI in 29 games during his senior campaign at Temecula Valley High School in 2022. The right-handed hitting infielder batted .394 (109-for-332) with 19 doubles, five triples, 10 homers and 64 RBI in 94 games over four high school seasons. The six-foot, two-inch, 185-pound Paciolla becomes Temecula Valley High School’s first draft pick since 2014 and was recommended by area scout Evan Kauffman. McGwire, 18, the son of 16-year major league first baseman Mark McGwire, posted a 3.43 ERA and struck out 46 batters in 32.2 innings during his senior season at Capistrano Valley High School (Calif.) in 2022. The right-handed pitcher transferred to Capistrano Valley after starting his high school career at JSerra Catholic High School. McGwire is ranked as the No. 3 right-handed pitching prospect in California by Perfect Game and was also recommended by area scout Evan Kauffman. The #Cubs today announced they have signed eight of their first 10 selections in the 2022 First-Year Player Draft, including RHP Cade Horton, the team’s first-round selection (7th overall). pic.twitter.com/fe0bvVZl2c
