Cubs at No. 23: Pitching Run Defines 2026 Mock Draft
The Cubs’ No. 23 pick in the 2026 MLB Draft is expected to go to pitching, with college arms leading the board. Mock drafts favor Ole Miss right-hander Cade Townsend as the safest, most on-brand fit, while USC left-hander Mason Edwards offers a quicker path to the majors. If arms slip, a bat such as Sawyer Strosnider or Zion Rose could slip in, but Chicago’s priority remains pitching to bolster a thinning rotation; Townsend is the most likely outcome, Edwards a strong upside fallback.