What Direction Will Cubs Take with No. 17 Pick in Sunday’s MLB Draft?
The MLB Draft begins Sunday night, and it will be Jed Hoyer’s fifth as the Cubs’ president of baseball operations. They have the 17th pick, described by VP of scouting Dan Kantrovitz as a “sweet spot” in this year’s draft. They also have picks 56 and 90 on Day 1, which includes the first three rounds.
There are a multitude of directions the Cubs could take on Sunday night with their selections, but we’re focused for now on some of their options for the first choice.
Wehiwa Aloy, SS, Arkansas
Winner of the Golden Spikes Award last season as college baseball’s best player, Aloy made a name for himself in his final season at Arkansas. He started at Sacramento State before transferring to Arkansas and really started to break out in the 2024 Cape Cod League, where he posted a .994 OPS in 21 games.
Aloy returned to Arkansas in 2025, producing a 1.107 OPS, 21 home runs, and 68 RBI. He played most of his college ball at shortstop, but the Cubs would likely try him at second and/or third base. That’s what they did with 2023 with first-round pick Matt Shaw, who played shortstop the majority of his time in college at the University of Maryland.
Aloy has elevated strikeout numbers, but he makes up for it with pure power to all parts of the field.
Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara
Bremner split time between the bullpen and rotation during his time at UC Santa Barbara, but went 77.1 innings exclusively as a member of the rotation in his final season. He features a 65-grade fastball per MLB.com that sits around 95 mph and tops 98 with potential to gain even more velocity. Bremner’s changeup has received a 70 grade from some scouts, though a third pitch is still a work in progress.
While questions surround the 6-foot-2, 190-pounder’s durability, bigger concerns surround the development, or lack thereof, of his slider. Despite having just the two plus pitches for the time being, Bremner could really blossom in pro ball.
Gavin Kilen, 2B, Tennessee
After two solid seasons at Louisville, Kilen hit the transfer portal with hopes of maxing out his pro potential. That journey landed him at the University of Tennessee for his junior season. Kilen moved over from shortstop to second base after his transfer to Tennessee due to his arm strength being less than elite. He projects as a solid piece in the infield, as his instincts and pure skill can keep him at second base.
Kilen saw his power grow in 2025 with a career-high 15 home runs, which blew by his total of nine at Louisville, but he still projects more as a contact-first bat. His .357 batting average and .441 on-base percentage were outstanding, so the power isn’t as necessary. Klein fits the mold of college bat that the Cubs have targeted in the last two drafts with Shaw and Cam Smith.
Gage Wood, RHP, Arkansas
Wood joined the Arkansas bullpen in 2023 and became the closer, earning five saves. Despite earning the high-leverage role, his freshman year saw him post the worst numbers of his college career. Fast forward to his junior season, when Wood notched 69 strikeouts over just 37.2 innings over 10 appearances (all starts). His strikeout numbers improved at an impressive rate over three seasons, with his K/9 rate rising from 12.6 in his freshman year to 16.5 as a junior.
Wood’s fastball, like Bremner’s, is being advertised as one of the best in the draft. It sits in the 94-96 mph range, touching 98 and getting lots of carry out of a low release point. He also relies on a curveball, which can become a plus pitch in the majors if polished. In order to remain a starter, Wood will probably need to find success with his third and fourth pitches, a slider and changeup.
You may have seen highlights of his 19-strikeout no-hitter in the College World Series that saw him come a hit batter away from a perfect game. The Cubs took Cade Horton following a CWS breakout as well, in part because they like players who have proven themselves to be comfortable on the big stage.
Other Options
The Cubs have tended to target starting pitchers and college-level infielders during Hoyer’s tenure as the head of baseball ops, but that isn’t set in stone. Two other options they may pursue with that first pick are Brendan Summerhill, an outfielder out of the University of Arizona, and shortstop Daniel Pierce out of Mill Creek High School in Georgia.
Summerhill has steadily improved in each of his three seasons at Arizona. In 124 games with the Wildcats, the Chicago native averaged 14 home runs and 99 RBI with a .959 OPS. Summerhill projects well on both sides of the ball, with the main concerns coming from his chase rate and limited power from the left side.
Pierce would be the first high schooler selected by the Cubs in the first round since Ed Howard in 2020. Before Howard, the last high schooler they took that early was Albert Almora Jr. in 2012. The righty-batting Pierce shows off an impressive contact tool for an 18-year-old, and his 6-0, 185-pound frame is already solid. Most scouts consider him to cap at around 15 home runs per season as his power develops.
His speed and fielding ability stand out, plus he’s one of those scrappy coach’s kids who knows how to work. Pierce might be a bit of a reach at this spot, but he’s been rising recently due to his makeup and projection.
Tune in to ESPN, MLB Network, or MLB.com Sunday night at 5pm CT to watch the first three rounds in their entirety.
