2016 Draft Report Card: Chicago Cubs

BEST PURE HITTER: The Cubs signed just six position players in a draft class focused on boosting the organization’s pitching. C Michael Cruz (7) had a strong spring at Bethune-Cookman and controlled the strike zone in his debut. He makes a lot of contact.

BEST POWER HITTER: Cruz slugged 16 homers in the spring for Bethune-Cookman, which plays in Jackie Robinson Stadium in Daytona, Fla. The former home of a Cubs high Class A affiliate, the Cubs know it’s a tough home run park, especially for lefthanded hitters like Cruz.

FASTEST RUNNER: The Cubs tried to load up on speedsters, taking three burners. A part-time player for four years at Texas Tech, OF Zach Davis (32) is a true 80 runner who stole home to win a game in the spring against Texas. A hamstring injury ended his pro debut after six games. Fellow OFs Connor Myers (27) and Tolly Filotei (38) are both 70 runners.

BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Myers’s speed and reads make him a plus defender in center field if not a tick better.

BEST FASTBALL: RHP Bailey Clark (5) touches 98 mph and can sit 92-96 with some life, though his command is below-average. RHP Chad Hockin (6) hits 97-98 at his best but usually ranges from 91-95. RHP Thomas Hatch (3), the club’s top pick, pitches off his fastball better than any Cubs draftee thanks to good velocity (93-94 mph), above-average sink and solid-average fastball command.

BEST SECONDARY PITCH: Hockin’s slider outpaces his fastball, earning 70 grades with tilt at up to 87 mph. RHP Duncan Robinson (9) has an above-average curveball that is the best of his four-pitch mix.

BEST PRO DEBUT: LHP Wyatt Short, Mississippi’s closer the last two seasons, didn’t allow a run for short-season Eugene in 15 regular season innings and 2.1 more in the playoffs for the Northwest League champions.

BEST ATHLETE: SS Delvin Zinn (23), who turned the Cubs down in 2015 as a 28th-rounder, signed this year and brings a loose, lively body at 5-foot-10, 170 pounds. He’s raw but has good speed and first-step quickness suited to the infield.

MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: Hockin is the grandson of late Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew; his brother Grant pitches in the Indians’ system. RHP Dakota Mekkes (10) led the nation in strikeouts per nine innings (15.16 K/9 IP) and fewest hits allowed (4.1 H/9 IP) thanks to a fastball with exceptional deception. Even at 92 mph, some scouts say it plays as a 70 grade heater.

CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: Hatch’s command and polish as the ace of Oklahoma State’s ace this spring should allow him to debut as high as high Class A Myrtle Beach, putting him on the fast track.

BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: Zinn is the long-term play; RHP Michael Rucker, already 22, could move quickly in relief and had an 18-1 strikeout-walk rate in 12.2 innings in his debut. His fastball reaches 95 mph and he showed the ability to spin a breaking ball at altitude in his Brigham Young days.

THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: The Cubs ran out of money to sign RHP Austin Jones (13), a Tommy John surgery alum they found while scouting Lake Bachar, a fifth-round pick of the Padres. He’s back at Wisconsin-Whitewater with a fastball in the mid-90s.