Cubs Put Pitching First For First Time In Epstein Era

Righthander Alex Lange uses a 90-95 mph fastball and power curveball to anchor LSU’s rotation (Photo by Danny Parker)

For the first time in six drafts with the Cubs, Theo Epstein’s front office selected a pitcher with a first-round pick—then added another one three picks later.

Historically biased in favor of college hitters near the top of the draft, the Cubs’ regime selected lefthander Brendon Little from State JC of Florida with the No. 27 overall pick and Louisiana State righthander Alex Lange 30th overall.

In 15 drafts with the Red Sox and Cubs, Little is the third-highest drafted pitcher taken by an Epstein front office. He is the highest since the Red Sox took Connecticut righthander Matt Barnes 19th overall in 2011.

The only other pitcher his front offices drafted higher—No. 26 overall righthander Craig Hansen from St. John’s in 2005—was the team’s second pick in that draft, behind Jacoby Ellsbury.

“Obviously, you know what the history and track record is,” Cubs scouting and player development director Jason McLeod said. “That’s also just a byproduct of the talent pool that’s out there this year.”

He said the Cubs focused on “four or five” players they thought would be available in their area of the first round, three of whom were pitchers. Last year, the Cubs made an effort to volume-draft pitchers but didn’t have a pick until the third round (taking Oklahoma State righthander Thomas Hatch with that pick).

“We know what our organizational needs are; we know that we need to develop pitching,” McLeod said, “but we weren’t going to force it. These two certainly aren’t forced. They’re first-round-caliber pitchers. The board lined up that way, and we’re really excited to get them.”

Little, 20, is a 6-foot-2 power pitcher who showed flashes in high school and originally signed with North Carolina, but pitched little there and wound up transferring after a breakout summer in the Cape Cod League. His velocity reaches the mid-90s with a good breaking ball.

McLeod said the organization has a relationship with Little dating back to high school.

Lange, 21, has a higher profile college career, emerging as the ace of the LSU rotation by the end of his freshman year. As a junior this year, he and the Tigers play in next week’s College World Series.

“Both are great makeup guys and top-notch competitors, with swing-and-miss stuff,” McLeod said.

— Gordon Wittenmyer covers the Cubs for the Chicago Sun-Times