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Cubs pick 98-mph right-hander Cade Townsend 23rd

7/13/2026

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Summary

Cubs Draft Townsend

Chicago Cubs selected Ole Miss right-hander Cade Townsend with the No. 23 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft.
Townsend throws a fastball that can reach 98 mph, posted a 4.78 ERA, struck out 31.9 % of SEC batters and ranked 18th overall per Fangraphs analyst Eric Longenhagen.
The Cubs also drafted right-handers Carson Jasa and Dylan Marionneaux and outfielder Caden Sorrell to address a pitching depth shortage hurting their major-league staff.

Summary

Townsend Shoulder Setback

Townsend, a Newport Beach native, posted a 6.35 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and a 43:20 K:BB ratio in 34 freshman innings before his sophomore surge, holding a black belt in taekwondo.
He split his freshman year between the bullpen and rotation before becoming a 6-foot-1, 185-pound starter as a sophomore.
Shoulder soreness forced him to miss a March start, after which his performance declined.

History

Historical Context

After the Cubs turned a struggling bullpen into a starter role for Ryan Dempster in 2008—posting a 17-6 record, 2.96 ERA and 183 strikeouts—the club began favoring high-velocity college pitchers. That pattern resurfaced in the 2026 draft when Chicago selected Ole Miss right-hander Cade Townsend, whose 98 mph fastball echoes Dempster’s early dominance, reflecting a decade-long rebuild aimed at sustained competitiveness through 2030.

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Cubs Draft Townsend

Chicago Cubs selected Ole Miss right-hander Cade Townsend with the No. 23 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft.
Townsend throws a fastball that can reach 98 mph, posted a 4.78 ERA, struck out 31.9 % of SEC batters and ranked 18th overall per Fangraphs analyst Eric Longenhagen.
The Cubs also drafted right-handers Carson Jasa and Dylan Marionneaux and outfielder Caden Sorrell to address a pitching depth shortage hurting their major-league staff.

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