Cubs Conclude 2024 Draft with 10 More Selections
More to come on some of these picks, but I’m getting ready to board a flight and can’t really put anything together at the moment. See below for some basics about the Cubs’ final 10 selections in the 2024 MLB Draft.
The Chicago Cubs today completed the 2024 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. The club made 10 selections today, totaling 20 during the three-day event.
With their 10 selections today, the Cubs took nine college players (seven pitchers, one first baseman, one catcher) and one outfielder from the high school ranks. Overall during the draft, the Cubs selected nine pitchers (six right-handed and three left-handed), seven infielders, two outfielders and two catchers, totaling 17 college players and three high school players.
The Cubs began the day by selecting high school outfielder Eli Lovich in the 11th round (332nd overall) out of Blue Valley West High School (Kan.), before making nine-straight selections from the college ranks, with seven of the nine being pitchers (RHP Daniel Avitia – 12th round; LHP Evan Aschenbeck – 13th round; 1B Cameron Sisneros – 14th round; LHP Hayden Frank – 15th round; LHP Christian Gordon – 16th round; RHP Ben Johnson – 17th round; RHP Thomas Mangus – 18th round; C Owen Ayers – 19th round; RHP Brayden Risedorph – 20th round).
An Overland Park, Kan. native, Lovich completed his high school career this season by hitting .402 (39-for-97) with eight doubles, six triples, five home runs and 15 stolen bases for Blue Valley West High School (Kan.). The left-handed hitting outfielder tallied 15 walks in 112 plate appearances, contributing to a .482 on-base percentage and a 1.245 OPS.
Rated by Perfect Game as the No. 1 outfielder and No. 3 overall recruit in the state of Kansas, Lovich is committed to play collegiately at the University of Arkansas. Lovich was recommended by area scout Ty Nichols.
Avitia, 21, was selected by the Cubs for the second time, after the club took him in the 19th round in 2021 out of Alhambra High School (Ariz.), but he elected to attend Grand Canyon University beginning in 2022. The right-handed pitcher played three seasons at Grand Canyon, going a combined 17-9 with a 4.10 ERA (92 ER/202.0 IP) and one save in 41 games (32 starts).
The six-foot four-inch Avitia twice made the All-WAC First Team in 2022 and 2023 and became the first freshman to win the Western Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2022. Avitia’s brother, David, is a catcher in the Cubs organization, currently playing for High-A South Bend. Avitia was recommended by area scout Steve McFarland.
Aschenbeck, 23, this season recorded an SEC-leading 10 saves for Texas A&M, going 6-1 with a 1.78 ERA (15 ER/75.2 IP) in 32 games in relief. He recorded 87 strikeouts, compared to only 12 walks in 75.2 innings pitched. For his work in 2024, he was rewarded with First Team All-SEC honors, as well as being named the 2024 NCBWA Stopper of the Year. Aschenbeck is recommended by area scout Will Swoope.
The six-foot three-inch, 230-pound Sisneros was named the 2024 SoCon Player of the Year, after he batted .369 (79-for-214) with 16 doubles, 23 home runs, 86 RBI, a .493 on-base percentage and a 1.259 OPS. The left-handed hitting Sisneros tallied 49 walks, compared to only 20 strikeouts in 56 games. The 86 RBI this season set a single-season school record, passing Paul Hoilman’s 84 RBI in 2010.
Sisneros played two seasons at Lamar Community College in Colorado prior to transferring to East Tennessee State in 2023. All told in two seasons with the Buccaneers, Sisneros batted a combined .376 (161-for-428) with 39 home runs, 145 RBI, a .483 OBP and a 1.212 OPS in 111 games. Sisneros is recommended by area scout M’Lynn Dease.