Cubs draft two talented pitchers in first night of 2022 MLB draft |
CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs tonight completed the first evening of the 2022 MLB First-Year Player Draft, selecting two players, including the seventh overall pick, right-handed pitcher Cade Horton out of the University of Oklahoma. With the 47th selection in the second round, Chicago selected left-handed pitcher Jackson Ferris out of IMG Academy in Florida.
Horton was recommended by area scout Ty Nichols and Ferris was recommended by area scout Tom Clark. Horton, 20, garnered Freshman All-American honors from Baseball America and D1Baseball.com following the 2022 season in which he went 3-0 with a 2.61 ERA and notched 49 strikeouts against six walks in five postseason starts, beginning with the Big 12 Championship Game. He averaged 14.22 strikeouts per 9.0 innings in the postseason, allowing two-or-fewer runs in all five outings. The six-foot one-inch, 211-pound Horton went 5-2 with a 4.86 ERA (29 ER/53.2 IP) in 14 games (11 starts) overall in 2022. He recorded 64 strikeouts, compared to 15 walks, good for 10.73 strikeouts per 9.0 innings. He also played 25 games at third base and four at shortstop, hitting .235 (34-for-145) with six doubles, two triples, a home run and 17 RBI. Horton missed the entire 2021 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He graduated from Norman (Okla.) High School where he was named a 2019 Perfect Game All-American in baseball and he also played quarterback. Ferris, 18, was 8-0 with a 1.33 ERA (8 ER/54.1 IP) in 10 outings for IMG Academy in his senior season. He struck out 103 batters for an average of 17.1 strikeouts per 9.0 innings while walking 15 hitters. Ferris held opponents to a .142 batting average (28-for-197) and a .203 on-base percentage. Ferris transferred from Mount Airy High School in North Carolina to IMG Academy prior to his junior season and went on to post a 0.55 ERA in 50.2 innings, striking out 86 batters. The six-foot four-inch, 195-pound Ferris is the number 19 rated draft prospect on MLB.com. Baseball America named Ferris’ changeup as the fourth-best among high school pitchers eligible for the draft. He is committed to the University of Mississippi. The 2022 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft continues tomorrow with rounds 3-10, before concluding on Tuesday with rounds 11-20.
