The Chicago Cubs used the No. 23 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft on Cade Townsend, a polished right-hander with a deep arsenal and some of the best breaking stuff in the 2026 draft class.
The pick is in! With the 23rd overall selection in the 2026 MLB Draft, the Chicago Cubs selected right-handed pitcher Cade Townsend out of the University of Mississippi.
Townsend is a 21-year-old right-hander who stands 6-foot-1, features a wide arsenal of pitches and is best known for his plus breaking stuff.
The 2026 season was a breakout campaign for Townsend. He made 14 starts for the Rebels and went 5-3 with a 3.94 ERA and 12.4 strikeouts per nine innings over 64 innings of work.
Townsend was a candidate to be selected in the 2024 MLB Draft but ultimately chose the college route rather than settling for bonus money somewhere between the third and fifth rounds. While it took time for him to develop, he has since turned himself into a remarkably smooth operator on the mound.
Townsend sits in the mid-90s with his fastball, which features impressive carry and strong spin rates. But his best pitch is still an upper-80s slider that generates even better spin rates and grades well for its depth. It is one of several power breaking balls in his arsenal.
There are some questions about whether Townsend can stick in a starting rotation long term, and his player comparison on MLB’s draft prospect rankings is longtime relief pitcher Joe Kelly. However, his ability to handle matchups against both right-handed and left-handed batters is an encouraging sign. So is the fact that he is comfortable turning to any number of pitches and can keep hitters off balance even when his best stuff is not sharp.
That deep pitch mix should give Townsend every opportunity to remain a starter as he begins his professional career. But even if he eventually moves to the bullpen, the quality of his breaking stuff and the intensity of his delivery could allow him to develop into a high-leverage reliever.
According to MLB Pipeline, Townsend is the 35th ranked prospect in the 2026 draft class.
Ultimately, the Cubs selecting a college arm in the first round represents a slight change in their typical approach, but it should be a welcome sight for the fan base. Chicago ranks among the bottom three teams in Major League Baseball in signing bonus money allocated to pitchers in recent drafts.
That lack of investment is beginning to show itself as an organizational need, both on the major league roster and among the top-ranked prospects in the Cubs’ farm system.
Townsend immediately gives the Cubs an experienced, fast-rising arm who can become part of the organization’s next generation of pitching prospects.
