Armed with the 23rd overall pick, Chicago faces a pivotal decision. From a record-breaking SEC catcher to high-upside arms, these three standout talents could ignite the Cubs' future.
The next wave of great prospects is finally here.
The 2026 MLB Draft will officially begin on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. CT. The first four rounds will take place on July 11, and the final 16 rounds will occur on Sunday, July 12 (Rounds 5-20).
The Chicago Cubs will make their first selection with the 23rd overall pick. This placement comes after the Cubs lost to the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Divisional Round last year.
The biggest question on every Cubs fan's mind is who the front office is going to grab at that pick. Will it be a much-needed pitcher or a college outfielder? Could they surprise everyone and select one of the top catchers in the class?
Let’s dive into three players the Cubs should be targeting in the first round of the 2026 MLB Draft. If any of these prospects are available, Chicago’s front office should be looking to grab one of them.
Daniel Jackson, C, Georgia
It’s hard to pass on Georgia catcher Daniel Jackson if he is still on the board at pick No. 23. Jackson has all the tools to eventually thrive in the big leagues. He has plus power, hits the ball hard, and can be a threat on the basepaths.
In his final college season with the Bulldogs, Jackson slashed .379/.473/.803 with 32 home runs, 14 doubles, 87 RBI, and 26 stolen bases across 67 games. He won the SEC triple crown and became the first catcher in Division I history to have a 20-home run, 20-stolen base season.
Jackson is clearly not your average hitter. The 21-year-old has such raw power at the plate and has above-average speed on the basepaths. The Georgia product is ranked No. 28 on MLB Pipeline’s big board.
Logan Reddemann, SP, UCLA
The biggest concern with UCLA pitcher Logan Reddemann is a recent arm injury that he suffered in his final college season. He was initially sidelined with what UCLA called arm fatigue, but he was later diagnosed with a flexor strain.
There’s no denying how much potential is here with Reddemann, though. He had a 2.29 ERA and a 23.2% strikeout rate across 55 innings pitched in 2025 and had a 2.87 ERA and a 35.7% strikeout rate across 59 ⅔ innings pitched this past college season.
If not for this arm injury, Reddemann was legitimately a top-10 pick in this year’s draft. His four-seam fastball touches 99 mph, and he has a solid changeup to play off that fastball. The UCLA pitcher is ranked No. 31 overall on MLB Pipeline’s big board.
Cole Carlon, SP, Arizona State
The Cubs need some hard-throwing pitchers with strikeout upside in their farm system. Arizona State starting pitcher Cole Carlon would fill that need immediately. Carlon is one of the best strikeout pitchers in this class.
The southpaw had a 3.33 ERA and a 38.7% strikeout rate across 54 innings as a reliever for the Sun Devils in 2025 and then had a 3.87 ERA and a 38% strikeout rate across 83 ⅔ innings as a starter this past college season.
Carlon has an elite slider and a solid fastball that reaches the upper 90s. While it remains to be seen whether teams view him as a starter or a reliever, his strikeout numbers make him an appealing target at No. 23 overall. The Arizona State left-hander is ranked No. 26 overall on MLB Pipeline’s big board.
