The Chicago Cubs have added an exciting prospect to their pitching pipeline by selecting Seth Hernandez, a right-handed pitcher from Corona High School in California, with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. Hernandez, a Vanderbilt commit, has garnered attention for his impressive fastball that reaches up to 100 mph, along with a quality changeup and developing breaking ball. Scouts praise his clean mechanics and command, making him one of the top prep pitching prospects in the draft class.
This selection marks a shift in the Cubs’ drafting strategy, as they have predominantly chosen college players in recent years. However, Hernandez’s potential and the Cubs’ current pitching depth in the minor leagues may have influenced this decision.
Notably, Hernandez’s fastball velocity and overall profile have drawn comparisons to current Cubs prospect Cade Horton, who was drafted by the Cubs in 2022 and has shown promise in the minor leagues.
Hernandez’s addition bolsters the Cubs’ pitching prospects, joining a system that includes Jordan Wicks, Cade Horton, and Ben Brown, all of whom are making strides toward the major leagues. His development will be closely monitored as he progresses through the Cubs’ minor league affiliates.