The MLB Draft may be coming up in July, but for the Chicago Cubs, the biggest storyline this season centers on whether they can hold on to Kyle Tucker.
Acquired from the Houston Astros in a trade that cost the Cubs three players—including last year’s first-round pick, Cam Smith, who’s already reached the big leagues—Tucker has been living up to the hefty price tag. Over the first six weeks of the season, he’s delivered MVP-caliber production and has been a major contributor to the Cubs’ high-powered offense.
However, Tucker is set to hit free agency after the season, and there’s a real possibility he could be tempted away by a lucrative offer from another team.
If that happens, the Cubs will be in the market for a new right fielder. Relying on the draft to fill that void is risky, but a recent Baseball America mock draft projects Chicago to select Arizona outfielder l—potentially a long-term option if Tucker walks.
He’s missed part of the season with a fractured right hand, but Arizona outfielder Brendan Summerhill is still putting together the best offensive campaign of his three-year college career. He’s currently slashing .411/.514/.679 with three home runs and 31 RBI, all while playing error-free defense in center field.
While his power may not match that of a player like Kyle Tucker, who the Cubs could lose in free agency after this season, Summerhill’s polished approach at the plate has caught the attention of scouts. Baseball America’s Carlos Collazo noted that Summerhill is being discussed in scouting circles as one of the “more impressive pure hitters in the college class.”
Where he would fit in a farm system already loaded with outfield talent—including top prospects Owen Caissie and Kevin Alcántara—is uncertain. But his hitting ability could make him hard for the Cubs to pass up in July’s draft.
The Cubs have had a strong recent track record with first-round picks. Last year, they took Florida State third baseman Cam Smith, who impressed during a short stint in the minors before being sent to Houston in the trade that brought Tucker to Chicago. In 2023, they selected Maryland shortstop Matt Shaw, who has since moved to third base and made the Cubs’ Opening Day roster. He’s currently in Triple-A Iowa but is expected to return to the majors soon.
In 2022, the Cubs chose Oklahoma pitcher Cade Horton, who made his MLB debut last weekend with a win after a dominant start to the year in Triple-A. Their 2021 first-round pick, Kansas State’s Jordan Wicks, debuted in 2023 and has served as a spot starter and long reliever. The 2020 first-rounder, Chicago native Ed Howard, is currently playing at Double-A Tennessee.
The 2025 MLB Draft will take place on Sunday and Monday, July 13–14, as part of All-Star Weekend in Atlanta.