Cubs Weekly: 2025 MLB Draft preview

·26 min·2 clips

Jim Kaus reveals the two player groups that could all be gone before the Cubs pick at 17, forcing them into a weird spot.

The episode is a draft preview interview with MLB.com senior writer Jim Kaus. Host Lance Brozdowski introduces Kaus and outlines the show's structure: a general draft overview followed by Cubs-specific analysis. Kaus begins by describing the 2025 draft as having two key strengths: high school shortstops and college pitchers, especially left-handers. He lists top shortstop prospects like Ethan Holliday, Eli Willits, and Billy Carlson. He then details the top college lefties: Cade Anderson of LSU, Liam Doyle of Tennessee, and Jamie Arnold of Florida State, analyzing their differing arsenals and projecting Anderson as the likely first overall pick. The conversation shifts to how the recent firing of Nationals GM Mike Rizzo might affect their number one selection, with Kaus doubting major impact. The second half focuses on the Cubs at pick 17. Kaus explains the draft is flat from picks 10-30, meaning the Cubs could get a player they have ranked in their top 10. He discusses the Cubs' philosophy of best player available, noting their recent tendency to draft college hitters but acknowledging a need for pitching. Kaus suggests potential targets for the Cubs, including hitters Vaheva Alloy and Ethan Conrad, and pitchers Tyler Bremner and Gage Wood. He highlights Wood's 19-strikeout no-hitter but notes shoulder injury concerns. The hosts then make their final predictions: Kaus selects Gage Wood for the Cubs, while Brozdowski picks Tyler Bremner. The episode concludes with plans to cover the draft on Marquee's broadcast.

As heard by us

A grounded draft preview about the process behind the pick.

The Cubs Weekly Podcast uses an MLB Draft preview to explain how a pick is built before draft night. Jim Kaus, a senior writer at MLB.com who works with MLB Pipeline, walks through timing, internal rankings, signability, and the practical value of the draft's move to July.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You get the draft-room logic behind talent rankings, odd timing, and signability math.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Cubs Now