When the Cubs ended a four-season playoff drought in 2025 and went on to win their first postseason series in eight years, the Draft played a significant role.

First-round picks Ian Happ (2015), Nico Hoerner (2018), Cade Horton (2022) and Matt Shaw (2023) were mainstays in the lineup and rotation. Another, Cam Smith (2024), was a key part of the deal that landed Kyle Tucker last offseason. Two over-slot signings, Jackson Ferris (2022) and Zyhir Hope (2023), were parlayed into a trade for Michael Busch the winter before.

In Dan Kantrovitz's first Draft as Chicago's scouting director in 2020, he nabbed local prep shortstop Ed Howard with his top selection. Since then he has spent all of his first-rounders on collegians: a pair of arms in Jordan Wicks (2021) and Horton, then three straight

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