Cubs Draft Prospect Target: Slade Caldwell |
With Memorial Day rapidly approaching, there was time to put out one more Mock Draft for May. As has been the case with each Mock draft discussed, every team is linked to different players, with the exception of a few names constantly showing up for the same teams.
The Chicago Cubs are no different in that scenario. They have had multiple mock drafts linking them to the same two players but have also had a different pick for each draft. This time around, it is time to talk about Valley View (HS) and Ole Miss commit Slade Caldwell, the newest player projected to go No. 14 to the Chicago Cubs. Rated as the 19th-best prospect in this year's class, Caldwell has remained steady but is starting to see his name move up a bit on the most recent draft boards. The Arkansas High School player of the year in 2023, the Ole Miss commit is an OF, which begs the question of why the Cubs would target an OF prospect when they have so many other OF options right now. For starters, Ian Happ, Cody Bellinger, and Seiya Suzuki won't be around forever, so you need players to replace them once they move on. The Cubs have those options in the minors, but once those players move on, who will replace them? You also have to look at it from a trade picture where you have to give something up to get something, and at some point, the Cubs will start trading away some of their pieces with an OF prospect or two the most likely to move on. Caldwell could be the next OF option the Cubs look at. Although he lacks size with his 5-8 and 175-pound frame, he is a left-hander, which the Cubs organization does need more of. Caldwell is a dynamic player who has been compared to the New York Mets 2022 pick Jett Williams, who played himself into the first round that summer. Caldwell could be the next player to do that, but at this point, it doesn't seem like a stretch that it happens. Although a Prep bat, Caldwell is an advanced hitter for his age and shows a mature approach at the plate, which helps him make consistent contact. Despite his 5-8 frame, it does work in his favor, as he has a smaller strike zone than most players. His quick hands allow him to get to the baller quicker, leading to line drives all across the diamond. Unlike most OF prospects, Caldwell will never be a power hitter, but that shouldn't shock you when you look at his overall body build. However, given his bat speed and surprising strength for his size, he should still be able to generate 15-20 homers per season. If you had to compare him to an active MLB player, Jose Altuve comes to mind as a short player with a ton of bat speed leading to surprising pop. If Caldwell could turn into a player close to Altuve, whoever drafts him will be smiling ear to ear for the next decade plus. He has great bat speed, and Caldwell plays with a ton of energy, comparable to Javy Baez and Pete Crow-Armstrong. He has above-average to good speed on the bases and will be a stolen base threat whenever he has the chance to be one. Not to mention, Caldwell has the potential to cover ground in CF and remain there long-term while turning himself into a great defender. Although it would be nice for him to have more versatility in his game, it does appear that CF may be his only option, but is that a bad thing should he turn into a great player? The Cubs already have guys like Caldwell and Brett Bateman in South Bend, and he has been turning heads since joining the organization last season.
