Chicago Cubs no. 1 draft pick gets sky-high vote of confidence

The Chicago Cubs feel that they got quite the bargain in the 2025 draft when they signed outfielder Ethan Conrad with their 17th pick.

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The talented prospect was expected to go earlier in the first round, likely in the top 10 or even sooner, but an injury to his throwing shoulder in his final season of NCAA ball that year and subsequent surgery somewhat cooled down interest.

The Cubs, though, happily picked up the multi-tool 21-year-old when it came their time to pick.

And now, fully recovered from injury, without even a single game played in the minors, he’s being listed as the no. 3 prospect in the Cubs organization in the updated 2026 top 30 prospect rankings.

Ethan Conrad was a draft day steal at no. 17

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“We felt he’s somebody that, had he played out the entire season, would have been considered in the top 10,” Cubs vice president of scouting Dan Kantrovitz said at the time of the draft. “A pretty exceptional value in terms of getting him at 17.”

“He’s somebody that can turn a double into a triple with his speed, and I think he’s somebody that is gonna be able to put pressure on the defense in a number of different ways,” Kantrovitz continued. “His decision-making, his ability to make contact, his ability to hit for damage — all three of those pillars are there, and we think that he’s just getting better across the board.”

Many experts agree on Conrad’s projected major league ability and on the upside he carries with him. Despite zero experience at the pro level, the 6-foot-3 blue-chipper recently received some votes in Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects list.

A “five-tool” star

“Ethan is a five-tool player, who is a gamer,” Conrad’s head coach at Wake Forest Tom Walter said, shortly after the draft. “This is a great pick by the Chicago Cubs. Ethan will be a guy who will play in the big leagues for a long time and is a potential All-Star. His bat-to-ball skills are elite and he is just scratching the surface of his power potential.”

On the Cubs’ prospects list, only DH/C Moises Ballesteros and RHP Jaxon Wiggins rank above him at no. 1 and no. 2, respectively. Ballesteros is expected to make the big league Opening Day roster and Wiggins will be at Triple-A Iowa, expected to possibly see some major league time this season in Chicago.

Conrad, meanwhile, has been given a 2028 estimated time of major league arrival.

Last summer, the no. 1 draft pick visited Wrigley Field and had his first interaction with Cubs manager Craig Counsell. He left the introduction inspired and eager to get down to the business of playing baseball.

“It was awesome,” Conrad said during a broadcast both appearance during the game. “Just being able to meet him was really cool. We were just talking about playing baseball every single day and how you’ve got to be grateful for it. It’s hard, but just embracing it. That’s probably the biggest thing. I’m just excited to get to work, for sure.”

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