The Cubs’ draft board took an early hit when the Royals jumped the line and grabbed Zion Rose at No. 6 in the 2026 MLB Draft.
Rose had been widely viewed as a name Chicago could land in the range of its pick at No. 23, which is why Kansas City’s move landed with such force. He’d been tied to clubs near the back end of the first round, but the Royals decided not to wait and took the Louisville outfielder well before that window.
That kind of swing is part of what makes the draft unpredictable, and for the Cubs it changes the conversation quickly. Rose had the kind of profile Chicago has tended to like in recent years: a college bat whose stock climbed late in the season and who was viewed as one of the purest hitters in the class. That same type of player lines up with Ethan Conrad, Matt Shaw, and Cam Smith, which is a big reason Rose had been seen as such a natural fit.
But once the Royals took him, the Cubs were left to sort through the alternatives.
If Chicago stays on the college-bat track, Texas Tech left fielder Logan Hughes is one name that could come into focus. The appeal is obvious enough: his hit tool and power both grade at 55.
The tradeoff is just as clear. He isn’t viewed as an above-average defender in the outfield, and he could also be a problem on the bases.
There’s also another path now that Rose is gone. His early selection could push the Cubs toward their pitching options, and MLB Pipeline’s final mock had them taking left-hander Cole Carlon. Chicago has also been connected to college arms Mason Edwards and Cade Townsend.
At this stage of the first round, the board can get messy in a hurry. If the Cubs decide to go under-slot, they could use that flexibility later on high-school upside. Hughes would fit that kind of approach too.
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