Ethan Conrad is starting to look like the kind of first-round pick that can make a front office feel smart in a hurry.
The Chicago Cubs took the Wake Forest outfielder in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft, and patience was always going to be part of the plan after a shoulder injury cut into his final college season. But now that he’s getting a real run this summer, the early returns are encouraging.
On Sunday, Conrad put together his second straight three-hit game. That one included a double and a home run that came off the bat at 109 MPH.
Over eight games in August, the 22-year-old is hitting .323/.364/.581 with 10 hits and four extra-base knocks. For a player whose draft stock was tied closely to how healthy he was, that’s a strong way to start answering the questions.
There was a belief around the industry that Conrad would have gone earlier in the first round if he’d been fully healthy, which makes the Cubs’ choice at No. 17 look even more intriguing. His 2026 season got off to a late start because he didn’t make his debut until this summer, so all eyes are on what comes next in 2027.
What makes Conrad even more interesting is the company he keeps in the Cubs’ system. MLB Pipeline’s latest organizational rankings have him at No. 3, and he’s part of a farm system packed with young outfielders.
Josiah Hartshorn is the headline name in that group, and Kane Kepley was just moved up to Double-A. Three of the Cubs’ top five prospects are outfielders, which lines up neatly with the big-league picture.
Pete Crow-Armstrong is not going anywhere, and he’s the kind of established presence these prospects can eventually learn from once they reach Chicago. At the same time, Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ are both headed toward free agency this offseason. Jed Hoyer could still work something out to keep one of them around, but there’s clearly room for these younger outfielders to push their way into the Cubs’ future.
Conrad still looks to be about two years away from being ready for the majors, but a finishing kick like this matters. If he keeps producing and carries that momentum forward, he could end up as the Cubs’ breakout prospect of 2027.
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