Pros, cons of Chicago Cubs picking Ole Miss' Cade Townsend in 2026 MLB Draft
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The Chicago Cubs selected Ole Miss baseball pitcher Cade Townsned in the 2026 MLB Draft on July 11.
Townsend was selected No. 23 overall in the first round. He is the first Ole Miss player selected in the draft.
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Here's what Townsend brings to the Cubs, based on our own observations from his tenure at Ole Miss:
What Cade Townsend brings to Chicago Cubs in 2026 MLB Draft
Townsend is coming off a breakout sophomore season in which his MLB Draft profile rose steeply.
Townsend has a laid-back personality. He is 6-foot-1, 185-pounds and from Aliso Viejo, California.
He lived with Ole Miss pitching coach Joel Mangrum in the offseason. Townsend credits Mangrum for much of his development. Townsend throws a five-pitch mix with a shining curveball and sweeper.
He is a high-ceiling prospect with the stuff that could eventually work as an excellent starter in the MLB.
Cade Townsend highlights, strengths, weaknesses at Ole Miss
Townsend's array of pitches is his strength. His fastball sits in the mid-to-upper 90s, and his breaking balls keep hitters off balance.
Townsend can control his pitches masterfully. He had 88 strikeouts and just 22 walks in 64 innings in 2026.
The only concern is that Townsend's massive talent hasn't always aligned with great stats. He pitched just 34 innings as a freshman and had a 6.35 ERA. He needs to keep developing and improving to max out his ceiling.
Cade Townsend stats at Ole Miss
Townsend pitched two seasons at Ole Miss.
He earned a role as a weekend starter in 2026 and was 5-3 with a 3.94 ERA.
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at [email protected] or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Pros, cons of Chicago Cubs picking Ole Miss' Cade Townsend in 2026 MLB Draft