SB Nation Reacts: Cubs fans rate the team’s 2020 draft

The immediate future of MLB couldn’t be more in question. However, attention around the league, at least momentarily, turned to the game’s next wave when Major League Baseball conducted its annual MLB Draft a couple of weeks ago.

Cubs fans, specifically, are excited for what is to come. 90 percent of Cubs fans gave the team an A- or B-grade for their first-round selection (16th overall) of infielder Ed Howard out of Mt. Carmel High School, the first local product selected in the first round by the team since Don Schulze in 1980 out of Lake Park High School in Roselle. The only other local player selected by the Cubs in the first round was Brian Rosinski, from Evanston Township High School. Those two didn’t work out too well; hopefully, Ed Howard will become at least a solid regular for the Cubs if not a star. Howard was signed by the Cubs this week for slot value and will reportedly work out in Mesa with Director of Hitting Justin Stone beginning in August.

During the truncated five-round draft the Cubs selected one infielder, one outfielder and three pitchers.

57 percent of Cubs fans gave the team a B for this year’s draft class.

Despite the excitement now, most fans don’t think any of the newly-drafted players will make an impact on the big-league team for a few seasons. More than 90 percent of fans don’t expect a player to break through until at least next season — assuming there is a 2020 season — with the highest percentage looking to 2022.

SB Nation Reacts is a survey of fans across MLB. Each week, we send out questions to the most plugged in Cubs fans, and fans across the country. Sign up here to join Reacts.