From Troy to the North Side: Edders brings power arm to Cubs |
Dustin Riese
· · 2 hours ago
Three-quarters of the way through the 2025 MLB draft, and you had a very good sense of what the Cubs were trying to do. Early on, it was all about the outfield as the Cubs made it a point to target high-quality outfield bats and did just that. Then it became a matter of the pitching, as 13 of their final 16 picks were pitchers.
While some of these pitchers may elect not to sign and or may never reach the majors, adding as much pitching depth as possible is crucial for any organization, especially when you look at the injury issues across the league. As was the case with many of the arms the Cubs took, Noah Edders, who is a physical specimen on the mound, stands at 6-4 and weighs in at 232 pounds. Clearly, the size and intimidation factor were something the Cubs felt they needed to target, and that alone is a big reason why they went after the names they did. Although Edders may have been listed as a senior, the consensus was that he was a redshirt junior who was a starter for Troy University. Formerly of Bradley before transferring to Troy, Edders didn't have the best numbers as a starter, going 15-11 across 35 career college starts, posting a 5.50 ERA. That included a 5-2 record in his only season with Troy last year, while also posting a career best 5.54 ERA. The ERA is what a lot of people are going to look at, but there is so much more to talk about when it comes to Edders and his game. For starters, he was a workhorse on the mound this season, giving the Trojans 65 innings in 13 starts. In those innings, Edders struck out 67 batters compared to 27 walks, as the command was there most of the season. Even if his season numbers don't look great, his summer numbers do, and that is what the Cubs are looking to capitalize on, as he posted a 0.00 ERA in three games this summer. After a sporadic freshman season that saw him bounce between starter and reliever, Edders finally started to settle in as a sophomore and has remained a starter ever since. His 23.7% strikeout is right at league average, while a 9.5% walk rate is slightly above average, but not at a level that would concern you long term. From a stuff side of things, Edders typically sits around 92 MPH with his fastball, but was seen rushing it up there at 96 when put in a bullpen role. That is something to watch once he gets into the Cubs' system, as they may feel his stuff plays better as a reliever than a starter. Along with that fastball comes his best secondary offering, which is an 84 MPH slider. Not only has that become his primary swing-and-miss pitch, but whenever he needs a strikeout, that is the pitch he leans on the most. Edders also sparingly throws a mid-80s changeup. His ability to land his fastball and slider for solid strikes while generating some swing-and-miss provides a relief floor for Edders once he lands in pro ball, so look for the Cubs to use him more as a reliever than a starter. It has been a long time since the Cubs emphasized pitching in a draft as much as they did here, but also focused on a lot more relief-only arms as opposed to starters. There must be a plan behind that, as the Cubs know the value of good relievers in today's game. Grade C-: Another it is what it is type of selection, Edders isn't going to blow your socks off, let alone have a massive ceiling where he could become a difference maker in this organization. He is also someone who has a low floor, as you will get what you get from him consistently. Sure, Edders has been a starter the past two years and flashed plenty of potential when on the mound, but his best stuff comes from a relief-type role. Even if he doesn't play into the team's long-term plans, just getting him in their organization to see what he can do is going to be crucial for the Cubs. Cubs select Troy RHP Noah Edders.
I selected him in my Cubs 20-round mock on Sunday. The former Downers Grove South HS prep pitcher this season at Troy and was excellent in brief stint in @mlbdraftleague with Trenton.
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