Kaleb Wing brings big upside to Cubs After velocity surge

Dustin Riese · Senior Writer · 4 hours ago

When you look at the early round selections made by the Chicago Cubs, a lot of them could be considered reaches. This was a team that selected players more based on potential rather than the best player available on the board. That alone could be why they never drafted a shortstop, marking the first time in the organization's history that they have not drafted at least one shortstop.

Of all the early round selections, Kaleb Wing is the one that stands out the most, as the Cubs received what many thought was a round two or round three talent in round four, and that alone is a massive get for this team. Ranked No. 87 among the top prospects, Wing fell to the Cubs at 121, and they didn't hesitate to scoop him up before it was too late.

The Loyola Marymount Commit is a right-handed pitcher, listed at 6-2 and 180 pounds. Son of Ryan Wing, who was a second-round pick by the Chicago White Sox during the 2001 draft, Kaleb is a two-way player from Southern California who is known as a defensive specialist on the infield when he is not pitching.

It's the pitching side of his game that the Cubs are drafting him for, as his days as a two-way guy are most likely going to come to a close once he signs on the dotted line. A big reason for his rise on the draft board was an uptick in his stuff on the mound this past Spring, as Wing looked to be turning the corner and finally reaching his potential as a starter.

Not nearly as much experience on the mound as in the field, Wing is figuring it out on the bump, despite his stuff not being what you would think in a high-end starter. For example, his fastball tends to sit around 89 MPH but can reach up to 91, which isn't a pitch that will blow hitters away.

However, this spring is when things began to change, as Wing was not only averaging 92-plus MPH with his heater but also began to top out at 95 MPH, an uptick in velocity that opened the eyes of scouts everywhere. To go with that fastball comes an overhand curveball that not only sits around 80 MPH, but also offers some plus break and outstanding depth, making it his go-to strikeout pitch.

Wing is also working on a changeup as his third offering, and although that pitch hasn't been used a ton, he has continued to use it more as the season went on, which is all you can ask for from a development standpoint. One of the key reasons he was able to increase his velocity this past season is his athletic delivery, which minimizes the strain on his body.

That delivery allows him to repeat the delivery one pitch to the next and helps him pound the strike zone, which is all you can ask for from a young arm. There are concerns about his overall strength and how much more he can improve, given his extremely thin frame for his height. However, the uptick in velocity is proof that there is some more strength in his arm, and that alone is something the Cubs are excited to work with him on should he sign with the club.

Grade B: Grading draft picks, especially high school picks, is extremely difficult, but this is one of those picks that is purely an upside play. Had the Cubs made this selection last year, this would've been seen as a massive reach and a blown selection in the minds of the experts.

Now, one year later, after watching the uptick in velocity and pure stuff on the mound, scouts have raved about his overall improvement on the mound, and some have gone on record saying he could be the steal of the draft if he continues to develop further. We have a long way to wait for that, as high school arms tend to take a considerable amount of time to develop, but this is a long-term play for the Cubs, as they have the patience to wait.