Special final draft day for Chicago Cubs
NEW YORK - The final day of the baseball amateur draft was a special one for the Chicago Cubs.
They wound up with 41 players over 40 rounds overall. They had two picks in the first round, taking left-handed pitcher Brendon Little 27th overall and right-hander Alex Lange 30th.
They made two interesting selections Wednesday.
In the 19th round, they took outfielder Chris Singleton from Charleston Southern University. In the 33rd round, they selected catcher Joe Donovan out of Westmont High School.
Singleton's mother, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, was one of nine victims of the Charleston shootings two years ago.
Donovan will attend the University of Michigan. He is the 2017 Daily Herald DuPage County All-Area Baseball Captain. Jason McLeod, the Cubs' scouting and player-development chief, said the pick was special for a couple of reasons.
"We've known the family for quite a few years," McLeod said. "Stan Zielinski (the Cubs' scout and Winfield native who died this year) got very close with the family. Joe's older brother (Charlie) was a very talented player who tragically passed away a couple of years ago. We've gotten to know them very well.
"Joe's going to attend the University of Michigan, and we look forward to scouting him over the next three years. We've really developed a really good relationship with that family, one that was formed originally through Stan. It's just another way to kind of get Stan another player out of this draft. We love that family."
Donovan was the 2015 Daily Herald DuPage County All-Area baseball captain.
DL for Zobrist?
Second baseman Ben Zobrist was out of the Cubs' lineup for a second straight game Wednesday night as he continues to have soreness in his left wrist. A decision about the disabled list may be coming.
The injury first happened on a swing of the bat last month in Los Angeles.
"Friday if it's still sore, we may have to make a decision," Zobrist said. "That's kind of where it's at. If it's feeling way better on Friday, I'll be playing Friday.
"It's just not getting better, as better as I would like it to be getting. It's just affecting my ability to prepare and my ability to feel comfortable to play. I don't want to put the team in that situation."
Another MRI for Hendricks:
Pitcher Kyle Hendricks had a second MRI done on his right hand Wednesday. Hendricks is on the 10-day DL with tendinitis near the back of the middle finger.
"We really did anticipate he might be pitching by this weekend, but he still felt it," said manager Joe Maddon. "We just wanted to get it double checked."
The Cubs had hoped Hendricks would be able to pitch in Pittsburgh, but that won't happen.