Cubs sign top draft pick

The Chicago Cubs have signed their top selection from the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, right-handed pitcher Andrew Cashner, team officials announced Thursday.

In addition, the Cubs signed their second-round pick, right-handed pitcher Aaron Shafer.

Cashner, 21, recently completed his junior season at Texas Christian University and will join the Rookie League Mesa Cubs.

In his first season with TCU, Cashner led the club with 9 wins, 9 saves and 30 relief appearances while posting a 2.32 ERA (14 ER/54.1 IP) in 2008. He limited the opposition to a .122 batting average (21-for-172) while walking just 27 and striking out a team-high 80, good for 13.3 strikeouts per nine innings pitched.

Besides being named first-team all-conference, Cashner also earned a spot on the Mountain West Conference all-tournament squad, and was named third-team All-American by Louisville Slugger last week. Baseball America listed Cashner as the 24th-best prospect heading into this year's draft. The publication also selected his fastball as one of the top-three among college players.

In 2007, the 6-foot-6, 185-pound Cashner appeared in the Junior College All-Star Game after posting a 9-3 record.

Shafer, 21, went 11-4 with a 3.26 ERA (40 ER/110.1 IP) in 16 starts for Wichita State University in 2008. He led the club with 110 strikeouts compared to just 28 walks, and was second on the staff in victories and complete games (4).

This past June, Shafer was named to the 2008 American Baseball Coaches Association Midwest All-Region Second Team.

The Cubs have signed 31 players from the 2008 First-Year Player Draft including 26 of their first 27 selections.