Simpson shows Cubs what he's got

He's signed, sealed and already delivering in a practice session from the bullpen mound.

Within hours of signing with the Cubs Saturday morning for $1.06 million, top draft pick Hayden Simpson demonstrated his talent in a 30-minute bullpen session before an audience of Cubs brass, including general manager Jim Hendry and pitching coach Larry Rothschild.

The Cubs made Simpson, a 21-year-old right-hander from Southern Arkansas University, the No. 16 overall pick in the 2010 Major League Baseball first-year player draft on June 7. Fifteen of the Cubs' 50 draft picks are now under contract, including seven of the top 14.

"It's great," Simpson said of his first experience at Wrigley Field. "Walking through the tunnel and walking on the field, it's kind of a feeling like you've arrived. It's been fun. It's been great. Wrigley Field is so historic. To be a part of the Chicago Cubs organization now is a great feeling."

Saturday's starting pitcher, Ted Lilly, observed Simpson's bullpen session while leaning on the dugout fence and munching on breakfast. "Not bad," Lilly said after the prospect snapped off a curveball.

Told later of Lilly's compliment, Simpson said: "Really? That's pretty cool."

Simpson throws four-seam and two-seam fastballs and has been clocked as high as 97 mph. He also throws a tight slider and a sharp breaking ball, all of which were on display during the bullpen session.

At Southern Arkansas this spring, the 6-foot, 175-pounder went 13-1 with an ERA of 1.81 and 131 strikeouts in 991/3 innings. He said he tries to emulate the best traits of several successful big-league pitchers.

"I always liked watching Roger Clemens pitch," Simpson said. "I liked his attitude on the mound. He took control. Growing up, I was a (Greg) Maddux fan. I liked watching Tom Glavine pitch. Lately, I like watching (Tim) Lincecum and (Roy) Oswalt."

Is Simpson looking forward to picking the brain of Maddux, who works for the Cubs as an assistant to Hendry?

"I sure am," he said. "He's going to have to kick me away from him because I'm going to be bugging him."

Simpson will begin his professional career with Mesa of the Arizona Rookie League before heading to short-season Class A Boise later this summer. He will play in the Arizona Instructional League in the fall.

Dream Weaver: Cubs center fielder Marlon Byrd knew what kind of challenge Angels starting pitcher Jered Weaver posed Saturday. Byrd spent all or parts of the last three seasons with the Texas Rangers and squared off with Weaver several times.

"We faced one of the best pitchers no one knows about because he's over there in the AL West," said Byrd, who managed one of the Cubs' 2 hits in a 12-0 loss. "I've seen him for the past three years, and he's the ace of that staff. There's a reason he has the numbers that he does. He's leading that rotation."