Ed Howard

The best shortstop in last year's draft, Howard has a chance to develop above-average or better tools across the board. His bat speed ranked in the 98th percentile and his maximum exit velocity ranked in the 94th percentile in his class, according to Perfect Game. As he fills out his 6-foot-2, 180-pound frame, he should be a threat to hit 25-plus homers in the majors. He is not as fast as CJ Abrams or even Bobby Witt Jr., the top two shortstops in the 2019 draft, but as an above-average runner, Howard will still contribute some on the bases. Even without plus speed or elite range, his arm and glove make him a lock to stick at shortstop long term. As with all prep hitters, it's unclear exactly how much he will hit, but his bat speed and bat-to-ball skill suggest he will hold his own at the dish. The Cubs farm system will soon be among the best in the game, and Howard is one of the faces of the rebuild.