2024 MLB Draft: Cubs Take 1B/RHP Cole Mathis With 54th Overall Pick
With the 54th overall pick in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Chicago Cubs have selected 1B/RHP Cole Mathis ouf of College of Charleston. The 6-foot-1, 220-pounder posted a .335/.472/.650 slash line with 17 doubles, 14 HR, 58 RBI, and 14 SB as a junior this past season.
As a freshman, Mathis was primarily utilized as a reliever out of the bullpen, and posted a 3.82 ERA with 39 K’s in 40.0 IP across 20 appearances. He saw limited time as a hitter until his sophomore campaign when he posted a .330/.439/.575 slash line with nine HR and 51 RBI to go along with a 41-to-37 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
During the summer of 2023, Mathis shined in the Cape Cod League as a hitter, recording a 1.048 OPS and the second-most home runs (11). He followed that up with an impressive junior season at Charleston and was primarily slotted into the lineup as the everyday first baseman.
Here is a scouting report on Mathis, via MLB.com:
Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 45 | Arm: 60 | Field: 45 | Overall: 45
Mathis got only a handful of at-bats while spending most of his 2022 freshman year at College of Charleston as a reliever. He became one of college baseball’s top two-way players last spring, leading the Cougars in both OPS (1.014) and ERA (3.45) before finishing second in the Cape Cod League with 11 homers. The program’s best position prospect since 2005 third-rounder Brett Gardner, he recovered from a slow start to slash .335/.472/.650 with 14 longballs this spring.
While Mathis may not have the prettiest right-handed swing, it’s an effortless stroke that produces consistent contact to all fields. He has solid power, driving most of his home runs to left-center, and might do more damage if he launched balls in the air more frequently. He controls the strike zone well and draws plenty of walks.
Mathis has fringy speed and decent athleticism but is limited to first base despite his plus arm strength. Though some clubs viewed him as a potential back-of-the-rotation starter, he has focused on hitting this year while dealing with an elbow injury. His best offering is a mid-70s downer curveball that he commands well, and he also works with a low-90s fastball with running action and a fringy cutter and changeup that both park in the mid-80s.
