Getting to Know Cubs Draft Pick: Owen Ayers |
After going pitcher-heavy for most of the third round, the Chicago Cubs went back to the position ranks late as they continued to focus on their system's biggest positional weakness. Taken in the 19th round from Marshall University, the Cubs' final position player drafted in this year's draft was C Owen Ayers.
Another experienced college bat with plenty of size and experience, Ayers checks in with his measurables at 6-2 and 185 pounds, although some scouts feel he is closer to 200 pounds right now. Another player who put up good but not overwhelming numbers, Ayers was at least consistent, and consistency matters in today's game. Across his two seasons at Marshall, Ayers combined to hit .287 while connecting for 15 homers and 62 RBIs. That included this past season, when he hit a career-high eight homers to go with 28 RBIs and a solid .282 average. Those numbers alone would make him a very good catching prospect in any system, and the Cubs are hoping that can translate once he gets acclimated to professional ball. A bit of an aggressive hitter at times, this is the point in the MLB draft where you stockpile depth within your system, and you can only have a few catchers. If there is something for the fans to take from this selection, it would be his overall toolset at the plate and what he can become as a player. Ayers is a very talented player, even if the numbers don't always indicate that. Going a bit further, you will see that he has all the tools to not only improve as a hitter but to consistently get better as a player, which is all you can ask for from a young player about to enter his first opportunity at professional ball. Looking at the current state of the Cubs roster, the catching position has the most question marks, as Miguel Amaya and now Christian Bethancourt are the MLB options. Sure, you do have Moises Ballesteros mashing his way through the system right now, but there are some long-term questions about whether or not he will remain a catcher long-term. Take him out of the mix, and you have Pablo Aliendo, who was showing significant strides this season prior to getting hurt. Otherwise, there isn't that so-called future option at catcher right now. While that isn't what the Cubs and their fans want to hear, it does make things interesting for Ayers as he is stepping into an open competition situation. Until the Cubs can confidently say that they have their catcher of the future, plenty of guys will be given an opportunity to prove they deserve a shot at being the next option. 19th-round pick or not, Ayers is walking into that situation, and he should be viewed as a player with the potential to make some noise across this system. Even if he seems like a long shot to amount to anything more than a Minor League filler guy, his overall consistency can't be ignored, as consistency pays off in the long run. The more consistent you are, the more playing time you earn, which is the best way to improve as a player. Throw in that he is also a switch hitter, and you can bet the Cubs have done their homework on him to find a place for him in the lineup when his time comes.
