Getting to Know Cubs Draft Pick: Cole Mathis

by Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - Mon Jul 15 12:15:08 GMT-05:00 2024

It's clear that the Chicago Cubs had a plan for how they wanted their early rounds of the MLB draft to go. When you look at this organization from top to bottom and how it is constructed, several areas need to be addressed in the near future for this team to get back to playing winning baseball.

The starting rotation and first baseman position were questions before the season, but Michael Busch has proven he can handle first, while the starting pitching has been the strength of the Cubs team this season. You still have questions surrounding the bullpen, but with the rash of injuries this team has gone through and the number of young arms they have used this season, is that really going to be a question mark much longer?

However, the one position on this team that continues to be a question and will continue to be one until they find their answer is 3B, which the Cubs seemed to focus on in rounds one and two. Matt Shaw appears to be the consensus pick to take over 3B, but he can also play second should Nico Hoerner get traded at some point.

That could be why the Cubs targeted not one but two 3B in this year's draft, as they are eager to see what they can do. After taking Florida State University 3B Cam Smith in the first round, the Cubs doubled down in the second round to take 3B/1B Cole Mathis from the College of Charleston.

Regarded as the 84th-best prospect in the Nation, the Cubs may have reached for him a bit at No. 54, but that just means they either liked what they saw in him or were worried he wouldn't be around when they picked in the third round. At 6-1 and 210 pounds, the 20-year-old Mathis already has an MLB body, but he is expected to grow even more into that frame, making him a bigger and stronger player once he matures.

Mathis has had an interesting journey as a player. He came into college as a two-way player but spent most of his freshman season as a reliever, thus limiting his plate appearances. Then came the 2023 season, when Mathis not only showed what he could do on the mound but quickly became one of the best two-way players in the Nation, helping raise his draft stock to the levels it was at this season.

During that season, Mathis led the Cougars in both OPS (1.014) and ERA (3.45) and then went on to rake in the Cape Cod League, where he finished second overall with 11 homers. He followed that up with another strong season this season, posting a .335 average to go with 14 homers and 46 RBIs to become the program's best position player since 2005 when Brett Gardner was drafted in the third round.

Mathis may not have pitched at all this season, but with a 7-3 record and a 3.50 career ERA across 100 innings, he has shown the ability to become a two-way guy again. When you dive further into his offensive game, you immediately notice his swing. He may not have the prettiest right-handed swing out there, but it gets the job done.

It's an effortless stroke that generates easy power in all fields, although most of his homers come to the pull side of the field. He does get a little ground ball-heavy at times, which does come as a concern as most scouts feel he could do much more damage if he could elevate the ball a bit better. That could be from his swing, but regardless, Mathis does have plenty of power potential while also doing a great job of controlling the strike zone at a young age.

The other parts of his game are where the biggest question marks come into play, as he needs a natural position. He has played both first and third base most of his collegiate career, but a lack of top-end speed and overall athleticism could limit him to first. Given his pitching experience, he does have a plus arm should the Cubs want to try him at third, but you also have to consider pitching him again, as many feel he has back-of-the-rotation stuff.

In order for that to happen, Mathis needs to prove he is healthy as he was nursing an elbow injury this season which is why he didn't pitch. Before that injury, Mathis was a guy who would sit in the 92-93 MPH range with his heater while mixing in a 75 MPH curveball as his best secondary offering. He also featured an 87 MPH cutter and a rare change, as he had plenty of options to keep hitters off balance. Regardless of what the Cubs do with him, he has plenty of potential, as this could be one of the better picks in round 2.