Cubs Complete Draft Class with Second-Rounder Jaxon Wiggins, Two Others
The Cubs have officially announced the signings of the final three players of their 2023 draft class, highlighted by second-rounder Jaxon Wiggins. The righty from the University of Arkansas was viewed by some as a tough sign, but he ended up inking a deal for a bonus that was well above his slot value. The organization has secured the services of 11th-round outfielder Zyhir Hope from Colonial Forge High School (Va.) and 13th-rounder Sam Armstrong from Old Dominion University.
Here’s more from the press release with info below on the bonus values.
Wiggins, 21, appeared in 34 games (19 starts) for the University of Arkansas in two seasons, striking out 110 batters in 89.0 innings, good for an 11.1 strikeout per 9.0 IP ratio. The right-handed pitcher went 9-4 with a 6.17 ERA (51 ER/89.0 IP) and four saves with the Razorbacks before he missed the 2023 season due to Tommy John surgery.
The six-foot six-inch, 225-pound Wiggins was named a Preseason All-American by Baseball America prior to the 2022 campaign. During his freshman season in 2021, Wiggins tallied four saves, the second-most on the team.
A native of Roland, Okla., Wiggins attended Roland High School, where he played both basketball and baseball. He was ranked as the No. 7 overall prospect and the No. 3 right-handed pitcher in the state of Oklahoma by Perfect Game in his senior year.
Hope, 18, compiled a .530 average, to go along with nine home runs, 38 RBI, 29 stolen bases and a .663 on-base percentage in 24 games during his senior season at Colonial Forge High School in Stafford, Va. Hope was named the Commonwealth District and co-Class 6 Region B Player of the Year to go along with First Team All-State honors in 2023. He was previously committed to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Armstrong, 22, made 30 appearances (29 starts) in two seasons with Old Dominion, going 12-6 with a 4.36 ERA (68 ER/140.1 IP). The right-handed pitcher began his collegiate career at the County College of Morris in New Jersey, where he was named All-Conference and All-Region in 2021. A Wantage, N.J., native, Armstrong attended High Point Regional High School in Sussex, N.J., where he was the County Player of the Year in 2019 and a three-time All-County and All-Conference selection from 2017-19.
- Matt Shaw – $4,848,500 (full)
- Jaxon Wiggins – $1,401,500 ($1.1M)
- Josh Rivera – $725,000 ($872,400)
- Will Sanders – $600,000 ($591,800)
- Michael Carico – $400,000 ($416,900)
- Alfonsin Rosario – $325,600 (full)
- Yahil Melendez – $400,000 ($254,500)
- Brett Bateman – $180,000 ($203,600)
- Jonathon Long – $179,400 (full)
- Luis Martinez-Gomez – $100,000 ($168,300)
- Zyhir Hope – $400,000 ($250K toward pool)
- Carter Trice – $150,000
- Sam Armstrong – $135,000
- Grayson Moore – $150,000
- Ty Johnson – $125,000
- Daniel Brown – $150,000
- Ethan Flanagan – $150,000
- Brian Kalmer – $50,000
- Nick Dean – $75,000
- Drew Bowser – $150,000
