2007 Rule 4 Draft - Final Signing Update
The August 15th deadline has passed, and the first 68 players selected by MLB clubs in this past June's Rule 4 Draft (First-Year Player Draft) opted to sign, including all players selected in the 1st round and the Supplemental 1st round. A total of 98 of the first 100 players drafted ended up signing pro contracts.
The Cubs signed 33 of the 50 players they drafted, including the first 18, and 23 of the first 24. #1 pick Josh Vitters was signed with just hours to spare. Notables who got away include 25th round pick Victor Sanchez (third-baseman on the Team USA Junior National Team) and 33rd round pick and University of Texas catcher Preston Clark (the #1 catcher for Team USA who was rated the #5 college catcher going into the draft by Baseball America).
Here is the current status of players selected by the Cubs in the draft, as well as players signed as Non-Drafted Free-Agents (NDFA) after the draft, and 5th Year College Seniors and Draft+Follows (DNFs) signed prior to the draft:
2007 RULE 4 DRAFT
1. Josh Vitters, 3B (Cypress HS – Cypress, CA) FITCH PARK (MESA)
NOTE: Would have enrolled at Arizona State if he hadn't signed with the Cubs.
1-S. Josh Donaldson, C (Auburn) BOISE
NOTE: 1st Round (supplemental) compensation pick for losing Type “B” FA OF Juan Pierre to LAD.
2. NONE
NOTE: Pick went to WAS after Cubs signed Type “A” FA OF Alfonso Soriano.
3. Tony Thomas, 2B (Florida State) BOISE
4. Darwin Barney, SS (Oregon State) PEORIA
5. Brandon Guyer, OF-IF (Virginia) BOISE
6. Casey Lambert, LHP (Virginia) PEORIA
7. Ty Wright, OF (Oklahoma State) PEORIA
8. Marquez Smith, 3B (Clemson) PEORIA
NOTE: College teammate of Cubs 2006 #1 pick (OF Tyler Colvin), Smith was selected by Cubs in 2006 draft (35th Round) but did not sign.
9. Clark Hardman, OF (Cal State- Fullerton) AZL CUBS (MESA)
NOTE: Freshman All-American in 2004, missed most of 2005 season with torn labrum.
10. Leon Johnson, OF (BYU) PEORIA
NOTE: Drafted twice previously by TB (once out of HS and once after one year at JC), spent two years on LDS mission in Siberia (2004-06).
11. Chris Siegfried, LHP (U. of Portland) PEORIA
12. Ryan Acosta, RHP/SS (Clearwater Central Catholic HS - Clearwater, FL) AZL CUBS (MESA)
NOTE: Son of ex-Cubs pitching coach Oscar Acosta (killed in a car crash in Dominican Republic in 2006), he would have enrolled at Georgia if he hadn't signed with the Cubs. A two-way player in high school, he will be a full-time pitcher with the Cubs.
13. Jonathan Wyatt, OF (Georgia) BOISE
NOTE: Won Rawlings Gold Glove his senior season at Georgia
14. James Russell, LHP (Texas) FITCH PARK (MESA)
NOTE: Son of ex-Texas Rangers closer Jeff Russell.
15. Marc Sawyer, 1B (Yale) BOISE
16. Zach Ashwood, LHP (Kansas) BOISE
17. Arik Hempy, LHP (South Carolina) BOISE
NOTE: Had Tommy John elbow surgery in 2006.
18. Jeffrey Rea, 2B-OF (Mississippi State) DAYTONA
19. Kyle Day, C (Michigan State) DID NOT SIGN
NOTE: Was a draft-eligible sophomore, will be returning to Michigan State for junior year.
20. Jose Made, INF (Dominican College) BOISE
21. Dustin Sasser, LHP (East Carolina) BOISE
22. Craig Muschko, RHP (LaSalle) AZL CUBS (MESA)
23. Stephen Vento, RHP (Palm Beach CC) BOISE
NOTE: Would have transferred to Florida Atlantic if he hadn't signed with Cubs.
24. Scott Meyer, RHP (Lamar) DAYTONA
25. Victor Sanchez, 3B (Gahr HS – Norwalk, CA) DID NOT SIGN
NOTE: Member of Team USA Junior National team, will be attending U. of San Diego.
26. Michael Bunton, LHP (College of Charleston) AZL CUBS (MESA)
27. Clayton Suss, RHP (Cooper City HS - Cooper City, FL) DID NOT SIGN
NOTE: Will be attending Miami-Dade CC.
28. Bill Moss, INF (U. of Memphis) BOISE
29. Andrew Cashner, RHP (Angelina JC) DID NOT SIGN
NOTE: Has transferred to TCU.
30. Luke Sommer, OF-1B (U. of San Francisco) AZL CUBS (MESA)
31. Brian Leclerc, OF (Florida) PEORIA
32. Luis Bautista, C-1B (Florida International) BOISE
NOTE: Brother of Pittsburgh Pirates 3B Jose Bautista.
33. Preston Clark, C (Texas) DID NOT SIGN
NOTE: Team USA’s #1 catcher and rated the #5 college catcher pre-2007 draft by Baseball America, he has returned to the Longhorns (and presumably Team USA).
34. Enrique Garcia, RHP (U. of Miami) DID NOT SIGN
NOTE: Has returned to the “U” for his senior year.
35. J. C. Casey, RHP (Kickapoo HS – Kickapoo, MO) DID NOT SIGN
NOTE: Will be attending Missouri State.
36. Billy Mottram, 3B (Dowling College) DAYTONA
37. Mike McGee, 3B/RHP (Port St. Lucie HS – Port St. Lucie, FL) DID NOT SIGN
NOTE: Will be attending Florida State.
38. Yuri Higgins, RHP/OF (South Florida) BOISE
NOTE: Broke his wrist playing OF at South Florida just prior to the draft, he will be a full-time pitcher with Cubs.
39. Roberto Sabates, C (Cuban defector - Miami, FL) AZL CUBS (MESA)
NOTE: Played for Industriales in Cuba.
40. Corey Bachman, RHP (VMI) AZL CUBS (MESA)
41. Jordan Herr, OF (U. of Pittsburgh) DID NOT SIGN
NOTE: Son of ex-Cardinals 2B (and Cub-killer) Tommy Herr and a draft-eligible sophomore, will be returning to Pitt for junior season.
42. Colt Sedbrook, INF (Arizona) DID NOT SIGN
NOTE: Will be returning to U. of A for his senior year.
43. Garrett Clyde, RHP (San Jacinto JC – North) DID NOT SIGN
NOTE: Has transferred to Texas.
44. Bryan Jost, 1B (Minnesota) FITCH PARK (MESA)
45. Ryan Lewis, OF (Yakima Valley CC) DID NOT SIGN
46. Tyler Clark, RHP (Springfield Catholic HS – Springfield, MO) DID NOT SIGN
NOTE: Will be attending Missouri.
47. Josh Walter, RHP (Texas State) DID NOT SIGN
48. Carlos Rivera, OF (East Aurora HS - East Aurora, IL) DID NOT SIGN
49. Jordan Rogers, RHP (San Jacinto JC - North) DID NOT SIGN
NOTE: Has transferred to Rice.
50. Blake Murphy, C (Western Carolina) DID NOT SIGN
NON-DRAFTED FREE-AGENTS (NDFA)(signed after completion of 2007 Rule 4 Draft)
Patrick Brooks, INF (UT - Pan American) AZL CUBS (MESA)
Hong-Wen Chen, RHP (Taiwan) FITCH PARK (MESA)
NOTE: Chen was signed by Cubs Pacific Rim scouting coordinator Steve Wilson a couple of months ago but has been unable to pitch due to “arm fatigue.”
Michael Christl, RHP (Bradley) AZL CUBS (MESA)
Matt Hudgins, C (Virginia Wesleyan) AZL CUBS (MESA)
Chris Rivera, RHP (Virginia Wesleyan) AZL CUBS (MESA)
Derek Schermerhorn, INF (Wichita State) PEORIA
Yusdel Tuero, RHP (Cuban defector) DAYTONA
NOTE: Deceptive slop-throwin’ side-armin’ right-hander (think Rod Beck circa 2003) pitched for Las Vaqueros de la Havana in Cuba
Chih-Hsiang Wen, OF (Taiwan) AZL CUBS (MESA)
NOTE: Like Chen (see above), Wen was signed in June by Cubs Pacific Rim scouting coordinator Steve Wilson.
5th YEAR COLLEGE SENIORS (2006 NDFA) signed in May 2007
Michael Bartek, RHP (Nicholls State) PEORIA
John Muller , RHP (St. Thomas Aquinas College) BOISE
NOTE: Was combination SS/RHP (closer) at Aquinas, will be full-time pitcher with Cubs.
2006 DRAFT + FOLLOW (DNF) (signed in May 2007)
Jordan Latham, RHP (College of Southern Idaho) BOISE
NOTE: Cubs 2006 29th Round pick, would have transferred to Arizona State if he hadn't signed with Cubs as DNF.
Marcus Hatley, RHP (Palomar JC) AZL CUBS (MESA)
NOTE: Cubs 2006 39th Round pick, was a two-way player (OF/RHP) in college, but will be a full-time pitcher with Cubs.
Cedric Redmond, RHP (Oakton CC) AZL CUBS (MESA)
NOTE: Cubs 2006 27th Round pick.
Jovan Rosa, 3B (Lake City CC) BOISE
NOTE: Cubs 2006 22nd Round pick, was his conference’s 2007 player of the year and was rated a pre-draft likely ‘07 Top 5 rounder by BA, would have transferred to NC State if he hadn't signed with Cubs as DNF.
Brett Summers, RHP (South Suburban JC) FITCH PARK (MESA)
NOTE: Cubs 2006 28th Round pick.
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