Big frame, big power: Cubs draft Alabama HS standout compared to Kris Bryant

Dustin Riese · Senior Writer · 2 hours ago

With the 571st pick of the 2025 MLB draft, the Chicago Cubs selected Caleb Barnett (3B) from Mountain Brook HS (Alabama). Nineteen rounds in and 571 picks into the draft, the Cubs finally drafted an infielder, and ironically, it wasn't a shortstop, as this marked the first time in the history of the MLB draft that the Cubs had not selected a shortstop.

The University of Alabama recruit has been seen as a two-way player his entire career, but is expected to focus on the hitting side of things with the Cubs.

When you look at Barnett, the first thing you notice is his 6-5, 210-pound frame, which draws comparisons to what Kris Bryant looked like when the Cubs drafted him.

No one is saying that Barnett is going to become the player Bryant was, but having a comparable size to Bryant is something the Cubs like. Not only does he possess the size that most MLB teams look for, but he also has the power and exit velocities to back it up, as he boasts some of the best raw power among any high schoolers in the entire class.

As is the case with many power hitters, there is a significant amount of swing and miss in his game, which is a major concern for his development going forward. Still, ranked no. 282 among the Baseball America top-400 prospects, the Cubs are getting a steal in round 19 if they can figure out a way to keep him in Chicago.

Already an imposing figure on the field, Barnett has the body to add even more size and strength, and that alone is scary when you think about it. Given his size, it shouldn't surprise anyone when it comes to his raw power, as he can launch balls over the fence with the best of them. He shows off that raw power during batting practice, but with below-average hitting tendencies, there is far more swing and miss than you like to see from a high school prospect.

His swing is steep and uphill with plenty of length, which will lead to eye-opening home runs to the pull side, but should also make him a power-over-hit offensive profile. The uphill swing is another Bryant comparison, as he was known for having an uphill swing that generated plenty of power.

While there is a chance for him to remain at third, you could see Barnett make the move to one of the corner outfield spots or even a DH, depending on how he profiles defensively. He has above-average arm strength, but is a below-average runner, and that is why you could see him become more of a DH than anything.

Grade A-: You want to talk about a late-round steal, Barnett certainly fits the mold, and if the Cubs can find a way to keep him. From a pure power standpoint, not many players have the power Barnett has, and some felt he could go in the first 10 rounds based on his power alone. If he profiled as a better pure hitter, there is a chance he goes in the first 10 rounds, but his swing and miss rate saw him fall further than he wanted to.

Anytime you are comparable to Bryant in multiple aspects of your game, the pressure for you to succeed is massive. While no one is expecting him to be the player Bryant was or anywhere close to that type of a player, if he can display anything close to the power he once had, the Cubs are going to enjoy having him in their organization as he could be the future DH that this team has been longing for.