Cubs sign seven more draft picks including 3B James Triantos

Triantos is a talented 3B prospect for the Cubs

by Press Release - Sat Jul 24 14:00:09 GMT-04:00 2021

CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today announced they have signed seven of their remaining selections in the 2021 First-Year Player Draft, including third baseman James Triantos, the team’s second-round selection (56th overall).

The club also signed right-handed pitchers Erian Rodriguez (13th round) and Frankie Scalzo Jr. (14th round), third baseman B.J. Murray Jr. (15th round), right-handed pitcher Zachary Leigh (16th round), shortstop Christian Olivo (17th round) and right-handed pitcher Dominic Hambley (18th round).

Triantos, 18, hit .712 (37-for-52) with 11 home runs, 27 RBI and 23 stolen bases, while also going 9-0 with a 1.18 ERA and 62 strikeouts this season, leading James Madison High School to a Class 6 Virginia State Championship. The right-handed hitting third baseman was named to the All-American First Team by MaxPreps in 2021.

A native of McLean, Va., Triantos played two seasons for James Madison. The six-foot, one-inch, 195-pound Triantos was the top recruit in the state of Virginia this season according to Perfect Game and was committed to the University of North Carolina.

Triantos was recommended by area scout Billy Swoope.

Scalzo Jr., 21, appeared in 25 games out of the bullpen for Grand Canyon University this season, pitching to a 2.12 ERA (7 ER/29.2 IP) and recording a team-leading 12 saves. The Vista, Calif., native owned a 3.88 ERA (43 ER/99.2 IP) in 55 outings over three seasons at Grand Canyon University after transferring from San Jose State University in 2019.

Also amongst the signees were four Day Three picks with international backgrounds. Rodriguez, a Panama native, selected in the 13th round, Murray Jr. from the Bahamas in the 15th round, Olivo from Puerto Rico in the 17th round and Hambley out of British Columbia, Canada in the 18th round.

The Cubs have signed 16 of their 20 selections from the 2021 First-Year Player Draft. Here is a look at all 20 players drafted by Chicago (players in bold have been signed by the club):

Rd. (Pick) Player Pos. School Birthday B T Ht. Wt.

1 (21) Jordan Wicks LHP Kansas State University (Kan.) 9/1/99 L L 6-3 220

2 (56) James Triantos 3B James Madison High School (Va.) 1/29/03 R R 6-1 195

3 (93) Drew Gray LHP IMG Academy (Fla.) 5/10/03 L L 6-3 190

4 (123) Christian Franklin OF University of Arkansas 11/30/99 R R 5-11 195

5 (154) Liam Spence SS University of Tennessee 4/9/98 R R 6-1 190

6 (184) Riley Martin LHP Quincy University (Ill.) 3/19/98 L L 6-1 215

7 (214) Parker Chavers OF Coastal Carolina University 7/25/98 L R 5-11 185

8 (244) Casey Opitz C University of Arkansas 7/30/98 S R 5-11 200

9 (274) Chase Watkins LHP Oregon State University 10/4/99 L L 6-4 215

10 (304) Peter Matt OF Duke University 5/22/98 R R 6-2 220

11 (334) Gage Ziehl RHP Penfield High School (N.Y.) 5/15/03 R R 6-0 215