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Cubs select eight in Day 2 of MLB Draft

Cubs select eight in Day 2 of MLB Draft


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CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today selected eight players in rounds three through 10 of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft, including six pitchers and two catchers. The third and final day of the draft is tomorrow with rounds 11-40.

With their first three picks of the day, the Cubs selected right-handed pitcher Michael McAvene out of the University of Louisville (third round), right-handed pitcher Chris Clarke out of the University of Southern California (fourth round) and right-handed pitcher Josh Burgmann out of the University of Washington (fifth round).

McAvene was recommended by area scout Jacob Williams, Clarke was recommended by area scout Tom Myers and Burgmann was recommended by area scout Gabe Sandy.

McAvene, 21, has gone 2-0 with seven saves and a 2.67 ERA (9 ER/30.1 IP) in 21 relief outings this season with Louisville, striking out 46 batters and walking just nine. He struck out five batters in 2.0 innings in this past week’s NCAA regional, helping the Cardinals reach the NCAA super regional round this upcoming weekend vs. East Carolina.

A native of Camby, Ind., McAvene graduated from Roncalli High School where he posted a 1.54 ERA with 131 strikeouts during his senior season and led the team to an Indiana state championship. He was rated as the sixth-best prospect in the state of Indiana by Perfect Game out of high school.

Clarke, 20, earned All-Pac-12 honors after going 5-2 with eight saves and a 1.03 ERA (6 ER/52.1 IP) in 27 relief outings, striking out 60 batters and walking just 18. He limited opponents to a .170 batting average and posted a 0.96 WHIP. In three seasons with USC, he has posted a 4.57 ERA (93 ER/183.1 IP) in 65 appearances, including 17 starts.

A native of Westlake Village, Calif., Clarke graduated from Newbury Park High School where he was named a 2016 Rawlings-Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and a two-time second-team All-Marmonte League honoree.

Burgmann, 21, was named to the Golden Spikes Award midseason watch list this year as he posted a 3.99 ERA (35 ER/79.0 IP) with a complete game in 14 starts for the Huskies. He struck out 101 batters, tied for second-most in the Pac-12 in the regular season. He was limited to 16 outings, including one start, in 2018 as he returned from Tommy John surgery that forced him to redshirt in 2017.

A native of Nanaimo, Canada, he was named a 2016 Rawlings-Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and Canada/Puerto Rico All-Region first-team. He was also a member of the Canadian Junior National Team from 2014-16.

In the ninth round, the Cubs selected right-handed pitcher Tyler Schlaffer out of Homewood-Flossmoor High School in Flossmoor, Illinois, about 30 miles southwest of Chicago. Schlaffer is committed to the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Here is a look at Chicago’s first 10 selections from the 2019 First-Year Player Draft:

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