The Cubs made moves in the MLB Draft's second round, snatching up Texas A&M outfielder Caden Sorrell, and while this guy crushed 23 dingers last year, his contact issues are what's going to make or break his pro career. They followed up grabbing Mississippi right-hander Cade Townsend in the first round by staying in the SEC to get one of the best power bats available.
When Sorrell Connects, Forget About It
Sorrell is a physical specimen at 6'3", 210 lbs, a left-handed hitter built to do damage. Last year, he absolutely mashed, tying for 14th in Division I with 23 home runs for the Aggies. We're not talking cheapies here, either. His swing is geared for pulling the ball to right field with a quick uppercut, and when he gets a hold of one, that ball is gone, like, *gone*. Beyond the long ball, he racked up 20 doubles and a triple, putting up an impressive .341/.434/.743 slash line. He's not just a big bat, though. Sorrell's a solid athlete with good speed, evidenced by his 11 stolen bases in 64 games. He’s a solid defender in center field with a strong arm, which means he could easily slide over to right field and be a plus defender there. The potential for an above-average starter with power in right field is absolutely enticing.But Can He Lay Off the Bad Stuff?
Here’s the rub, and it's a big one for any hitter trying to make it in the pros: Sorrell has some serious swing-and-miss in his game. He’ll often swing right through fastballs up in the zone, and he's got a tendency to chase breaking balls that are nowhere near the strike zone. He struck out 23 percent of the time in his junior year, which isn't disastrous, but it's definitely a red flag when you're about to face pro-level pitching. For Sorrell to make the majors, he's gotta learn to see the ball better and lay off those tempting but ultimately terrible pitches. This contact issue is why some scouts were less high on him. MLB Pipeline had him ranked 33rd overall and Baseball America put him at 27th, even above the Cubs' first-round pick Townsend. But Keith Law of The Athletic, who's notoriously sensitive to swing-and-miss problems, had him down at 67th. The Cubs got him at pick 62, which aligns more with Law's assessment. Some mock drafts had him sneaking into the end of the first round, but honestly, the contact issues would have made that a huge risk. In the second round, though? It’s exactly the kind of upside pick you want. If the contact issues ultimately derail his career, the Cubs are only out a second-round pick. Now the real work begins for Sorrell to refine that powerful swing. If he can conquer those contact issues, the Cubs might have just found themselves a future slugger.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.