Cubs Secure Pitching Help with Townsend in First Round of 2026 MLB Draft

The 2026 MLB Draft has commenced, with the Chicago Cubs making their first selection earlier today. The team moved to bolster its pitching staff by selecting Cade Townsend, a right-handed pitcher out of Mississippi, with the 23rd overall pick in the first round.

Day 1 of the draft is airing across multiple platforms. Initial coverage is available on NBC and Comcast Corporation’s streaming service Peacock, featuring a preview show followed by the first selections. Coverage transitioned to MLB Network and MLB.com for the continuation of the opening rounds. Comcast Corporation shares were trading at $23.57 during the session, up approximately 0.89%.

Following the addition of Townsend, the Cubs continued to add talent on Day 1. With the 62nd pick in the second round, Chicago selected Caden Sorrell, an outfielder from Texas A&M. The team held a competitive balance round pick (75th overall) due to the loss of Kyle Tucker, which they used to draft Myles Bailey, a first baseman from Florida State. They closed out the first day by selecting right-handed pitcher Carson Jasa from Nebraska with the 98th pick and Dylan Marrioneaux, a right-handed pitcher from Northwestern State (LA), with the 126th pick.

The draft schedule continues through the weekend. Rounds 2 through 4 conclude today on MLB.com and MLB.tv. Action resumes on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. CT for rounds 5 through 20, which will be conducted via conference call but available for streaming.

The Chicago Cubs are owned by the Cubs Baseball Team LLC, a private entity.

What to watch

• The draft resumes Sunday at 10:30 a.m. CT for rounds 5 through 20.
• The Cubs hold picks 159 and 188 to begin Day 2.
• Future performance of Townsend and the other draftees in the minor league system.

Source: original release