Mission: Take the best available talent
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
The Cubs have the 20th pick in the first round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, which will be held June 7. Scouting director John Stockstill and his staff, who will set up their war room in Phoenix this year, have one philosophy when selecting a player: Take the best one available.
"We take the best available talent," Stockstill said. "To me, the only way to [draft] is to stack up the players, take the best ones, and that's it."
Last year, the Cubs did not have a first-round pick, and chose Notre Dame pitcher Grant Johnson in the second round. In the 2004 draft, the Cubs chose seven pitchers, five outfielders, one infielder and one catcher among their first 15 picks.
With the MLB draft, you really have no idea who you will get. I just hope it's a good player who turns out well.