Because the amateur baseball draft is more of a crapshoot than other professional sports leagues, it’s difficult to say any one selection is a surprise pick. Like many, I never saw the Cubs taking shortstop Ed Howard IV, so it was quite the splash. The Chicago native was a standout for Mount Carmel HS and played shortstop for Jackie Robinson West in the 2014 Little League World Series.
I originally had the young infielder going to the Mariners with the sixth pick in my mock before dropping him down to the Indians at 23 yesterday.