Cubs officially sign top pick Ryan Jensen

The Cubs and their first selection in the 2019 MLB Draft, right-handed pitcher Ryan Jensen, have agreed to a contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the slot value for the 27th overall selection is $2,570,100.

Jensen, 21, is out of Fresno State University, where he posted a 4.41 ERA with 208 strikeouts and 99 walks over three seasons (63 appearances). This season, he posted a 2.88 ERA in 16 appearances to help the Bulldogs reach the NCAA regional final.

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Jensen stands at 6 feet tall and 180 pounds, not particularly big for a starting pitcher. But he has a fastball that touches 97 mph, as well as a slider and changeup. He was ranked No. 99 on MLB Pipeline's Top 200 Draft Prospects list.

Given the Cubs' recent Draft history, which has been position-player heavy and light on impact pitching, the selection of Jensen at No. 27 may have been the biggest surprise of the first round. But it signals a change in philosophy for Chicago when it comes to drafting and developing talent.

Jensen has shown he has the raw stuff to potentially pitch well in the Major Leagues, but there are some mechanical issues the Cubs are eager to tinker with when they get the right-hander into their Arizona pitching lab.

"I can say that Ryan was one of the guys that [pitching coordinator] Brendan [Sagara] was most excited about the potential of having in the organization," said senior vice president of player development and amateur scouting Jason McLeod after the selection.

"And for us, we're excited to get him in, get him into our system and start working him with pitch design and some mechanical things and see where we go from there."