The Chicago Cubs’ selection of Kyle Schwarber as the fourth overall pick in the June draft seemed to be a shock at the time.
But Schwarber quickly proved that he was worthy of that selection, and Baseball America validated that by ranking Schwarber as the best pure hitter and best pure power hitter in the 2014 draft.
Schwarber, 21, who will catch on a full-time basis next season at either Class-A Myrtle Beach or Double-A Tennessee, batted .344 with 18 home runs and 53 RBIs and a .428 on-base percentage in 72 games at short-season Class-A Boise and Class-A Kane County and Class-A Daytona.
Schwarber, who earned All-America honors at Indiana last spring, ranked behind only Kansas City left-hander Brandon Finnegan of Texas Christian among draft picks out of junior colleges and four-year colleges with the best professional debut.
The Cubs’ draft was ranked fourth best, behind the Indians, Royals and Red Sox.
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Twitter @MDGonzales
