The Cubs feel like they exceeded expectations in the 2024 MLB Draft and part of that could fall on the shoulders of one player drafted outside the Top 10 rounds.

The organization places a WAR estimate on each player in the Draft and according to VP of scouting Dan Kantrovitz, the Cubs came in above their goal in projected WAR from the 2024 Draft class.

The top two picks – Cam Smith and Cole Mathis – are undoubtedly a part of that but it might be outfielder Eli Lovich at pick No. 11 (332nd overall) who is the most intriguing player in this class.

Lovich is a prep outfielder out of Blue Valley West High School in Kansas. He is committed to the University of Arkansas but the Cubs are confident they will be able to sign him out of that committment.

“I don’t want to get too far out in front of myself because we still have to go through the physical process,” Kantrovitz said on the latest Cubs Weekly Podcast. “He was committed to Arkansas, which is a top tier SEC school. So it’s gonna be a significant buyout – that’s probably a fair expectation.

“He had options so at that point, it just comes down to did we save enough? Did we have enough money going into Day 3 to buy him out of Arkansas? And I think the answer is yes.”

Lovich was one of the most notable high school picks around the country this spring.

Here’s what MLB.com had to say about the left-handed Lovich leading into the Draft:

“Most scouts believe that the 6-foot-4, 175-pound Lovich isn’t physically ready for pro ball and would be better off attending Arkansas, but there are a couple of clubs who might pay him enough to lure him away from college. The teams that are on Lovich like his left-handed swing and athleticism, and think he might have solid tools across the board once he’s physically developed. Others think that’s a deep projection and would like to see him prove himself with the Razorbacks. If he gets drafted, it will be as a hitter, but he’s also a three-pitch left-hander with an upper-80s fastball who might be something on the mound once he gets stronger.”

All that said, Lovich hails from a cold-weather area outside of Kansas City and since he is also a high school player, that combination led to him flying under the radar a bit entering the Draft.

Because of that, the Cubs felt they could wait on Lovich and they’re ecstatic he fell to them in the the 11th round.

“He’s a projection type,” Kantrovitz said. “He’s got this frame that is dripping with physical projection. It’s something that you look at his parents and look at his siblings and you look his body and it’s not unreasonable to expect our high performance team to help him add about 15 to 20 pounds of good weight over the next few years.

“He’s already hitting the ball 107, 108 mph off the bat. And so you factor in that and it’s gonna just lead to some strength gains, some exit velocity gains and hopefully that translates to some home runs on the field.”

For the full podcast with Kantrovitz head to the Marquee Sports Network app.