CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today announced they have agreed to terms with 10 more players from the 2023 First-Year Player Draft, including third-round selection infielder Josh Rivera from the University of Florida and fourth-round selection right-handed pitcher Will Sanders from the University of South Carolina. The Cubs have now agreed to terms with nine of their first 10 selections and 17 of 20 overall from the draft. Terms of the deals were not disclosed.
In addition to Rivera and Sanders, the Cubs have agreed to terms with infielders Yahil Melendez (seventh round), Carter Trice (12th round) and Drew Bowser (20th round), right-handed pitchers Grayson Moore (14th round), Ty Johnson (15th round) and Nick Dean (19th round) and left-handed pitchers Daniel Brown (16th round) and Ethan Flanagan (17th round).
Rivera, 22, with the University of Florida in 2023 batted .348 (89-for-256) with 10 doubles, one triple, 19 home runs, 72 RBI and 18 stolen bases in 70 games, while helping lead the Gators to an appearance in the College World Series. The right-handed-hitting infielder walked 46 times, compared to 35 strikeouts, contributing to a .445 on-base percentage and a 1.064 OPS. He was named a Second Team All-American by D1Baseball.com, Perfect Game and American Baseball Coaches Association, as well as First Team All-SEC, a Brooks Wallace Award finalist and was selected to the 2023 College World Series All-Tournament Team.
A Sebring, Fla., native, Rivera batted .290 (211-for-727) with 29 doubles, four triples, 35 home runs and 139 RBI in 204 career games with the Gators. Prior to his time in Gainesville, Rivera attended the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., where he was named a First Team Senior Preseason All-American.
Sanders, 21, went 17-10 with a 4.08 ERA (93 ER/205.1 IP) in 51 games (36 starts) with South Carolina in three seasons. The righthander struck out 222 batters in 205.1 IP during his collegiate career, including 77 in 62.2 IP this season. Prior to the 2023 campaign, Sanders was named a Second Team Preseason All-American by Perfect Game, Baseball America and D1Baseball.com.
Born in Atlanta, Ga., Sanders was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2021 after he went 6-3 with a 3.54 ERA (21 ER/53.1 IP) in 22 games (10 starts). The six-foot six-inch, 230-pound Sanders attended Woodward Academy in College Park, Ga., where he was an Under Armour All-American in 2019, while leading the War Eagles to a quarterfinal berth in the 4A state playoffs.
Rivera was recommended by area scout Ike Ballou and Sanders was recommended by area scout M’Lynn Dease.
