Ethan Conrad finally makes his pro debut with the Chicago Cubs

With the MLB Draft arriving next weekend, many Cubs fans have started asking a simple question: What happened to last year’s first‑round pick? That pick, outfielder Ethan Conrad from Wake Forest University, entered the organization with high expectations. He also entered with an unfortunate string of injuries.

The Cubs drafted Conrad 17th overall even though he dislocated his left shoulder — his throwing shoulder — while diving for a ball. The injury ended his junior season after only 21 games. However, he still hit .372 with seven home runs. This showed the advanced bat speed and plate discipline that made him a first‑round talent. Conrad chose to rehab the shoulder naturally, and the Cubs supported that plan.

Then February delivered another setback. Conrad suffered a stress fracture in his lower back while lifting weights at the Cubs’ spring training facility in Mesa. The injury halted his development. It erased the first two months of his season.

On Tuesday night, the Cubs finally received the news they needed: Conrad made his professional debut in the Arizona Complex League(ACL), stepping into the batter’s box for the first time since the draft. The game didn’t draw a crowd or cameras, but the moment still carried real weight for the organization.

The @cubs 2026 1st round draft pick @ethanconrad23 warming up and then hitting a sharp single in his first AB in the ACL. #Cubs #CubsProspects @WatchMarquee @BleacherNation pic.twitter.com/05JaTzLCf0

— Rich Biesterfeld (@biest22) July 1, 2026

The Cubs’ history with college hitters bodes well for Conrad’s development

Apr 19, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Jed Hoyer President of the Chicago Cubs talks to the media before a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

The Cubs have built a strong history with college hitters who move quickly through the system:

Kyle Schwarber
Ian Happ
Nico Hoerner
Matt Shaw

Even Cam Smith, their 2024 first‑round pick from Florida State, followed that path. The Cubs traded him to Houston in the Kyle Tucker deal, and he debuted on Opening Day 2025.

Even without Conrad, the Cubs’ 2025 draft class looks strong:

2nd‑round pick Kane Kepley continues to hit well in High‑A South Bend and has earned a promotion to AA Knoxville soon.
6th‑rounder Josiah Hartshorn, only 19 years old, has become one of the top hitting prospects in the minors. He owns an OPS over 1.000 after his promotion to High‑A.

Conrad’s ACL performance could influence whether he starts at Low‑A Myrtle Beach or jumps straight to High‑A South Bend. Conrad could even slide into Kepley’s spot once Kepley reaches Knoxville.

Conrad’s debut doesn’t erase the setbacks, but it finally puts him on the field and inside the Cubs’ developmental engine. He’s taking the first real step toward becoming the hitter the Cubs believed he could be.

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