Levine: Wood Helping Cubs Scout Draft Candidates
By Bruce Levine-
(CBS) Using every resource they can to get an edge, the Cubs are sending out former players as scout-recruiters. Kerry Wood and Ted Lilly have been out at different intervals looking at young pitchers who may be available when the Cubs pick at No. 4 in this June's amateur draft.
A Texas native, Wood went to see fire-balling righty Tyler Kolek, an 18-year-old high school pitcher at Shepherd High in Texas.
"We have had Kerry and Ted go out and see some players in the draft," Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said. "They will keep doing that, and the plan is for those guys to be in our draft room when it convenes. It is good for us to hear their opinions."
Wood missed the 100th anniversary celebration on April 23, but he was at Wrigley Field on Friday. Wood said he has enjoyed looking at young pitchers who are much like he was 20 years ago.
"It is good for their development (as scouts) to go out and see these guys," Hoyer said. "I know it was a lot of fun for Kerry to go down and see Kolek. He is a big high school right-hander. Kind of like looking in the mirror for Kerry."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.