Kade Snell’s baseball journey finally will take him to a team outside of Alabama after the Chicago Cubs selected the Crimson Tide outfielder at No. 151 in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Monday.

The Cubs took Snell in the fifth round after he hit .363 with a .464 on-base average and .575 slugging percentage in 2025. In 58 games, Snell had 49 runs, 77 hits, 13 doubles, one triple, 10 home runs and 52 RBIs.

A two-time All-State selection at Wicksburg High School in Newton, Snell went to Auburn as a left-hander pitcher in 2021. But after not playing for the Tigers in his freshman season, Snell moved to Wallace State Community College in Dothan for two seasons. In 2023, he won the NJCAA Division I National Player of the Year Award as he posted a 10-0 record and 1.86 earned-run average on the mound and hit .393 with 13 home runs and 70 RBIs at the plate.

Snell played the past two seasons at Alabama and served as the Crimson Tide’s team captain in 2025.

Snell did not pitch for Alabama in 2025 after making 10 appearances, with six starts, on the mound for the Tide in 2024.

While Snell didn’t strike out any batters this season, he didn’t strike out much either. He fanned only 18 times in 261 plate appearances in 2025.

Snell became the second player picked from Alabama’s 2025 team. The Minnesota Twins chose pitcher Riley Quick at No. 36 on Sunday night.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.