Cubs sign 15 players, including No. 56 overall RHP Blackburn

The Chicago Cubs announced Saturday that they have come to terms with 15 players selected in the First-Year Player Draft. The Cubs selected 42 players, and have until July 13 to come to terms with each player.Among those signed was right-handed pitcher Paul Blackburn out of Heritage High School in Brentwood, Calif. Blackburn was selected with the 56th overall pick, and was the second of two compensation picks the Cubs had in the first round.Blackburn, 18, already has a no-hitter to his name, which he accomplished in May this past season. He struck out eigth and walked two in the victory over Deer Valley of Antioch. The 6-foot-2 Blackburn went 8-3 with a 1.27 ERA for Heritage in 2012, striking out 84 batters in 77.1 innings.The following players also have signed with the organization:4th round (134th overall): Josh Conway, RHP, Coastal Carolina University
7th round (224th overall): Stephen Bruno, INF, University of Virginia
8th round (254th overall): Michael Heesch, LHP, University of South Carolina Beaufort
9th round (284th overall): Chadd Krist, C, Unversity of California
11th round (344rd overall): Rashard Crawford, OF, Mundy's Hill H.S. (Ga.)
14th round (434th overall): Corbin Hoffner, RHP, St. Petersburg College (Fla.)
15th round (464th overall): Carlos Escobar, C, University of Nevada
17th round (524th overall): Nathan Dorris, LHP, Southern Illinois University
21st round (644th overall): Stephen Perakslis, RHP, University of Maine -- Orono
28th round (854th overall): Lance Rymel, C, Rogers State University (Okla.)
30th round (914th overall): Izaac Garsez, OF, College of Idaho
32nd round (974th overall): Timothy Saunders, INF, Marietta College (Ohio)
35th round (1064th overall): Ben Carhart, INF, Stetson University (Fla.)
40th round (1214th overall): Jacob Rogers, INF, Mt. Olive College (N.C.)