The magnetic board is ready. Scouting director Tim Wilken, GM Jim Hendry, assistant GM Randy Bush, and all of the organization’s amateur scouts have been packed into a room for over a week.

Yes, it’s the signs of the First-Year Player Draft — when tens of thousands of hours of preparation play out over 50 rounds. Many baseball people consider this their favorite time of year.

The Cubs select 31st this year, in a talent pool with little clarity beyond the first pick. Wilken firmly subscribes to the “best future big-leaguer available” theory, with his successful track record showing little preference between college and high school kids.

But Wilken does have a strong preference for athletes, and the farm system has improved significantly in that area since his first draft in 2006. Check out our “Farm Report” draft preview from the June issue of Vine Line by clicking on the thumbnail at right.

We’ll have Wilken’s comments on the first pick — expected to be made around 7:20 Central –here on the Vine Line blog.

Other can’t-miss coverage

The MLB Network and MLB.com will televise the first round tonight at 5 p.m. Central, and they have an incredible amount of coverage planned on their 2009 draft page. Scouting reports, interviews, analysis, video … They have just about everything you could need.

Also, don’t miss our draft blowout in the July issue of Vine Line, featuring reports on the Cubs’ 2009 draft picks. We get exclusive access to the team’s amateur scouting reports and profile the first 10 picks, based on our scouts’ evaluation of their tools and makeup. It’s true insider coverage that you can only get from Vine Line.

– Sean Ahmed