CHICAGO –The Cubs put out the official word Saturday that 15 of their 42 draft picks have now signed.

The highest picked of those signed players is compensation-round selection Paul Blackburn out of Heritage High School in California. Blackburn was the Cubs’ third overall selection and the 56th player taken in the June 4 draft.

Also signed is fourth-round pick Josh Conway, a right-hander out of South Carolina, seventh-round pick Stephen Bruno, an infielder from Virginia, eighth-round pick Michael Heesch a left-hander who also hails from South Carolina, and another Northern California product in ninth-rounder Chad Krist, a catcher.

First-round pick Albert Almora, an outfielder out of Mater Academy Charter School in Florida remains unsigned. The Cubs have until July 13 to work out a deal, with all indications suggesting that he will end up with the club.

Another compensation-round pick, right-hander Pierce Johnson (43rd overall) has announced via Twitter that he has signed, but that won’t be official until the results from his physical are complete.