Chicago Cubs supervisor David Ross has an necessary determination to make when Jason Heyward returns from the injured checklist.
What to do with Christopher Morel?
The Cubs rookie has excelled since his call-up from Double-A Tennessee, reaching base in his first 13 video games getting into Tuesday’s assembly with the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. The solely different participant in franchise historical past to succeed in within the first 13 video games of his profession was teammate Willson Contreras, who completed the feat in 2016.
Morel, who led off and began in heart area Tuesday, has proven he can play heart, second base, shortstop and third. But Nico Hoerner is the beginning shortstop, Patrick Wisdom is the common third baseman and second baseman Nick Madrigal returned from his IL stint Tuesday.
That leaves Morel principally in heart, which seems to be his finest place, proper?
“He’ll define his best spot,” Ross stated. “Elite heart fielders are exhausting to search out. But he’s performed a darn good second base, and the one time we put him at brief he did a very nice job. Versatility is a bonus in our sport, and it helps with roster building and among the stuff you take a look at once you’re constructing a crew.
“Love him in center. Love him at second. If he’s on the field, he’s a spark for us right now, and I’ll continue to take what we can get and try to fit the most offense in the lineup.”
Heyward was cleared over the weekend from his COVID-19-related absence. He has been sidelined since May 17, and the Cubs haven’t given a timetable for his return as he ramps again up. He moved from proper area to heart this season to make manner for free-agent signee Seiya Suzuki however struggled offensively with a .208 common, no dwelling runs and 4 RBIs in 72 at-bats.
A sprained left finger suffered throughout a slide in Cincinnati final week put Suzuki on the 10-day IL, so Heyward might transfer again to his previous place in proper in the interim, assuming he’s deemed prepared this week. But the Cubs have made a five-year dedication to Suzuki, so a transfer could be short-term if it occurred.
Ross additionally might transfer Morel round defensively, however slowing his improvement in heart simply because it’s Heyward’s spot could be dangerous for a company specializing in the long run. The Cubs seemingly want to transfer Heyward’s contract, however that’s simpler stated than carried out with $36.7 million remaining by way of 2023.
They additionally don’t appear inclined to designate Heyward for task and pay the rest of his deal with a purpose to look towards the longer term.
Morel is right here to remain, nonetheless, it doesn’t matter what occurs with Heyward. The Cubs have seen sufficient to know they’ve a participant followers can cling to and purchase his No. 5 jersey for years to return. And not like Kris Bryant, Javier Báez and Kyle Schwarber, Morel was referred to as up with none hype or untimely billing as a star of the longer term. Recall the Cubs as soon as put a photograph of Starlin Castro on a billboard subsequent to an image of Derek Jeter.
Cubs President Jed Hoyer stated Saturday the “energy” Morel has supplied is inconceivable to copy.
“He’s such a positive guy, and I do think with any team, bringing up guys like that really energizes the group,” Hoyer stated. “And simply the flexibility. There’s improvement left definitely, however I don’t see that means going away. He’s such a terrific athlete. He can run and play the center of the sphere. The manner in the present day’s sport is, that’s so beneficial.
“I’ve always been excited about his future, but I’m even more excited watching him play those positions so easily in the big leagues.”
Hoyer stated “taking a long view is really important” relating to roster selections, including he would “lean strongly toward” the longer term when mulling these strikes. If that’s the case, Morel should be within the lineup each day the remainder of the best way, even when it means ultimately sitting Heyward and his $22 million wage when everyone seems to be wholesome.
Suzuki’s damage and Heyward’s delayed return buys Ross a while. But for a way lengthy?
The Cubs had been 12 video games behind the division-leading Brewers on May 31, and followers had been on the lookout for causes to proceed watching this crew the subsequent 4 months. The Heyward determination is little doubt troublesome for Hoyer and Ross, who know that his contributions to the 2016 championship had been vital and that his management expertise within the clubhouse stay beneficial.
But it’s additionally a enterprise, as everybody all the time says.
Hoyer continued to insist his plan shouldn’t be labeled a “rebuild,” although he additionally argued that “people weren’t that receptive” to the rebuild he and former Cubs President Theo Epstein executed a decade in the past.
“I don’t remember a lot of bouquets in 2012 or ‘13,” he stated. “There were a lot of people that were very skeptical about what was happening, oftentimes resentful of what was happening. So as we look backward, like, ‘Oh, wow, that led to the best run of success in Cubs history,’ I think people had a little different view. At the time, that wasn’t the case.”
That’s a little bit of revisionist historical past contemplating how affected person Cubs followers had been from 2012-14, to not point out how a lot nationwide media reward Epstein acquired throughout these years for constructing a crew virtually from scratch. The core prospects — Bryant, Báez, Schwarber and Addison Russell — had been coated within the minors virtually as a lot because the Cubs themselves.
But now we’re in a brand new period with kids reminiscent of Morel, Hoerner, Keegan Thompson and Justin Steele making an attempt to make names for themselves — and extra prospects on the best way. Having given up on the season, Cubs followers simply wish to see what the youngsters can do.
It shouldn’t be that tough for Hoyer and Ross to present them what they need.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com