At the beginning of the 2013 season, Chicago Cubs prospect Daniel Vogelbach was caught behind first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who was anticipated to man the place for years.
Team President Theo Epstein was requested if the Cubs would possibly attempt the heavyset Vogelbach within the outfield within the minors regardless of his obtrusive lack of mobility.
“No, he’s first base,” Epstein mentioned. “Rules can change. Maybe we’ll get the DH in the NL right around the time he’s ready to break through. Things happen. You never know.”
Vogelbach was dealt to the Seattle Mariners in 2016 earlier than he received an opportunity to DH for the Cubs, however MLB lastly adopted the common DH rule this season after experimenting with it within the National League through the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
And now the Cubs have a real DH in Franmil Reyes, who, like Vogelbach, seems to be the function. Reyes, an Aug. 8 waiver declare from the Cleveland Guardians, was again within the DH spot Friday for the opener of the three-game sequence towards the St. Louis Cardinals. It’s a small pattern measurement, however Reyes has notched hits in 17 of his first 22 video games, posting an .822 OPS.
Manager David Ross has used 11 designated hitters this season, primarily giving Willson Contreras the spot to present him relaxation from his catching duties. Cubs DHs entered Friday ranked fourth in RBIs (102) and fifth in residence runs (33), with a mixed .751 OPS that was tenth.
Contreras remained out of the beginning lineup Friday with left ankle soreness however was “moving better,” Ross mentioned earlier than the sport.
Obviously if the Cubs are looking forward to 2023, they must get a take a look at how or if Reyes matches in to their plans. He’s their property, however the Cubs may non-tender him in the event that they resolve to signal a DH as free agent or rotate gamers within the spot once more.
It doesn’t appear doubtless they’ll have each Contreras and Reyes on the 2023 roster, however with Contreras anticipated to signal elsewhere, it may give Reyes the spot.
Ross has not given Reyes any time in proper area — he’s a under common defender. Seiya Suzuki has that spot sealed for the close to future, and Ross doesn’t must see what Reyes can do.
“He’s got enough big-league time in the outfield where we know where he is at defensively,” Ross mentioned. “We don’t have a shortage of outfielders.”
So if Reyes returns in ‘23, would Ross be comfy with him because the full-time DH?
“You deal with the DH spot with how your roster shapes up,” Ross mentioned, including: “If you’ve a real DH that you simply really feel like he’s in all probability not nearly as good within the outfield defensively as another guys you may put on the market, and you’re keen on their bat in there, you retain slotting him in there.
“It lets everybody fill a role. If he needs a day off, it’s easy to slot some guy in there. I played with a guy like David Ortiz (in Boston) where it’s nice to have that bat in there consistently, and I’ve been on teams that rotated. I did that with (Victor) Caratini and Willson my first year (managing) in 2020.”
Another issue for the Cubs to contemplate is having Reyes and Patrick Wisdom in the identical lineup over the course of a full season. Of major-leaguers with 300 or extra plate appearances, Reyes has the fourth highest strikeout proportion (33.4 %) and Wisdom is sixth (33.5%). Rookie Christopher Morel is just not far behind at eleventh (31.3%).
That’s lots of swing-and-miss within the lineup and doubtless not sufficient energy to compensate for all these strikeouts, even with high-contact hitters corresponding to Nico Hoerner (11.3 % strikeout fee) and Nick Madrigal (11.7 %) balancing issues out.
The Cubs have loads of time to ponder the place Reyes, Wisdom and Morel, slot in subsequent yr, which is why the ultimate month of 2022 stays value watching. Ross has left some clues, corresponding to utilizing Wisdom at first base extra typically earlier than his injured record stint and giving Morel a shot at third.
Morel has mentioned third is his favourite place, and although he has proven nice vary, there are nonetheless questions in regards to the accuracy of his throws. Ross mentioned taking part in Morel at third was a “priority” to see what he may do.
“To me, the strongest spots for him are up the middle — second and short,” Ross mentioned. “He appears to face out along with his actions. He used to cost the whole lot at third. Now he’s beginning to get that first step in his learn. He’s gotten higher. He needed to hurry a pair balls in Toronto, actually confirmed off the arm. I nonetheless assume he’s serviceable in heart area and continues to get higher in his first step on the market.
“He could be that one-man bench piece that you can fill a lot of holes with.”
How they carry out within the last month may change how the Cubs strategy free company. They already know Hoerner can play second, however Madrigal additionally has had a powerful month since getting back from the IL.
“Versatility is nice to have because there are only so many free agents out there,” Ross mentioned.
It’ll be as much as group President Jed Hoyer and common supervisor Carter Hawkins to resolve who matches the place. Hoyer has mentioned the Cubs intend to be aggressive this offseason and add some energy, however meaning among the present gamers can be odd males out.
“That’ll be their big puzzle,” Ross mentioned. “But the main thing is getting a look at these guys in different spots and (seeing) how much confidence you have in them and discussing that stuff internally.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com