Franmil Reyes’ stature made him simple to identify amongst his new Chicago Cubs teammates on a breezy, cool night at Wrigley Field.
Reyes, listed at 6-foot-5, 265 kilos, stepped to house plate for his first batting observe after the Cubs claimed him off waivers from the Cleveland Guardians. Known for his prodigious energy, Reyes made it look easy Tuesday as he placed on a present throughout BP.
Reyes, 27, suits what the Cubs want — a still-young, confirmed energy hitter — and so they have the subsequent two months to see if he can get again on monitor. If the Cubs like what they see, they will retain Reyes till he reaches free company after the 2024 season.
There is familiarity with Reyes throughout the group. General supervisor Carter Hawkins was in Cleveland’s group when the Guardians traded for Reyes as a part of a three-team deal in July 2019.
And bench coach Andy Green and assistant hitting coach Johnny Washington labored with Reyes within the San Diego Padres group, with whom the Dominican Republic native signed in 2011 as an novice free agent. Green managed Reyes in San Diego in his first two big-league seasons (2018-19), whereas Washington labored with Reyes throughout the Dominican Winter League earlier than the 2016 season.
Reyes credited Washington for serving to him hit the ball within the air extra and absolutely faucet into his energy potential. When Reyes is locked in offensively, Washington sees him driving the ball to all elements of the sphere and looking for balls he can do harm to. Washington famous these indicators already had been showing throughout Reyes’ BP on Tuesday.
“He’s done a tremendous job up to this point to have the career he’s had,” Washington mentioned. “And I’m hoping that we all as a staff can have a influential improvement on his career and help him prolong his career in the major leagues. … Obviously, his job is to drive the ball and drive in runs and we’ll see what kind of plan we put together to help him move forward.”
Reyes is anticipated to be within the lineup predominantly because the designated hitter. That’s the place he performed, batting fifth, in his first sport Tuesday towards the Washington Nationals. He can also play the nook outfield spots.
“This game is about making adjustments,” Reyes mentioned. “Obviously, things are not going well the last couple years. I always say I would try to give my best every time. I’m not going to quit. That’s not how I was raised. I have to keep working hard and give my best every day like I know. I’m going to be back soon.”
Since debuting in 2018, Reyes has hit 101 house runs and 65 doubles with a 114 OPS+ in 481 video games. He doesn’t have minor-league choices left, so amid his career-worst season (.213/.254/.350, 72 OPS+), the Guardians designated him for project.
Given the Cubs’ organizational wants and accessible at-bats, this acquisition is sensible on many ranges.
“We felt like it was a good opportunity to take a chance on him,” president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer mentioned Monday. “We can bring him in here and get a chance to get to know him and see if we can get him back on track, and we have control for a couple of years. We are lacking in the power department right now.”
Reyes entered the season with a profession .243 ISO (remoted energy) and 50.2% hard-hit share. Both marks can be the most effective among the many Cubs’ present hitters.
“He has been a true heart-of-the-order hitter in the big leagues for multiple years,” Green mentioned. “There’s not an countless provide of these varieties of hitters. So if he reclaims that, that’s loads of size to our present lineup. I imply, that basically adjustments some issues for us.
“That’s really what it comes down to is you just can’t find those guys hardly anywhere. And if he turns back into the guy he’s been for the majority of his career, it’s going to be a really shrewd move by Jed and Carter.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com