Cody Bellinger hadn’t performed a major-league recreation at first base since 2021, and even then it consisted of solely two begins.
The lack of standard enjoying time on the place Bellinger spent the vast majority of his time throughout his first two big-league seasons (2017-18) with the Los Angeles Dodgers hasn’t diminished his confidence enjoying there. Bellinger got here off the injured record Thursday and was again within the lineup, getting the beginning at first in opposition to the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field. The Cubs optioned struggling first baseman Matt Mervis to Triple-A Iowa because the corresponding transfer.
Bellinger went on the IL on May 16 with a bruised left knee, inflicting him to overlook 26 video games. Both of Bellinger’s rehab begins at Triple A got here at first base, at which he performed solely 20 innings in 2021 and 143 innings over 16 begins in 2020.
“His energy walking in today was pretty special,” supervisor David Ross mentioned. “He’s a man that likes to play baseball and is glad to be again. He speaking about how slick his glove was at first (in Iowa). It had been some time and the way easy after which he walked by the double play turned and all of the performs he made.
“He’s got one of those infectious personalities that rub off really fast on guys around him.”
The Cubs don’t plan to make use of Bellinger at first base the remainder of the season. He must proceed to get extra reps in middle subject and construct up his conditioning within the outfield. First base supplies a faster avenue for his return whereas addressing two key deficiencies: the Cubs’ manufacturing on the place this season and their struggles in opposition to right-handers.
The Cubs entered Thursday with a .701 OPS (twenty second in majors), .305 on-base share (twenty third) and minus-1.0 offensive WAR (thirtieth) from their first basemen.
The offensive manufacturing has been missing in opposition to right-handers, making the lefty-hitting Bellinger a welcome energy addition to the center of the order. The Cubs rank within the backside third in common (.241) and slugging (.378) versus righties whereas posting a .325 OBP (twelfth) and .703 OPS (nineteenth). Their 95 wRC+ additionally places them beneath common.
The league-average line in opposition to right-handers this 12 months: .245/.318/.405 and .732 OPS.
“I was ready, I feel good and just want to help the team win,” Bellinger mentioned Thursday. “They’re playing good baseball, so I wanted to come back and help them win, that’s my only goal. … These last few series have been fun to watch, and I knew I was getting close.”
Mervis, 25, struggled to take his scorching manufacturing by the primary month at Triple-A Iowa with him to Chicago. His introduction to the large leagues featured robust lefties throughout his first week, although he collected 4 hits and two RBIs in his first three video games.
Mervis couldn’t persistently benefit from fastballs and pitchers uncovered him on breaking pitches. He hit .167 in 27 video games whereas posting a .242 OBP, .531 OPS and 44 OPS+. Mervis recorded eight walks and 32 strikeouts in 99 plate appearances.
Ross and president of baseball operation Jed Hoyer met with Mervis after Wednesday’s win to tell him of the transfer. The dialog centered on the longer term the group envisions for Mervis and, in flip, what he discovered on and off the sector as a big-leaguer.
“He’s an intense young man, better at first base than I thought, still has a lot to learn,” Ross mentioned of what he discovered about Mervis. “Mentally issues had been arduous on him at instances, which if I look again on a number of the younger guys we had it’s uncommon that guys don’t come up and wrestle mentally, simply trusting how good you’re. The factor that retains getting reiterated to me is the large leagues are more durable than Triple A. It’s the most effective on this planet up right here.
“Very good impression, just didn’t have the offensive performance he was thinking of and then some things sped up on him at times when you’re dealing with that mentally. But I’m happy about his future here and excited about him eventually coming back up here and helping us win a lot of ballgames.”
The Cubs aren’t able to let Mervis work by issues on the big-league stage. The gap they dug creates added urgency because the entrance workplace weighs what route to soak up the subsequent 6½ weeks main as much as the commerce deadline. Mervis wants common enjoying time that instantly isn’t obtainable with Mike Tauchman’s efficiency incomes him common begins in middle subject and Bellinger getting begins at first base. And with Christopher Morel’s defensive choices restricted in the meanwhile, particularly with their reluctance to play him at third base due to his inconsistent arm path and throws, it leaves him taking a lot of the begins because the designated hitter.
The Cubs need to give Mervis a reset at Iowa, mentally and together with his method, the place he can regain confidence in a lower-stress atmosphere.
“He’s obviously really talented, but this is the highest level and it’s hard to adjust here and he’s working hard to make those adjustments,” Hoyer mentioned Wednesday. “He’s going to be a extremely gifted participant at this stage. But it comes with changes that comes with ups and downs, it all the time does or nearly all the time does and typically it doesn’t include these changes.
“He’s very smart. He struggled a little bit in the minors and made those adjustments, and I have no doubt will make them up here.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com