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Kyle Schwarber
The outfielder/catcher looks to be making progress when it comes to being able to take the field, as the 23-year-old “Schwarbs” works to return from an LCL and ACL tear he suffered just three games into 2016. However, Schwarber is already at the Cubs spring training complex in Mesa, AZ where he was seen shagging balls in the outfield earlier this week.
I’m cringing each time he bends his legs.
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But Schwarber fielding fly balls is not what people want to see, it’s how he reacts to a ball hit down the third base line. I want to see how quickly he can get to a ball, field it cleanly, and fire a strike to the cut-off man without seeing him wince in pain or wiggle his leg after doing so. I want to see if Schwarber can catch for nine innings and look like his normal self at the plate because that will tell us if the Hulk-like masher that is Kyle Schwarber is ready to return to the lineup as an everyday player or needs to be worked in as the season goes.
If Schwarber struggles in the field and starts the season a little rusty, I wouldn’t be surprised to see swiss army knife Ben Zobrist as the starting left fielder with the crafty Javy Baez manning second base to start the season, which throws a serious wrench in the possibility of Schwarber being the team’s leadoff hitter in 2017. Schwarber showing he can play at the very least play slightly below average defense that isn’t detrimental is absolutely paramount in regards to the Cubs success.
But, if Schwarber can prove his knee is 100% ready for the field, the Cubs might have the most dynamic top-half of a lineup in baseball with Schwarber, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Zobrist, and Addison Russell as the Cubs projected one thru five hitters.
