Cubs’ Bunt Tournament Reaches Final 4

In what has become a yearly tradition under the Cubs’ new front office staffers, the Cubs’ spring training bunt tournament has reached its final 4 contestants.

February 23, 2012; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs players watch the baseball roll after pitcher

Chris Rusin

(not pictured) bunted in the inaugural match play bunting tournament during spring training at Fitch Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The tournament, which started out as a 64 person bracket style competition, is taken rather seriously by a lot of the players and even had Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer participating. Both brass members were eliminated early in the competition.

The final match ups are:

David DeJesus vs Edwin Maysonet
Edwin Jackson vs Nate Halm

Reigning champion DeJesus may have his hands full with Maysonet. He barley squeaked by Logan Watkins in the quarters and needed to score 120 points with 2 bunts remaining in overtime. DeJesus, knowing he dodged a bullet reportedly called out “Hey kid, you’re legit” to Watkins after the match.

You may be wondering, who in the hell is Nate Halm? Nate is a Cubs staffer who works in the video room and has since been dubbed “Nate the video guy”. I know next to nothing about him personally, but he’s not even close to a professional baseball player, which has me both excited and worried about the Cubs’ small ball game. This isn’t to say that Halm is incompetent with a bat – he played college ball for the Miami RedHawks (Ohio). Funnily enough, Halm was never supposed to be in the tournament but stepped in once the team masseuse had to withdraw.

Could be a case of beginners luck but it’s a hilarious story none the less.

The winner of the tournament gets bragging rights for the year and a cash purse of $3,400, $1000 of which will be donated the the family of Tom Pratt, a former Cubs minor league coach who had passed away.

Staff writer Stan and I both picked DeJesus to win the competiton, but as of right now it’s anyone’s game. It’s also very difficult not to cheer for Nate the video guy.

Schedule