Cubs outfielder Junior Lake shut down due to ‘fatigue’
If his performance in the Dominican Winter League is any indication, Cubs outfielder Junior Lake may be as good as he showed during his first season in 2013.
The 23-year-old Lake led the league with a .343 average and ranked sixth with a .457 slugging percentage and .843 OPS in offseason play before the organization opted to shut him down for the winter, invoking a “fatigue” clause, according to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune.
The outfielder slashed .284/.332/.428 in 64 games last season for the Cubs following a midseason call-up from the minors. He tallied 16 doubles and six home runs in 64 games with Chicago, also driving in 16 runs on the year.
He is projected to start in the outfield next year for first-year manager Rick Renteria, along with Nate Schierholtz and the newly-acquired Justin Ruggiano.