Cubs’ first-round pick Kyle Schwarber earns promotion after only five games

When the Chicago Cubs selected Kyle Schwarber with the fourth overall pick in this year’s MLB Draft, they felt he was one of the best pure hitters available, and chose him before addressing their need for pitching.

So far he’s making the Cubs front office look pretty smart.

It took only five games for the Cubs to decide Schwarber was ready to be promoted to Low-A affiliate Kane County. A slash line of .600/.625/1.350, along with four home runs and 10 RBIs make that kind of move hard to ignore.

Schwarber had very little time off between playing college ball and his start with the Boise Hawks. So while the plan was to keep him there a bit longer, he showed there was no rust and he was ready to go.

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It’s hard to read a lot into five games, but it’s much better than had he struggled out of the gate. Where he finishes this year will be the biggest question. All signs would indicate he will spend the rest of the season with Kane County. The fact he’s a catcher will also affect that decision, should that be where the Cubs see him. He has played some left field as well this season.

If he carries on the hitting tear at Kane County, it’s not out of the question for him to be moved up again to Daytona, but that would be as far as I see him getting this season.

But wherever he lands, Schwarber has given no indication the Cubs didn’t have him scouted perfectly.