Jed Hoyer: Chicago Cubs’ key is success of young hitters

Just weeks ahead of Spring Training, Chicago Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer spoke to Jesse Rogers of ESPN Chicago about the upcoming season, the overall rebuild of the organization and what Ernie Banks meant to him personally.

Perhaps of most interest to Cubs fans is Hoyer’s thoughts on what could make or break the team in 2015 – Chicago’s young hitters, including Jorge Soler, Javier Baez, Arismendy Alcantara and, at some point, Kris Bryant.

"Our biggest challenge is going to be how young hitters adjust to big league pitching. Some guys have started to make that transition, some guys haven’t. That’s our biggest unknown. I think anyone’s guess is as good as ours. We want it to happen as soon as possible but we’re also not naïve, we know there will be some ups and downs. Hopefully the veteran guys perform at or above expectations to help ease what our young players are going to go through. But yeah, when it happens we don’t know exactly."

Baez struggled the most last season of the group, batting .169/.227/.324 in 52 games after a midseason call-up to Chicago. He did hit nine home runs and drive in 20, but he struck out 95 times in 213 at-bats – an alarming rate – even for a young player breaking onto the scene.

When Joe Maddon took over, he made it clear that no player – even one so highly-touted as Baez – would be handed a roster spot. If he struggles this spring, as he has all winter long in Puerto Rico, he could very well open the year at Triple-A Iowa to refine his approach at the plate.

And, according to Hoyer, the team’s new skipper is going to be a key in the success of the Cubs moving forward.

"Maddon is going to be a big part of that. In Tampa he did a great job of transitioning those guys. We knew that Rays team was going to be really good. Now, they didn’t have the same expectations, but they made that transition. Joe has a lot of skills, but one of his main attributes is creating a great atmosphere and creating a great dynamic where guys want to play. You know his saying: Don’t let the pressure exceed the pleasure. I think he’ll stress that so guys aren’t squeezing the bat too tight."

Maddon turned the once-lowly Rays organization into a World Series-caliber team that annually contended for the American League East crown during his tenure there, winning a pair of AL Manager of the Year awards in the process. The Cubs are in a similar position, after coming off  five consecutive losing seasons with eyes set on the future.

Hoyer also pointed to the addition of staff ace Jon Lester as a key – not only for the team’s future success, but for potential free agents. The left-hander is coming off a career year split between the Boston Red Sox and the Oakland Athletics – and after signing a six-year, $155 million deal this winter to come to Chicago – he has already assumed the role of face of the franchise.

The feeling surrounding the team has changed – no doubt. Expectations are higher than they have been in years and, for the first time since Theo Epstein and Hoyer joined the organization, there is a realistic chance the team competes in the season ahead.

"The (fan) convention felt a lot different. There is a lot more excitement going into the year. Boston in 2001-02 did have some negativity. They weren’t rebuilding but there was negativity and then quickly that 2003 team really came together and made Boston a destination people wanted to go to. I really look at Jon Lester taking a chance on us, he had a lot of great options, he believed in our vision and what we were doing. That meant a lot to us and will be big for others going forward."

Next: Should the Chicago Cubs make more moves?