The Chicago Cubs All-Time rookie team

Former Chicago Cubs outfielder Tyler Colvin (26) – Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Right Field: Tyler Colvin (2010)

Okay, I’ll admit – this was the toughest one to pick.  Not because there were so many options – it was just the opposite. Now I did say that this list may favor more recent generation players and that I was going to do my best to pay respect to the older players.  This one came down to three players:  Colvin, Kosuke Fukudome, and Dwight Smith.

I excluded Smith first because of his lack of time he played in right field compared to left field – as it was overwhelmingly in favor of left field.  While Fukudome was primarily a right fielder and played more there than Colvin – but I liked Colvin’s number’s slightly better.

Colvin was a first-round draft pick of the Cubs in 2006 – the 13th pick overall.  In the minors, he displayed a mix of good power and decent speed.  With the ability to play both corner outfield spots and first base – this made him very valuable to the Cubs.

Making his MLB debut in 2009, he only played in six games and made 20 plate appearances.  Getting his first look at big league pitching and what to expect got him ready for next spring where he would impress Lou Piniella enough to make the Opening Day roster.

The 2010 season for Colvin would start out as a spot-player, filling in where needed and pinch-hitting.  He would play well when inserted into the starting lineup but with inconsistent play, but it would be hard to get any rhythm going at the plate.

By the time June rolled around, he would find himself more consistently in the starting lineup.

While the season was tough on the Cubs as a whole finishing the year 75-87, Colvin would have a solid season.  By mid-September, Colvin would post a stat line of a .254 batting average, with 20 home runs, 56 runs batted in and five triples.

Unfortunately, for him, his season was cut short by a freak accident while running home off a double hit. Heading down the line a shard from a broken bat would pierce Colvin’s chest – puncturing his lung.  He would remain out for the rest of the season.

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