Chicago Cubs: Player development has been cornerstone of this rise

Nov 2, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Cubs executive Jason McLeod waves a W flag after defeating the Cleveland Indians in game seven of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Cubs executive Jason McLeod waves a W flag after defeating the Cleveland Indians in game seven of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports /

Catching lightning in a bottle–twice

There’s really nothing more I can say about Kris Bryant. He just continues to improve each year. It started with the Golden Spikes Award in college and has culminated in an MVP season in a World Series-winning year. He’s becoming the new face of Major League Baseball. And his success in college wasn’t a promise that he’d be this good.

And there’s Kyle Schwarber. While the rest of baseball was looking at pitching, the Cubs took Schwarber with the fourth overall pick in the 2014 amateur draft. Most believed they took him “too high”. If you simply take his 2015 playoffs and this year’s World Series–after missing the ENTIRE season–I’d say McLeod won that one again.