Chicago Cubs: Jon Lester’s leadership is built on success and hardships

The Chicago Cubs open the 2017 regular season on Sunday night. This season takes on a whole new feeling as the Cubs will look to defend their World Series title.

Left-hander Jon Lester will take the mound against the St. Louis Cardinals. In many ways, the Cubs couldn’t ask for a more appropriate guy to do it. Lester has proven throughout the course of his career to be a leader. In addition to his elite ability on the field, Lester has overcome personal challenges to remain a force in the league.

Fans witnessed the close bond between Lester and catcher David Ross. Following the retirement of Ross, Lester looks to start a new chapter of his career without his closest friend to guide him on the field.

Last season’s postseason run is exactly why Cubs President Theo Epstein got Lester. The rotation will be a strength once again, but it will be headlined by a veteran who knows what winning takes. The overall makeup of Jon Lester is fascinating and why we love this game.

Let’s take a moment to highlight Lester’s career as we gear up for Opening Night!

A strong start at a young age

Lester is no stranger to success and a high level of competitiveness. Even in his high school years, the 33-year-old was at the top of his game.

A native of Tacoma, Washington, Lester was a three-time MVP on his Prep school team. In addition to being his team’s most valuable player, he was also selected to the all-area team three times. In 2000, Lester was named a Gatorade State Player of the year.

Two years later, Lester was drafted 57th overall by the Boston Red Sox. He would later make his Major League debut in 2006 against the Texas Rangers.

Lester is entering his eleventh season as a big leaguer and fifteenth season as a pro ballplayer. Over the course of that time, Lester became a household name in Boston before being traded to the Oakland Athletics late in 2014. Following that season, Lester signed as a free agent with the Chicago Cubs reuniting him with Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer.

His greatest victory

Baseball is just a game. Despite all the money at stake in this league, some players remind us what is really important.

Roughly two months following his debut, Lester was scratched from a start against Oakland. While conducting tests, Lester tested positive for a treatable form of Lymphoma. Cancer affects everyone on this planet whether directly or indirectly. Lester’s strength helped propel him to the next step.

Along with fellow Cub and cancer survivor Anthony Rizzo, the two do a great job bringing the fight to cancer.

As a fan, I will always be more impressed and inspired by their personal strength than with anything they do on the field. With that confidence comes the ability to face great challenges. I don’t believe the Cubs won because these men were owed something, but it was their shared journey that prepared them for any hardship they would endure.

Lester continues to be active in the community and works tirelessly to help in the research to defeat cancer.

A winner from the start

We’ve established the dominance of Jon Lester as a high school athlete. Lester has added to that background by putting together a very good career to this point.

Since debuting for Boston, Lester has compiled a 146-84 record while posting a 3.44 ERA. During the final season in the minors, Lester posted an ERA of 2.61. It was becoming clear that he was a star in this league.

When Jon Lester’s career comes to an end he will have a strong case for the Hall of Fame. Prior to his time with the Cubs, Lester was a three-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion, and threw a no-hitter in 2008.

Furthermore, Lester will have the distinction of having won a championship as a member of the Red Sox and Cubs.

Perhaps the most symbolic moment for me came in 2015. Lester was on the mound on Opening night against the Cardinals. The Cubs lost that game 3-0, but something felt different. The feeling in the air wasn’t heavy like in year’s past. Although they lost that game, the Cubs renaissance was officially underway.

In eight seasons in Boston, Lester won 100 games for the Red Sox. In 2007 it was the tough lefty that took the mound in game four of the World Series. Behind Lester’s strong start, the Red Sox swept the Rockies on their way to their second title in four years.

It has to start somewhere, why not St. Louis

The battle begins on Sunday night. It’s that time of the year again when friends and family show their true colors. Jon Lester sets out to make a statement for the Cubs and the city of Chicago.

As a member of the Cubs, Lester is only 3-4 against the Cardinals in regular season games. Despite the small sample size, Lester was 2-0 against them last season and can build on that as the season starts.

Lester’s goal will be to get the game to the bullpen. The Cardinals will have a lot to prove, especially to the Cubs. If he can weather the early storm and settle in, the Cubs are in good shape. The game plan is simple for the Cards. They hope to get on the base paths and make Lester as uncomfortable as possible. Thankfully, Contreras has shown to have a live arm and will throw out a high number of would-be base stealers.

Next: Talking baseball with Baez

For the second time in three years, Lester will be the Opening Day starter for the Cubs. Given all that he has done and overcome, the Cubs have the perfect guy on the mound to start the season.