Chicago Cubs: Who’s the best after Bryant and Rizzo?

The Chicago Cubs’ Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo. Arguably two of the most consistent hitters on the club. But after these two, who’s next?

Everyone knows that Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo are the Chicago Cubs best two hitters and have been for a few years. However, who is the Cubs next best hitter is an issue for some debate. The leading candidates for the Cubs next best hitter have also changed quite a bit during that time.

Some veteran players have either taken a step back with age or moved on to another team. Several of the younger hitters have briefly been able to claim the title as they have experienced the non-linear development that the front office is always talking about. The import thing is as the Cubs next best hitter has changed, someone else has always been there to step up. This has resulted in a continuously improving and usually dangerous lineup.

So who might it be? There are several different factors that come into play, and all will play some fair share into the mix. Power? Hit for average? All will be critical factors for who is the “next best hitter” on the club.

Javier Baez  – .267, 10 home runs, 36 RBI

Javier Baez’s MVP caliber performance this April was the inspiration for this post. I did not see this coming. Baez started this season by going 0-10. When he finally got his first hit in his eleventh at-bat, he jokingly asked for the ball as if it was a momentous occasion. Shortly after that Maddon began moving Baez up in the lineup.

Rizzo got off to a slow start. Then Zobrist and Rizzo both took trips to the disabled list. Then Bryant missed a few games after getting hit by a pitch that spun his helmet off his head. During this time Baez carried the Cubs offense. At times he hit in front of Bryant or Rizzo, and at other times he served as their protection in the lineup.

We all know that El Mago can be an incredible player. His defensive plays, his baserunning instincts, his lightning-quick tags, his magical slides that avoid tags are all part of what makes him such a fun player to watch. But we’ve been here before with Baez’s bat, such as when he shared the 2016 NLCS MVP honors with Jon Lester.

However, I got the sense during this most recent hot streak that Baez made a significant jump as a hitter. His success this time was over a sustained period. He was hitting the ball the other way a lot. He was hitting breaking pitches much better than he used. And Baez was not chasing nearly as many pitches out of the strike zone.

Willson Contreras – .274, 4 home runs, 19 RBI

On Opening Day last season Willson Contreras batted 8th. He was ahead of only the pitcher’s spot in the batting order. At the time that looked about right. But right away Contreras began to make his case to occupy a more important spot in the batting order. On Opening day he hit a three-run home run to tie the game in the ninth inning. At the time I remember thinking that the Cubs have a ridiculously deep lineup when they have a hitter the caliber of Contreras hitting just in front of the pitcher.

After Miguel Montero was dismissed from the Cubs, Conteras settled in as the Cubs everyday catcher. Then both before and after his trip to the disabled list late last season, Contreras was the Cubs best hitter after Bryant and Rizzo. He even settled into the cleanup spot right after them in the batting order.

This offseason there was a lot of debate about the Cubs batting order. But the one thing that nearly everyone agreed on is that Bryant, Rizzo and Contreras should bat next to each other and probably in that order.

But this season Contreras did not immediately pick back up the title of the Cubs next best hitter. He wasn’t exactly terrible, but he wasn’t the dominant offensive force that helped to carry the team in the second half of 2017. But after his last few games, Contreras is once again making an argument for the duo of Bryant and Rizzo be expanded to a trio.

Ben Zobrist – .290, 1 home run, 10 RBI

Ben Zobrist spent most of the 2016 season batting behind Rizzo and Bryant in the batting order. At the time Maddon described it as a, “Rizzo sandwich.” This made for a nice right-left-switch hitter combination in the heart of the batting order.

But Zobrist contributed so much more than just that. His veteran leadership was so invaluable that Theo and Jed not only signed Zobrist as a free agent, they also traded away Starlin Castro to open up the second base job for him. Zobrist’s patient and disciplined approach at the plate also did an excellent job of setting the example for the Cubs many younger hitters to emulate.

Zobrist was the NL’s starting second baseman in the 2016 All-Star game. And ultimately he earned World Series MVP honors when he had the game-winning hit in game 7. That season Zobrist was arguably the Cubs next best hitter.

Then in 2017 Zobrist wasn’t the same as he spent most of the season dealing with a nagging wrist injury. Going into 2018 some people assumed Zobrist would serve more as a backup. However, Zobrist got off to a hot start early in the season. As he ages, the Cubs are no longer counting on him to be one of the slices of bread in a Rizzo sandwich. The fact that the offense continues without him in that role is a good sign. But don’t be surprised if Zobrist continues to hit so well that he not only earns more playing time, but he might even be the Cubs next best hitter at times this season.

Addison Russell – .250, 1 home run, 9 RBI

In 2015 Addison Russell spent most of the season batting ninth in a National League batting order behind the pitcher’s spot. Maddon explained that was a better spot for a young hitter to develop.

Then in 2016, Russell began to settle in behind Zobrist and the rest of the “Rizzo sandwich.” When Russell joined the rest of the Cubs as the National League All-Star team’s starting infield some critics said it was an example of fan voting negatively influencing who goes to the All-Star game. But when that season Russell finished just shy of 100 RBI. That’s a number that always catches the attention of traditional baseball fans.

It appeared at that time that Russell would eventually take over Zobrist’s place in the Rizzo sandwich as the Cubs next best hitter. However, in 2017 Russell struggled with injuries, issues off the field and issues at the plate. He certainly isn’t that next best hitter right now. But if Russell gets back on that track that he was in 2016–he could be.

Ian Happ – .232, 5 home runs, 14 RBI

I’ve written before how Ian Happ has been either the solution to the Cubs lineup needs or the man who is struggling to find playing time. Hopefully, things stabilize for Happ so that he stops bouncing back and forth between such extremes.

Recently when Maddon was asked about sending Happ down to Triple-A he said, “I’m not even talking about that with Theo or anybody yet.” Maddon is showing a lot of interest and faith in Happ and his ability to make the necessary adjustments. If he does make those adjustments, there’s a decent chance that Happ reclaims the leadoff spot in the batting order that seemed to be his coming out of spring training. Maybe Maddon will have a new player to say, “As you go, we go.” The last time he did he was arguably the Cubs next best hitter.

Jason Heyward isn’t the next best hitter

When Jason Heyward joined the Cubs he was supposed to be the young superstar the front office signed to add to their young core. At first, he batted second in the order ahead of Bryant and Rizzo and behind Fowler. But the fact that Heyward at no point can actually claim to be the next best hitter since joining the Cubs makes my point.

The Cubs offense has evolved a lot in a very short period of time. It would be great if some of their young hitters had been more consistent. But remember it took Anthony Rizzo a long time to develop into the cornerstone of the organization we know today. He didn’t hit well as a Padre and he had a down sophomore season with the Cubs.

For the most part, the young hitters are improving. It is a testament to how well the organization has been built that the Cubs have both a duo as great and dependable as Bryant and Rizzo as well as so many other hitters who have stepped up right behind them. This post mentioned every current Cubs position player who can arguably be considered a starter except Albert Almora. The Cubs don’t need one more guy to add to a trio of greatest because they may end up with more than just a trio.