Chicago Cubs: Kyle Schwarber is offensive key in the postseason
By Bill Quinn
![(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fcubbiescrib-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2018-2F08-2F1024111836-850x560-4878e28856277fcfc0a1d7cffbc5e1f8.jpg)
Many Chicago Cubs fan continue to question Kyle Schwarber‘s long-term future with the team. That being said, he a has a large role to play this October.
Kyle Schwarber burst onto the scene with the Chicago Cubs in 2015 a mere year after being drafted much higher than most baseball experts thought he would go. He proceeded to slash .246/.355/.487 with a 130 OPS+ in roughly half a season in the big leagues. Pretty good start.
That fall, in the winner-take-all Wild Card game, he hit a ball into the Allegheny against Gerrit Cole. He followed that up with a ball over the Wrigley right field video board against the Cardinals in a Division Series that saw him hit .500. Unfortunately, we all know how 2015 ended, with an NLCS loss to the Mets that saw Schwarber go only 2-for-13 (although both hits were bombs) and showcase his biggest defensive gaffes of the season on a national stage.
Schwarber’s 2016 story? Well, let’s just say it’s quite familiar at this point. In just the second series of the year, he suffered a season-ending injury against the Arizona Diamondbacks. After viciously attacking his rehab, he returned for the World Series, serving as the team’s designated hitter in the Fall Classic.
He went 7-for-17 (.412) against some of the best arms the American League had to offer, including Corey Kluber, Andrew Miller, Cody Allen and Trevor Bauer).