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Chicago Cubs: Heyward wants to hit; Schwarber, Happ want to play
Jason Heyward would love to have his best career hitting season in 2019. Heyward worked out so many of the bugs last year and ended up with a .270 batting average, seven more hits than 2017 (119-to-112) but fewer home runs (8-to-11) and RBI (57-to-59). Heyward wants Santa to take his swing back to 2015 and his .293 BA. That year, Heyward had 160 hits, 13 home runs and 60 RBI as a member of the rival St. Louis Cardinals.
Outfielders Kyle Schwarber and Ian Happ want ‘life’ for Christmas. Both players are hoping to be heading toward Mesa, Arizona and not traded off to make financial room for more established players.
It will be tough going, especially for players like Schwarber who did everything from transforming his body to leading MLB in some defensive metrics during part of last season. Both players are hoping for a roster spot this Christmas. They’re keeping it real, and that’s putting it mildly.