Chicago Cubs Kyle Schwarber is a left fielder, not a DH

Since the Chicago Cubs’ Kyle Schwarber came onto the scene, many felt he was destined to be a designated hitter. After being exposed as a poor fielder in the 2015 playoffs, you could have made a case for it. But not anymore.

In 2015, the Chicago Cubs called up Kyle Schwarber in what was supposed to be a temporary move. The Cubs had a trip against the Cleveland Indians and Minnesota Twins where he could be used as the DH. He impressed enough to get a call back up in mid-July, and he remained in Chicago the rest of the season. He spent much of it either catching or being dangled in left field–a place that he wasn’t comfortable with.

But these were the options. He was the team’s third catcher, which by most would be considered the ’emergency catcher.’ So the only place to play him was in left field. His bat? It left no doubt of what he was capable of. It’s why he never went back down to the minors after that audition. As 2016 was ready to begin, he was going to get his chance at starting in left field. Unfortunately, we know how that ended up.

The knee injury kept Schwarber out for the entire season. But out of nowhere, the Cubs thought they might have a chance to play him in the World Series. He was cleared to hit, but not to play the field. Some thought maybe that was a blessing. But if not for Ben Zobrist, he very well could have been the MVP of the 2016 World Series. His bat is that good. And then the DH talk came in from everywhere. “Trade him while the iron was hot. Get some pitching for him. He’s alway’s going to be a DH. He can’t play the field.”

Last season, after getting a full-season back under his belt, the talk was still there. To be honest, fans always want to see a player get traded if they don’t perform as they did the year before. It’s human nature for some. But not all. Some people understand the potential. And that players don’t always remain the same player they were when they got to the league.  And if there is anyone out there that loves to prove people wrong? It’s Schwarber.

A year ago, I wrote a piece about Schwarber wanting to prove himself. To show he could be an MVP or a Gold Glove-caliber player. I’m sure many laughed off the Glod Glove part. But they thought with his bat; he could maybe make a run at an MVP one day. It’s almost like Schwarber silently stalked Twitter and Facebook, taking in all the DH comments. The ‘liability in the field’ comments. And what did he do with that?

He became the BEST fielding left fielder in the National League, according to FanGraphs. Trailed only Alex Gordon of the Kansas City Royals, who’s known as a pretty good fielder. And had the best-rated arm of the group. Not too bad for a ‘clutz’ who was bound to be a DH.

Schwarber has proved himself in the field. Now he needs to take that next step at the plate. He’s very patient at the plate, and sees a lot of pitches. But he takes more than his fair share of borderline strikes. I guess you could say he’s taking one more pitch than he should.

But in 2018, he saw his walk rate increase from 12.1% to 15.3%, and his K-rate dropped from 30.9% to 27.5% from the previous year. He’s on the right path. I guess that part of his identity as a hitter can be identified from where he hits. Which, for Joe Maddon, could be anywhere. The last attempt at Schwarber being leadoff was a bust in 2017. But he’s a year older, a year wiser. ‘It didn’t work before,’ is what I figure I might hear from many of you. He was also doomed to be a DH because he couldn’t field.