Cubs: Six players we wouldn't have seen in a normal 2020 season

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Miguel Amaya (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

With the Chicago Cubs and the COVID-19 hanging over a shortened season, not to mention the random kitchen accident, fans could get a look at players we might not have seen in a full regular season.

The Chicago Cubs have been lucky so far, 66 players have tested positive for Covid-19. Several more have opted out of the season. This is getting ugly fast.

The Cubs will have 30 roster spots the first two weeks coming out of camp, 28 spots for the next two weeks, and 26 spots for the rest of the season.

All this means is that players we might not otherwise have seen for years could get time in the Show. Here are my picks for six guys we could see in this crazy 2020 season.

Chicago Cubs: Catcher Miguel Amaya

The 21-year-old catcher is in the 60-man player pool, and there was talk all offseason about Amaya’s abilities. As rosters go, the catcher is the thin spot for any team, and with COVID-19, it could get lean in a hurry. With a 26-man roster, Manager David Ross might decide to carry four catchers.

With a .243/.334/.375 slash and .709 OPS through High A ball, no one will mistake Amaya for Willson Contreras, but his defensive skills are highly rated, and he’d likely be the third catcher on the roster.

Chicago Cubs: Utility man PJ Higgins

Think Ben Zobrist ten years ago, but if Ben could also fill in at catcher. Nice huh? That’s PJ Higgins. The 27-year-old catcher has also spent time at first base and third base–and the club is particularly thin at those two spots as well.

And Higgins has shown he can handle the bat. He’s posted a .272/.357/.367 slash and .724 OPS over five minor league seasons, but notably in Iowa last year slashed .291/.374/.521 with a .895 OPS in 117 ABs.

(Photo credit should read ROMEO GACAD/AFP via Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: LHP Brailyn Marquez

Marquez is expected to rise quickly through the Cubs system. A taste of the Show couldn’t hurt that progress. The 21-year-old Dominican left-hander was the Cubs Player-of-the-Year in 2019 and will easily rank in the top 100 MLB prospects. His high-90’s fastball is electric, and if he can supplement that with a slider or change-up that is even close to that level, he’s on his way.

Don’t be surprised if Marquez makes the 30-man roster coming out of camp in late July. The Cubs are pretty loaded with pitchers but this kid has MLB-ready stuff. If he gets some innings in during whatever games are played between now and the start of the season, then it could be Marquez is sticking with the club out of camp.

Chicago Cubs: RHP Cory Abbott

He’s been quietly amassing a very decent minor league career earning a 2.84 ERA and 1.14 WHIP over three minor league seasons. He has held opposing teams to a .218 BA and has K’d 315 while walking just 94 in 275 2/3rds innings pitched. Like Marquez, the 24-year-old Abbott is a starter, but he relies more on control than overwhelming heat.

Abbott is not on the 60-man pool roster as of now, but the Cubs have only invited 50 players, leaving room to add players as camp progresses. If pitchers should go down due to Covid-19 or injury, Abbott could find one of those on the roster at the end of camp.

Chicago Cubs: OF Zach Davis

Davis is the best base stealer in the Cubs system. In a short season, that skill cannot be overlooked in a game usually dominated by sabermetrics. This will be a sprint, a grueling 60-game sprint followed by the playoffs. Every game will matter. So toss the anti-base-stealing sabermetrics out the window. Manufacturing runs will be the key. That means advancing runners and that means stealing bases.

Davis has stolen 102 bases while being caught 29 times in 269 games. The weakness is his SO/BB ratio, 245/93, and that won’t get better in the Show. He’s probably a dark horse to make the 30-man roster, but then as a late-game pinch-runner and possibly defensive sub, he’d be a nice piece to have on the bench.

Chicago Cubs: OF Brennan Davis

He’s 21, he can hit and he can field. In his brief time with the Cubs, the 20-year-old second-round pick has slashed .303/.394/.479 with a .873 OPS. No one but Marquez is on a faster track up to the Show than B. Davis if all goes well. While he’s not as prolific a base-stealer than the other Davis is, he’s tougher out at the plate.

Next. Three unexpected designated hitters candidates. dark

I didn’t mention Nico Hoerner because I think it’s pretty certain he breaks camp with the team. What will tell the tale here is how many players test positive before the season begins. Hopefully, we’ll see baseball, and perhaps some of these guys, but I’m not one bit confident this season even gets off the ground.

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Chicago Cubs: Six players we wouldn’t have seen in a normal 2020 season