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

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.

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.