Cubs News: Top 3 candidates to replace Kris Bryant as the leadoff hitter

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Cubs manager David Ross looks on from the dugout. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

If the Cubs plan on being a World Series contender, they need a leadoff man.

1,386 days–that’s how long it’s been since the Chicago Cubs used a traditional leadoff hitter. That player was Dexter Fowler, and those days trace back to Game 7 of the 2016 World Series where the former Cub led off the game with a solo home run. The rest, as they say, is history.

One can argue Fowler was one of, if not the best leadoff man the franchise has ever seen. Even though it was only two seasons, he brought an energy and excitement to the ballclub and it showed, especially in the 2016 season. Aside from winning it all, the Cubs finished third in MLB in runs scored and Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant put up the best offensive numbers of their careers.

Now Fowler’s personal statistics from his two years on the North Side aren’t Hall of Fame-worthy by any means: .261/.367 OBP/.427 with a .794 OPS. But it goes without saying, his play at the top of the lineup elevated everyone else’s game, which might be the most important characteristic of a leadoff hitter.

Sure things change over time, these days we’ve seen players swing for the fences and if they strike out it’s no big deal, but there’s an art to the leadoff role that can’t be found in analytics. I don’t care what kind of new statistics are put in front of me, there is one thing that will never change, the structure of a successful baseball lineup. You can look at past World Series winners and they all had a leadoff man who set the table for the rest of the lineup.

Joe Maddon had his experiments like batting Kyle Schwarber first and we all know how that worked out. We’re seeing the same thing this season with David Ross putting Kris Bryant in the leadoff spot. Aside from failing to set the table for the rest of the lineup, Bryant has personally suffered at the plate: .177/.271/.323 with a .594 OPS.

You simply cannot re-invent this part of baseball, which is why it blows my mind how someone as smart as Theo Epstein would not fix this glaring issue for the past four seasons. Sure the Cubs might continue to win some games, but things will slow down come postseason time, and when this happens they’re going to need a leadoff man to get the rest of the lineup going.

There’s a few options they could use for now, but Theo Epstein may need to get his answer around the upcoming trade deadline.

Cubs infielder Nico Ho erner follows through on a swing. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images) /

Will Cubs turn to an unproven rookie at the top of the order?

Prior to this season, I was telling anyone who would listen, Nico Hoerner is our answer for the leadoff spot. Through the first few weeks of the season, I was saying this even louder, especially after seeing Bryant struggle at the top of the order. As of the past few games, I would like to change my answer. Do I still believe Hoerner could be a future leadoff hitter for the Cubs? Absolutely and I will stand by that, but I do not think he is the solution at the moment.

After getting off to a hot start, Hoerner has struggled of late: .196/.269/.239 with a .508 OPS. It happens, this is part of what a young player will go through during a season. Hoerner, just 23, is dealing with his slump and will have to make the correct adjustments to continue playing at a high-level in the big leagues.

As we know this is not a normal season, so Hoerner does not have the luxury of taking his time to figure this out. The added pressures of batting leadoff would not help his adjustment period and would only be a detriment to his development.

What makes me believe he can one day become a successful leadoff man is what he did last season in a small sample size: .282/.305/.436 in 82 PA. Hoerner puts the ball in play and can make things happen, striking out just 11 times. If there is a downside to his game its a lack of walks (just three in 2019), but he can still improve this as time goes on.

The problem is the Cubs do not have much time, they need a proven option in the leadoff spot.

Cubs outfielder Ian Happ rounds third at Wrigley Field. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images) /

Cubs are finally getting big-time production out of Ian Happ

It took a few seasons, and I don’t want to speak too soon, but it looks like we are finally seeing the form of Ian Happ we’ve been waiting for: five home runs, 13 RBI and a .313 average through 20 games played.

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With Bryant out with a hand/wrist injury, Ross put Happ in the leadoff spot for Tuesday night’s matchup against the Cardinals. Happ showed he could be in this spot for the long haul, going 2-for-3 with two walks and a solo home run in the 6-3 win.

With this current Cubs roster, Happ is best to man the top of the order, but I would not want to ruin his great play we have seen thus far. There is a lot of pressure at the top of the lineup, if there wasn’t then anyone could be a successful leadoff hitter. Happ might be a good short-term solution, but ultimately when the going gets tough, I think he still needs to prove he can come through in clutch situations.

If Epstein is able to bring in a proven option at the leadoff spot, Happ would move back down in the order. No doubt the pressure is high late in the season regardless of where he would be hitting, but he would be asked to do a lot less than he would batting leadoff. I think this will help him, as well as the team in the long run and we will continue to see him play at a high level.

If not Happ, the answer to the leadoff man lies somewhere else.

Royals utilityman Whit Merrifield awaits a pitch. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) /

Cubs must finally go after Whit Merrifield at the deadline

The past four years for Epstein, addressing the leadoff spot is like having a leaky roof. You can put a piece of tape over the hole, maybe a bucket under it, and it might help the solution in the short-term, but if it is not fixed with a permanent answer, bigger problems will arise. Ross can continue the merry-go-round of who gets to bat leadoff next, but it’s going to catch up to the Cubs sooner or later if they do not find a proven solution.

If the Cubs plan to make a postseason run, Epstein will need to make a move at the August 31 trade deadline to bring in a leadoff man. An affordable option who I believe would be a perfect fit for this Cubs lineup is Whit Merrifield. The 31-year-old is in his second season of a four-year/$16.5 million deal. Talk about a bargain.

After grinding his way to the big leagues, Merrifield made his first all-star appearance and led the American League in hits last season. Similar to Ben Zobrist, Merrifield can play nearly anywhere in the field and has picked up right where he left off a season ago: .300/.354/.522 with a .876 OPS.

Next. Three trades the Cubs need to make. dark

The idea of Merrifield leading off the top of this Cubs lineup seems almost too good to be true. There have been rumors in the past of Epstein trying to make this happen, but the asking price of the Royals is high. If this is still the case, Theo will have to consider rolling the dice if it’s worth the type of player the Cubs have been lacking for the past four years.

Home / Chicago Cubs News

If the Cubs plan on being a World Series contender, they need a leadoff man.

Will Cubs turn to an unproven rookie at the top of the order?

Cubs are finally getting big-time production out of Ian Happ

More from Cubbies Crib

Cubs must finally go after Whit Merrifield at the deadline

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