4 random Chicago Cubs players who had insane, unsustainable hot streaks

Chicago Cubs: Bryan LaHair’s efforts earned him a nod in the 2012 All-Star Game

A 39th-round pick of the Seattle Mariners in 2002, Bryan LaHair spent most of his time in the Minors before coming to the Cubs organization in January 2010. From the time he was drafted through 2011 he had just 65 career MLB games under his belt, 45 with the Mariners in 2008 and 20 with the Cubs at the end of 2011.

At age 29 he would be playing regularly the first few months of the 2012 season as Anthony Rizzo opened the year in the Minors. He played both first base and outfield. LaHair went on a tear in his first 25 games, slashing .390/.487/.779 with a 1.257 OPS, seven home runs, nine doubles, 14 walks, .548 BABIP and 16 RBI. He recorded at least one hit in all but five of those first 25 games.

LaHair ended up going to the 2012 MLB All-Star Game and finished the year with a respectable .259/.334/.450 slash and 16 home runs, but it is fair to say the league adjusted. After those 25 games, he slashed .221/.288/.354 with a .642 OPS, nine home runs, 95 strikeouts, 25 walks, 24 RBI in the remaining 105 games he participated in that season.

Most of his damage was done the first five weeks of the season, though nine home runs and eight doubles showed he still had some pop from time to time. Once Rizzo came into the picture, and LaHair’s dismal performance against lefties (.063/.167/.125), his starting nods were reduced. He did record a walk-off single in the season finale for what would be his final MLB hit.

LaHair wound up playing oversees after 2012 before returning to the states, spending time with the Indians and Red Sox organizations but never getting back up to the Bigs again. After playing in the Atlantic League for a bit, he retired. His most recent gig in baseball included being the Billings Mustangs manager.