5 Chicago Cubs that will be part of the next core

Looking over the last two weeks of Chicago Cubs baseball, it has been painful for the fanbase to say the least. They have had to endure a 10-game skid that figures to be the new norm as the season goes on. The offense hasn’t been terrible, as there have been a few new guys that have been exciting to watch since the core was traded away at the end of July.

Though not everybody that has been on a roll in a Cubs uniform will necessarily be a core piece of the team moving forward, there are quite a few that have made their mark both in 2021 and have numbers to back it up from years prior.

The main reason to watch the team every night at this point of a losing season is simply to see what the newer guys can do and how much potential they have for the team moving forward. If the Cubs patch up the rotation and add a couple pieces to the bullpen via free agency or if a prospect can prove themselves, this team still isn’t exactly World Series-caliber yet, but they will be on the right track.

Though Cubs fans are soured with everything going on lately, It’s understandable that fans simply “don’t want to hear it” right now. However, it’s important to note that although this season seems lost, they do already have key members on the squad that cannot be overlooked. Let’s take a look at the top five guys currently on the team that will be part of the core moving forward.

5 Chicago Cubs that Will be Part of the Next Core – #5: rNico Hoerner

We’re starting off this list with Nico Hoerner. Hoerner has made quite the impact since being called up at the end of 2019. For one, it took him basically just one year to get called up to the majors, where he currently has a career slash of .275/.343/.356, mostly due to having a down year in 2020 during the pandemic, which prompted a lot of players to struggle mightily.

A first-round pick in 2018, Hoerner quickly became a fan favorite in September of 2019 upon getting called up. Fun fact, Hoerner was the first player to get called up to the Show from his class of fellow draftees. That season, he wound up with 82 at-bats and slashed an impressive .282/.305/.436 at the age of only 22, filling in for a decimated Chicago infield.

in 152 at-bats in 2021, Hoerner is batting .313/.388/.388. Though currently on the IL with a strained right oblique, Hoerner figures to slide over to shortstop next season once Nick Madrigal is healthy. With his terrific defense, above average contact bat and extremely team-friendly contract for the next several years, Hoerner will be around and should only continue to get better with more experience along the way.

5 Chicago Cubs that Will be Part of the Next Core – #4: Justin Steele

At number three we have the newest member of the Chicago Cubs rotation, Justin Steele. Steele, earlier in the week, made his big league debut for the Cubs, throwing five innings of three-run ball. Steele was activated from the IL in July and sent to Triple-A Iowa after missing time with a hamstring strain.

Before the IL stint, Steele put in an impressive 2.03 ERA in 13 1/3 innings of work out of the bullpen. Upon returning from injury, he electrified with a 1.32 ERA in 27 1/3 innings at Triple-A before making his debut as a starter. Recently turning 26, Steele has several years ahead of him in which should he remain successful, would significantly help the Cubs add a much needed cost-effective southpaw to their rotation.

Steele should get multiple chances as the season rolls on to prove he has what it takes to be in the rotation moving forward. With the Cubs’ season in shambles, it bodes well for the younger players who get a chance to showcase what they can do. Steele falls perfectly into that category and it will be very interesting to start eating up innings and see how much success he can have. If he doesn’t carve out a starting role, he is virtually a lock for a late-inning bullpen position.

5 Chicago Cubs that Will be Part of the Next Core – #2: Kyle Hendricks

Obviously, this list wouldn’t be complete without Kyle Hendricks. ‘The Professor’ has been part of the core for six seasons now. Looking at his statistics over the years, Hendricks’ best year came in 2016, the year the Cubs won it all.

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He posted a remarkable big league-leading 2.13 ERA with a 16-8 record while finishing third in Cy Young Award voting. Most remember his lights-out performance in Game 6 of the NLCS, sending the club to its first World Series since 1945. Hendricks’ consistency has endured over the years.

Over eight seasons of work, Hendricks has a career 3.24 ERA and a stellar record of 82-53. His current record of 13-5 in 2021 in among the best in terms of wins as he is currently leading the league in that department. Considering he is not a free agent until 2024, his two extra years of team control could have potentially returned a haul at the trade deadline. Thankfully, the organization stuck with the right-hander. Hendricks’ consistency is valuable to any team looking to build a solid rotation.

5 Chicago Cubs that Will be Part of the Next Core – #1: Willson Contreras

All-Star catcher Willson Contreras tops our list here. The fiery catcher has been an integral part of the team both on offense and defense since his time with the Cubs – which started back in 2016.

Currently having a down year offensively, his overall career slash is still .258/.348/.455. Defensively, he leads the league in pickoffs by a catcher since being called up. He now is a solid veteran on a team that is becoming younger as the the days go on. His fiery passion to win has the ability to hype his whole team up and provide that spark to get the line up going.

Contreras has openly stated he wants to be extended and is happy with the idea of the front office building around him. The Chicago Cubs would be extremely smart to lock him up and throw away the key. It was rare that you get the opportunity to have a catcher notch a pair of All-Star nods this early in his career. Should Contreras walk once his contract expires at the end of next season, he would be sorely missed in the catcher spot and would instantly be picked up by another team.

The leadership and veteran presence Contreras can provide to a younger ball club is also crucial. He is a motivator who consistently fires up him teammates and the crowd whenever he makes a big play with his bat or with his arm. The Cubs would be remiss if they do not extend Willson Contreras.