5 Chicago Cubs that will be part of the next core

5 Chicago Cubs that Will be Part of the Next Core – #4: Nick Madrigal

Coming to Chicago as part of the Craig Kimbrel trade at the deadline back in July was Nick Madrigal. Unfortunately, Madrigal is out for the season with a hamstring tear. He, like Hoerner, is a good defensive infielder with a solid contact bat. He won’t blow you away with power but he will hit for a high average as he done throughout college, his minor league career and two years in the majors thus far.

Madrigal, a first-round and fourth overall pick in the 2018 draft, batted .361/.422/.502 in three seasons with the Oregon State Beavers. In the following two seasons between Rookie ball all the way up to Triple-A Charlotte, Madrigal continued to show off his elite contact bat, slashing .309/.371/.398.

Fast forwarding to the Majors, Madrigal batted .340 in 29 games in 2020, and was batting .305 through 54 games in 2021. His career slash in 303 big league at-bats is .317/.358/.406. Given his success at the collegiate level and in the minors, .317 isn’t far fetched for Madrigal.

He is a high-level contact hitter which is exactly something the Cubs need in the lineup. Along with Hoerner, not only does he have potential leadoff hitter written all over him, but he is also still on a very team-friendly deal, not reaching arbitration until 2024 and free agency until 2027.