Cubs: Giving end-of-season grades to this year’s rookies

We’re into the Division Series matchups this week and the Chicago Cubs are watching from home, just like the rest of us.

Although the disappointing 2022 season is now over for the Cubs, it sure was exciting to see all these young players be called up this season. Among all 30 big league clubs, Chicago called up the most rookies this season with 17. Some may not have been ready yet and were ultimately sent back to the minors, however several showed a lot of promise and brought hope to this team.

With the front office seemingly poised to add in big ways via free agency and potentially trade this offseason, the continued development of this young group will be a major organizational focus not only in 2023 but in the coming years. After all, you don’t go out and make major splashes in the winter if you’re not confident a chunk of what you already have.

Knowing as much, instead of only including Cubs rookies in our upcoming end-of-season grades, let’s go ahead and give them their due here as we think about whether or not they deserve a role on next year’s ballclub.