4 sneaky important role players for the Cubs heading into the playoffs

The Chicago Cubs have reached the postseason for the first time since the COVID-shortened 2020 season. With no fans in attendance that season, Wrigley Field will welcome fans for a postseason game for the first time since the 2018 NL Wild Card Game against the Colorado Rockies.

This season, it will be the San Diego Padres coming into town, and their lineup is full of star players such as Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. and more.

The Cubs also have their fair share of stars, led by All-Star outfielders Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong. It will be these four sneaky role players, though, that may influence a deep postseason run for the first time since 2017.

4 Cubs role players who could steal the show in the 2025 MLB playoffs

Billy Hamilton

This one is no sure-fire thing yet, but it would definitely appear that the Cubs' decision to sign Billy Hamilton and have him eligible for the postseason roster is not without cause.

Hamilton went 3-for-5 in stolen base attempts at Triple-A Iowa, and he could definitely be an addition to the roster strictly for baserunning, a la Terrance Gore on the 2018 roster. A couple of stolen bases leading to runs in big moments could make Hamilton an important piece of the roster.

Willi Castro

Willi Castro was acquired at the trade deadline due to his defensive versatility, and that could prove to be important in the postseason. Castro would likely be the defensive replacement for whoever Hamilton is put in the game to pinch-run for.

It also feels like Castro is going to beginning to hit at some point during his Cubs tenure. That could very well start this postseason, and it will be huge for Chicago's chances of success if he does.

Michael Soroka

Does anyone really know what Michael Soroka's postseason role is going to be? We sure don't, but we can take an educated guess based on his recent usage.

Soroka has not gone more than two innings since coming off the injured list. It almost appears as if he'll serve as an opener to help shorten games for the rotation, as a whole.

Soroka has a 1.08 ERA across 8 1/3 innings pitched, so a continuation of that success would be a huge boost to the Cubs pitching staff throughout the postseason.

Colin Rea

Veteran Colin Rea, putting together a season in which he went 11-7 with an ERA of 3.95, was a bit of a surprise. That was better than anyone expected when he was signed in the offseason.

He's allowed just five runs over his last 23 1/3 innings and has struck out 29 batters in that span. The loss of Cade Horton to an injury may have forced Rea into a potential starting role if the Wild Card Series goes to a decisive Game 3.

If Rea's recent success is any indication of what he'll be able to do in the postseason, he will be an instrumental part of Chicago's success in October.