Forgotten Cubs prospect suddenly helps Tigers escape frustrating downward spiral

Before Matt Shaw or Alex Bregman were solutions for the Chicago Cubs at third base, there was some hope that Gage Workman could emerge as a contributor. As a Rule 5 selection, Workman made the Cubs' Opening Day roster in 2025 after becoming a sensation during spring training.

In 50 plate appearances with the Cubs during Cactus League play last spring, Workman hit 4 home runs with 15 RBI. The hit-rate on Rule 5 selections isn't particularly high, but Workman's spring performance gave Cubs fans hope that he could have been a diamond in the rough.

Unfortunately, that hope quickly faded. In 15 plate appearances with the Cubs last season, Workman slashed .214/.267/.286 while striking out 40% of the time. Making the jump from Double-A, it was clear that Workman's offensive profile still needed some development before he was capable of being a contributor in the majors.

Workman had a brief three-game run with the Chicago White Sox after the Cubs traded him last season, but he was ultimately returned to the Detroit Tigers by the end of the season.

Gage Workman had a loud welcome back to the majors

Posting a 162 wRC+ through 150 plate appearances with Triple-A Toledo to open the 2026 season, Workman had been making the case for another runway at the major league level. That was provided to him over the weekend after the Tigers placed Kerry Carpenter on the IL, and he provided an instant spark.

Workman hit the go-ahead two-run home run for the Tigers in their 6-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday night.

For a Tigers team that has made headlines for all the wrong reasons in recent weeks, Workman's heroics on Sunday provided hope that there's still enough time for their season to turn around. Detroit entered the season as the favorite in the American League Central but has stumbled out of the gate while having to deal with injuries to Tarik Skubal, Justin Verlander, and Casey Mize.

Fortunately, the Cubs' bench is in a much healthier spot than when they had to rely on Workman. Michael Conforto's breakout has reached the point where he is taking at-bats away from Moises Ballesteros, and Matt Shaw and Miguel Amaya have been valuable contributors. It should allow Cubs fans to see Workman's success and not think about what could've been.

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