3 overlooked Chicago Cubs stories from the season's first month

There's room on this roster for hot position player prospects

Nick Madrigal and Matt Mervis aren't bringing much to the table. Granted, Mervis just came back up from Iowa late last week, but their numbers paint a pretty clear picture.

Madrigal, for starters, looks nothing like the prospect out of Oregon State who went in the first round and was lauded for his elite bat-to-ball skills. He's batting just .219/.265/.281 on the year and has a 0% barrel rate. There's been no hard contact and, while he doesn't punch out much, he doesn't walk either.

Mervis, since joining the team, is 2-for-15 and even with Garrett Cooper gone, it's hard to see the fit long-term, especially with Busch playing so well at first and Patrick Wisdom back in the mix. It feels like time is running out for him to prove himself at the big league level. Prior to Mervis' return, Miles Mastrobuoni, while versatile, was a black hole offensively, evidenced by a .077 OPS.

All this to say there are obvious opportunities to force the Cubs' hand and play your way onto the MLB roster if you're knocking down the door in the minors. Injuries have helped Alexander Canario and Pete Crow-Armstrong earn spots on the 26-man, but there is a path to playing time here if you're a young position player ready to prove himself.