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5 Chicago Cubs players to watch for the 2023 season
It is the time of year when free agency has basically completely died down, and the only available players left are bench players and mid-level relief pitchers. So as the predictions of who signs where are done, let’s look at the Chicago Cubs 2023 roster and who the players to be most excited for are.
1. Dansby Swanson
The Cubs prize in free agency, Dansby Swanson. Signing him will greatly improve the offense and defense of this team. Not only that, but the Cubbies may not have had an electrifying shortstop since Javier Baez. The only, but major difference, between Baez and Swanson, is that Swanson is consistent at the plate and in the field. Cubs fans should be extremely happy about the Swanson signing and watching him play along with Hoerner at 2nd will be lights-out.
2. Nico Hoerner
Hoerner is moving back to his original position at 2nd base. His defense up the middle with Swanson should be amazing, possibly one of the best duos in MLB. Hoerner is coming off the best season of his 4-year career, so as long as he can stay off of the Injured List, he should vastly improve once again.
3. Justin Steele
Justin Steele is going into the 3rd season of his career, where he improved a lot from 2021 to 2022. Steele is likely going to be the 3rd pitcher in the rotation, just behind Marcus Stroman and Jameson Taillon, and this is a perfect spot for the developing pitcher. In 2022, Steele finished with a 3.18 ERA and a 1.353 WHIP in 119 innings. With the additions the Cubs have made this offseason on offense, the pressure for pitchers should decline slightly. Steele will soon be a top pitcher in this organization.
4. Hayden Wesneski
Wesneski came up in the 2nd half of the season and appeared in just 33 innings as a starter. However, in that time, Wesneski proved that he deserves a spot in the rotation. Finishing the season with a 2.18 ERA and a 0.939 WHIP is impressive, even if it was just 6 games. Wesneski will likely be the 4th or 5th pitcher in the rotation, but the young 25-year-old pitcher has a lot of potential this season to be a top rookie pitcher.
5. Cody Bellinger
As the Cubs signed Bellinger to a 1-year prove-it deal, the league already knows what he can do in the field. Bellinger has a fantastic glove and arm and is a great addition to the center field spot. However, the former 2017 Rookie of the Year and 2019 MVP has quickly declined at the plate since. As MLB is changing the rules with the severe shifts, Bellinger could improve his numbers. Now, hitting homers at Wrigley could be difficult, especially when the wind is blowing in, but the hope is, that with the extreme shift ban, Bellinger’s batting average will not be below .240, like it was the past 3 seasons.
Other Notbale Players to Watch:
Christopher Morel, Ian Happ, Eric Hosmer, Matt Mervis, Seiya Suzuki
Despite analysts thinking the Cubs will once again miss the playoffs, the future is bright and there are things to look forward to this season.