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Singling out 7 of the most underrated Chicago Cubs players of the last 10 years

The last decade has seen the Cubs organization go through its most successful era in a century, and these underrated players deserve more credit for their work in blue pinstripes

ByRich Eberwein|
Pittsburgh Pirates v Chicago Cubs
Pittsburgh Pirates v Chicago Cubs | Jonathan Daniel/GettyImages
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RHP Hector Rondon

Former Cubs closer Hector Rondon began his professional career in the Cleveland Indians organization, signing as an international free agent from Venezuela in 2004. At one point he was ranked as high as number seven on Cleveland's top prospect list, until the Cubs selected him in the 2012 Rule 5 Draft.

It was a relatively small move that paid off immensely. Rondon made his debut the following year, with a lackluster 4.77 ERA in 45 games. But he turned things around in 2014 after being named the closer early in the season, and he dominated with a 2.42 ERA and 29 saves out of 33 opportunities. The trend continued in 2015, where the young right-hander turned in a personal best year with a 1.67 ERA, 30 saves and 69 strikeouts in 70 innings.

Rondon served as the closer until the middle of the 2016 season when the team acquired Aroldis Chapman at the trade deadline. He pitched for the Cubs for five seasons before departing in free agency for the Houston Astros.

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