The Cubs are getting a bonus arm in the bullpen thanks to the Hamels family, so make sure to send them a fruit basket.
Today, the Cubs placed Cole Hamels on paternity leave, and called up reliever James Norwood from Iowa. Hamels is not due to start until Saturday in any case, so the Cubs aren’t really losing a player right now – they just get a bonus arm in the bullpen.
Speaking of the bonus arm, he’s been killer lately:
Over his last 6 outings, James Norwood has been lights out: 8 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 14 K
He's been perfect over his last 4 appearances (5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 11 K), striking out 11 of the 15 batters he has faced. https://t.co/5hF5mIrrNF
— Michael Ernst (@mj_ernst) August 27, 2019
You know the drill with Norwood, like so many other accomplished AAA arms: the stuff and the velocity are big-league-caliber, but the command has to be there consistently for him to stick and succeed.