If Jeimer Candelario notches four hits in every game the rest of the way, the Cubs are probably going to be in good shape.
I joke, but hey, he’s done it in each of his first two games back with the Cubs, which hasn’t been done in a very long time.
First, it hasn’t been done by any Cubs player in any two-game span since Kris Bryant back in August of 2016 (Cubs.com). Kinda fun, by the way, because it was Bryant’s presence that more or less forced the Cubs to trade Candelario in the first place.
Second, eight hits in a player’s first two games after an in-season trade hasn’t been done since 1900 (ESPN). You could argue there has literally not been a more immediate offensive impact from a trade in the last 123 years.
2 games. 8 hits. 6 runs.
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 3, 2023
Ain't it sweet? 🍬 pic.twitter.com/jMn4MGOOnw
It won’t always be like this, of course. A few of Candelario’s hits were definitely of the BABIP-gods variety, and he’ll have his struggles like everyone else.
But even if he’s not notching four hits per game, he should nevertheless be a strong offensive upgrade for a Cubs lineup that increasingly looks very long and very good.
Also fun: Candelario’s two games with the Cubs have improved his season slash line from .258/.342/.481/120 wRC+ to .273/.355/.499/129 wRC+. That’s an enormous leap for two games in August.
