Let’s go with the more exciting news first … In case you missed it over the weekend, the Cubs top prospect, Pete Crow-Armstrong, was removed from the I-Cubs game on Sunday with an arm injury sustained on a diving play in a prior game. And despite the “abundance of caution” warning slapped on the package, I certainly wasn’t encouraged when he was still out of the lineup yesterday (after a scheduled off-day on Monday).
But PCA is back in there and leading off tonight, which is great to see:
It’s early, but it’s been a good start offensively for PCA, who’ll bring a .265/.306/.529 (108 wRC+) slash into the game tonight. And more importantly, he’s striking out just 16.7% of the time so far. I keep saying it, but I still believe it. As soon as he delivers a solid ~100 PAs or so, with a good strikeout rate and with good enough production against fastballs, he’ll be up and patrolling center field with the Chicago Cubs. For me, that day can’t come soon enough.
CORRECTION: I mistakenly thought Peralta had opted out of his deal with the Cubs, but that’s not the case. He is back with the Iowa Cubs, but that’s after choosing to stay in Arizona to finish his rehab/throwing progression, as pointed out by Meghan Montemurro. Thanks, Meghan!
Here’s the original news:
It won’t be easy for Peralta to break through into Chicago’s bench (let alone their starting outfield) with all the guys ahead of him in terms of regular depth (Seiya Suzuki, Cody Bellinger, Ian Happ, Mike Tauchman, Garrett Cooper, Patrick Wisdom) plus the prospects already at Triple-A (Pete Crow-Armstrong, Alexander Canario, Owen Caissie, Brennen Davis), but depth is depth. And Peralta is a well-traveled, left-handed bat hanging around with next to no risk. Glad to have him back.