COLUMN: Newest Cub hitter making an impact

OFF THE MARK COLUMN
By: 
Pete Temple
Express Sports Editor

     When you get into the stretch run of a baseball pennant race, many times teams look completely different than how they looked at the start of the season. Mostly big market teams start trading away prospects and current players to fill team “needs.”

     Occasionally the new guys may struggle as they fit into their new surroundings. But once they get their feet wet, they can be the difference makers.

     The past few seasons the Cubs are great examples, like many teams, that have brought in a key player or players. Closer Aroldis Chapman comes to mind in 2016 when the Cubs finally won a World Series.

     Often these guys are referred to as rent-a-players. They may be in their last year of a contract or they cost too much money to resign the next year.

     Hopefully this isn’t the case for newly acquired Cubs outfielder Nicholas Castellanos, who the Cubs traded for with the Detroit Tigers.

     All that Castellanos has done is lead the team in hitting. As a Cub he is batting around .350 with 9 HR and 16 RBI. He’s done this in just 26 games played. Besides his great statistics, he’s brought an element to the team that seems to be missing: timely hitting.

     He hits well in 2-strike counts and is fairly consistent at swinging at strikes and laying off bad pitches. He is rejuvenated and playing with great enthusiasm. His personality seems to be rubbing off on his teammates.

     Castellanos is also one of those transfers that is playing his last year of his contract. My hope is that the Cubs get him signed. I would love to see it happen before he officially becomes a free agent. I’m guessing those talks will wait until the season is over.

     This might be one of those trades that works out way better than expected. And it didn’t cost the Cubs organization a whole lot in return, two pitching prospects.

 

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