For the Chicago Cubs, their 2018 season ended in a very unceremonious way, losing their hold of the National League Central division in game 163 to the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field, followed by a crushing extra-innings defeat at home against the Colorado Rockies. 2019 looks to be divisional title or bust for this team, which is something that outfielder Kyle Schwarber can help with.
A designated hitter trapped in the NL, Schwarber has been a masher so far for the Cubbies this season, something that they desperately needed with downfalls coming from other points on their roster, namely their disaster of a bullpen. For Schwarber, not getting constant at-bats like he did in 2018 made it difficult to improve, but he seems to have taken that farther in 2019, thriving as the late-innings pinch hitter (when called upon) that has been receiving many more starts this season.
In 100 games, Schwarber has made 90 starts, which is on track to be more than he has ever made in one season, a good sign for the Cubs for his production and his health. Mainly playing left field for this team, both the Cubs and Schwarber have benefited from his increased offensive numbers while his defense has improved enough to justify being put out there almost every day.
24 home runs, 56 runs driven in, and 46 walks all put him on pace to shatter his season highs in each category, even with his strikeout numbers (107) and season WAR (0.11) being in dangerous areas. As a testament to his offensive prowess, Schwarber accounted for seven of the team’s 11 runs in Sunday’s romp over the Brewers, as Schwarber hit a grand slam and a three-run home run off of Brewers’ starter Zach Davies, who came into the game ranked high in the NL in season ERA.
Defensive metrics are always going to hurt Schwarber, but the converted catcher has made enough headway on his defensive downfalls that manager Joe Madden is comfortable putting him out there in left to play the field. While he still has issues judging pop flies, hitting the cut-off man, and controlling his throws from the outfield, Schwarber is just a bit under a serviceable-level defender in the outfield, which is the least that the Cubs can ask of him.
Schwarber is this team’s X-Factor for the rest of 2019, not just because of what he can do for this team for their 2019 playoff push, but for what he can do to position this team for their future. Knowing that he projects more as a designated hitter, Schwarber is again a likely trade candidate that could fetch a decently-average haul in terms of pitching if the Cubs decided to shop him in the offseason.
Being able to bring in an average to above-average bullpen arm is the best outcome that the team could hope for on the open market, and Schwarber would excel in the American League as a full-time DH who could eventually become the customary dual first baseman or DH guy that a lot of players turn into.
A younger Nelson Cruz of sorts who has less patience at the plate and lower power numbers, but can still mash and was a top prospect coming through the minor leagues, Schwarber has the tools to help the Cubbies get back to the postseason and make a much greater impact than they did during their 2018 season. If he regresses into his former self and becomes a bigger liability in the field while losing his improving plate discipline, then his time with the Cubs could be even shorter than some think.
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