Cubs could be among MLB's best at this skill
If "defense wins championships," as the old saying goes, the Cubs are in great shape for 2023. Chicago has assembled one of the best defensive rosters in Major League Baseball.
Chicago has four projected starters who have won at least one Gold Glove Award and others who have the potential to take home the award. The success of the Cubs, who finished third in the NL Central in 2022 with a 74-88 record, could depend on their ability to flash the leather.
Chicago's middle infield may be the best defensive middle infield in the bigs. The arrival of Dansby Swanson, the 2022 Gold Glove winner with Atlanta, gives the Cubs their first impact shortstop since Javier Baez. The addition of Swanson, seen below making an epic catch last season, moves Nico Hoerner over to second base.
According to Sports Illustrated, Hoerner finished the 2022 season as one of the top defensive shortstops in the National League. He ranked third in outs above average (13), fourth in defensive runs saved (11) and sixth in WAR (4.0). Hoerner's work ethic has put him on the brink of stardom.
The signings of first basemen Eric Hosmer (four-time Gold Glove winner) and 1B-OF Trey Mancini provide the Cubs with much-needed veteran presence. Neither may not break club records, but they do bring knowledge, wisdom and World Series experience — Hosmer with the 2015 Royals and Mancini with the 2022 Astros.
Manning third base will be a combination of Patrick Wisdom, Edwin Rios and Nick Madrigal, who has impressed Cubs staff in transitioning to third base and may be the front-runner as starter.
With Cubs manager David Ross confident in Madrigal's ability at third, he can use Wisdom and Rios as utility players, expanding an already deep bench.
When healthy, the Cubs outfield can more than hold its own defensively as well.
Chicago returns left fielder Ian Happ (2022 Gold Glove winner) and right fielder Seiya Suzuki, who is sidelined with a right oblique strain. Before signing with the Cubs in March 2022, Suzuki was ranked by FanGraphs as one of the best defensive right fielders in Japan.
2019 Gold Glove winner Cody Bellinger, the longtime Dodger, strengthens the outfield's defensive prowess.
As long as the Cubs can avoid injuries, Chicago should be superb defensively..
Now about that hitting ...
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