Versatility and Consistency Key for Cubs Utilityman McKinstry

In the minors, he primarily split time between second and third base. However, Cubs manager David Ross put him in left field against his old team over the weekend, a position he only has 44 games of experience, including 25 starts, between both the minor and Major League levels.

While it’s not ideal, preparing McKinstry for any scenario that may arise come the regular season is what Spring Training is for.

“That’s not kinda the priority, but if I have to put him out (in the outfield), it’s just a little irresponsible of me not to get him some reps,” Ross said via Marquee Sports Network. “He is an option out there, he’s played there before. Just making sure that we get him a game out there, some game reps, something to just turn his attention [to] the little details out there, be fundamentally sound out there.”

Given his performance in the exhibition schedule, if McKinstry had any minor league options remaining, he’d be a safe bet to start the year there.

But he gives the lineup a left-handed bat, and the Cubs need to assess what they have before potentially losing the utilityman.

McKinstry is a career .323 hitter in 114 games at the Triple-A level, including a .335 average in 2022. He’s shown some pop in the lower levels, slugging 12 home runs and 52 RBI in 95 games for the Dodgers’ Double-A outfit in 2019.

He’s shown flashes of potential at the Major League level. In April 2021, McKinstry hit .296 with three home runs and 14 RBI in 17 games for the Dodgers.

In a seven-game stretch with the Cubs in September last year, he hit .355, including a 4-for-5 night against the San Francisco Giants.

The potential is certainly there, but that's all it has been to this point in his career. Combined with his slow start, other fringe roster players will be chomping at the bit if McKinstry struggles in the first few weeks of the regular season.