Wisdom has made a good first impression in his rookie season with the Cubs.
The Cubs’ season has changed over the last two weeks as the team has gone from thinking about contending to thinking about the future. With so many moves at the trade deadline and many roster spots to be filled, the Cubs are in a position to now have job interviews at the big-league level.
One player who has made the most of his opportunities this season is third baseman Patrick Wisdom, who burst onto the scene with his impressive power surge. As the team decides who is a part of their future, Wisdom’s rookie season has made quite the first impression.
The Cubs also have openings on the corner of their infield for the first time in years and the veteran infielder seems to be a prime candidate for one of those spots.
“Super excited about the chance,” Wisdom told the Sun-Times on Sunday. “Hopefully I fit their plans for the year or years to come. Who knows? I can just hope that I’m in those thoughts and those ideas and my names on that board.
“That’s all I can hope for, really. Then just go out there and play my game. [I’ve made a] good first impression. I know what I can do. Hope that’s enough. We’ll see what happens when everything kind of shakes out. I hope I’m a part of the plans.”
Wisdom has held his own during his first real opportunity in the Majors and has gotten more games played this season than any in his career. He’s slashing .263/.325/.554 with a team-leading 16 home runs and 32 RBIs.
“Change creates opportunity, and there’s a real opportunity here for new guys to prove that they’re sustainable big-leaguers,” manager David Ross said. “That’s a really valuable next two months [where] we’re gonna have to continue to keep an eye on the guys that can go out and prove it every single day.”
“I think there’s a real opportunity to play here. This is a special organization to get a big league opportunity [with]. To get to come to work at this ballpark and play for a Chicago Cubs franchise that has been on the map for a while now. A winning franchise and you got young guys coming up.”
One of the things that works in Wisdom’s favor for next season is the expected return of the universal DH rule in the National League being a permanent addition in the next year’s collective bargaining agreement. Ensuring bats like his have a place in the team’s lineup.
But he’s also shown he can hold his own defensively and has been one of the team’s best defenders at the hot corner. He currently ranks plus-two defensive runs saved and plus-three outs above average.
“Being in the minor leagues, pretty much every time there’s a trade deadline, it didn’t really impact me,” he said. “And so to see it kind of unfold here at the big league level with superstar names, it’s kind of eye opening. Just how much of a business it is.”
The Cubs’ third baseman has been around the block with opportunities in St. Louis and Texas before getting to the Cubs last season, but there’s no question that he looks comfortable in his new home. He believes that comfort has helped him get to this point.”
“It’s been huge,” Wisdom said. “I think it plays a huge role in success on the field. Just being comfortable coming to the clubhouse every day, being comfortable around the staff, and your teammates. I think it plays an important role in your mental well-being, honestly.”
from Chicago Sun-Times - All https://ift.tt/3lHjnzh
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