Cubs Knowledge: Ed Howard Contract Knowledge, Yu Darvish Bullpen Breakdown

Chicago Cubs shortstop Javier Baez is undoubtedly one of the principal preeminent superstars in Predominant League Baseball, and can probably remain a fixture in Chicago for some time.

But the 27-year-mature’s magnetic persona and abilities did no longer cease the Cubs from deciding on the insist of beginning kid in the important thing round of the 2020 MLB draft.

The Cubs took shortstop Ed Howard out of Mount Carmel High College (IL) with the 16th seize, giving them undoubtedly one of the principal particular-handed infielders in the total class. And Chicago has wasted tiny time in signing its high different.

Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports actions Chicago reported the 18-year-mature will salvage a $3.7455 million signing bonus, which locations him at slot value.

The Chicago native clearly has longstanding ties to the Windy Metropolis. Howard grew up in the southern suburbs of the metropolis, changing precise into a broad name for the Jackie Robinson West team that became subsequently engulfed in controversy after winning the U.S. title at some level of the 2014 Puny League World Series.

But Howard became undeterred and made a fame for himself as undoubtedly one of the principal tip possibilities in the nation while at Mount Carmel. He hit .377 in his sophomore year before following up with a .419 common in his junior campaign, per MaxPreps.

Of us were starting establish to bask in interplay ogle, including White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson. The 2 developed a friendship, and Howard even worked out with the 27-year-mature earlier this year.

Keith Regulations of The Athletic ranked Howard 15th on his “Gigantic Board” main up to the draft, lauding his palms defensively while furthermore noting his excellent bat rush. Patrick Mooney of the identical online publication renowned the Cubs will hope he can accompany that bat rush with a hottest beginning angle to generate more energy.

Howard has the makings of an elite defender, and—if he can hit in the minors—need to be ready to progress by Chicago’s farm machine slightly posthaste.

Yu Darvish Provides Bullpen Diagnosis

Cubs excellent-hander Yu Darvish maintains a neighborhood in Evanston, Illinois, but he has remained on the team’s practising facility in Mesa, Arizona at some level of the coronavirus pandemic.

The 33-year-mature has shared clips of a couple of of his bullpen sessions at some level of baseball’s suspension, but he gave a more particular breakdown for his Twitter followers this past Saturday.

Darvish showcased the changes he has made to his split-finger fastball, asserting he has added more revolutions in yell to be able to add more motion. He furthermore expressed his eagerness to throw the pitch against dwell batters.

While the Eastern broad name contends he reached 94 mph with the splitter last year, Baseball Savant had his common rush at closer to 89 mph in 108 events. It does he appear he added revolutions, despite the indisputable truth that, as his splitter had a rush rate of 1,438 revolutions per minute in 2019.

As a minimum, he’ll be that some distance more functional if he can expose the pitch to both aspects of the strike zone.

Cubs followers are hoping Darvish would possibly possibly be the identical man he became at some level of the 2nd half of, when he posted a 2.76 ERA and had 16.86 strikeouts per spin. He furthermore ranked third in skill-interactive earned rush common (SIERA) at some level of that span, per FanGraphs.

Chicago’s getting older group desires a respectable ace in a shortened season, and Darvish’s bevy of weapons would possibly possibly assist him change into the dominant anchor on the tip of the rotation.

All stats received by Baseball Reference, except otherwise renowned.