Remember when the news broke this spring? The Chicago Cubs were ready to insert Kyle Schwarber into the leadoff spot. And ready to do so in his first full big-league season. Fans of Joe Maddon smirked at yet another rejection of conventional baseball wisdom. Critics, meanwhile, hesitantly raised their eyebrows.
Did Maddon’s spite of tradition contribute to Schwarber’s struggles atop the lineup? That’s hard to determine. But those woes persisted to the point he headed to Triple-A Iowa.
The first half of the season was brutal for the young outfielder. He slashed .178/.300/.394 in 68 contests.