Dexter Fowler was one of the most successful leadoff hitters in recent Cubs history in his two years with the team. It’s not a coincidence that those years, 2015 and 2016, were the most successful of Joe Maddon’s tenure as manager of the Cubs.
Fowler hit .261/.367/.427 in his two years with the Cubs and batting in the leadoff spot, he had a .350 OBP in 2015 and that jumped to .393 in 2016. That prompted Maddon to coin a phrase for Dexter:
It was true. The Cubs have struggled to find a consistent leadoff hitter since Fowler departed for a five-year, $85 million contract with the Cardinals beginning with the 2017 season.