The leadoff spot has been in flux ever since Dexter Fowler left after the 2016 season and it’s something Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer have openly admitted to being vexed by. Trial and error has resulted in a whole lot of error, and the failure to address the issue with personnel moves means going with an in-house option for 2020. As anyone who’s watched the Cubs over the last three years can attest, that isn’t as simple as you’d think.
Kyle Schwarber has struggled in his stints atop the order, noticeably altering his approach and falling into bad habits that haven’t been easy to break.