Game 7 of the 2016 World Series showed off the Cubs’ extraordinary run of drafting and developing position players.
Kris Bryant’s baserunning, Javy Baez’s home run, Willson Contreras’ RBI double, Kyle Schwarber’s 10th inning single and Albert Almora’s critical tag-up, it was a banner night for the new Cubs way.
But that game was also a microcosm of the organization’s ability to find impact pitching in unique ways. Kyle Hendricks, acquired in the Ryan Dempster deal in 2012, started the game and Mike Montgomery, a pre-trade deadline acquisition from Seattle, closed it out. Both pitchers are expected to fill crucial roles in 2017 and beyond.