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Random thoughts (or something akin to them) while contemplating the significance of the Chicago Cubs promoting Jorge Soler from Class AAA Iowa to the big-league ballclub:
Video below of Bianca Koyabe, among others.
* The Cuban-born outfielder is set to join the team Wednesday in Cincinnati and is expected to play left field. It remains unclear when he will be inducted to baseball’s Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.
* Soler is hitting .338 with 15 home runs and 54 runs batted in for Iowa. Which is impressive but does not guarantee big-league success. As the Pittsburgh Pirates can attest. Outfielder Gregory Polanco, like Soler a top prospect, was called up this season from Class AAA after batting .347 with seven homers in 62 games. Polanco was sent down after hitting .241 with six home runs in 64 games. He exited Pittsburgh in a 1-for-30 slump and the Pirates clinging to the hope of reaching the postseason as a wild-card team. On the bright (?) side for the Cubs, they don’t have to worry about the postseason — other than serving as a spoiler to teams hoping to play beyond the regular season.
* Speaking of hope, that — along with impressive stats — is what Soler brings. Then again, that’s pretty much the same scenario that Javier Baez had when he earned a spot on the Cubs. Baez is batting .207 with four home runs and 36 strikeouts in 82 at-bats. Not sure the Cubs want a guy who strikes out 44 percent of the time on their roster. Not unless he can homer more frequently than once every 20.5 at-bats.
* Speaking of the transition from the minors to the big leagues, a reminder that infielder/outfielder Arismendy Alcantara made the leap from Class AA to the Cubs. After a hot start, he is batting .228 with four home runs in 167 at-bats.
* Given the success (or lack of it) the Cubs have had with their position players brought up this season, Cubs fans might like to think of the rest of this season as merely an early start to spring training — without having to pay for transportation, food and lodging in Arizona to witness up close the “stars” of the future.
* In case anyone was wondering (and even if no one was wondering), Jorge Soler backwards is Relos Egroj. You’re welcome.
* An anagram for Jorge Soler is “jog err lose.” Interpret that at your own risk.
* Speaking of outfielders going from the minor to major leagues, the White Sox expect to have Adam Eaton back for Tuesday’s game at U.S. Cellular Field against the Cleveland Indians. Eaton, who was on a rehab assignment after an oblique injury, is expected to do as much for the Sox’ postseason possibilities as Soler is expected to do for the Cubs’. Ah, you can almost see next season from here.
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