As the old saying goes: “The best time to tweet out the slash line of your favorite player is immediately after a big game.” I think that was Carl Sagan. My hokey point here being: I realize the timing of this post is convenient. The Chicago Cubs outfield trio of Jason Heyward, Ian Happ, and Kyle Schwarber literally made history on Sunday, hitting two homers a piece, and yesterday they combined to go 6-14 with two more HRs, a walk, and 5 RBI.
But guess what? Those games count. And as of this morning, more than half-way through the 2020 season, they’re the best outfield in Major League Baseball.
Let’s run down the list, shall we?
In terms of walk rate, the Cubs outfield boasts a league-leading 13.8%. Jason Heyward (15.9%) leads the way by a nose over Ian Happ (15.8%) and Kyle Schwarber is well-above average (14.2%). Their collective .261 batting average ranks 7th. Their .370 on-base percentage ranks 3rd. Their 90.6 MPH average exit velocity is tied for second. And their .535 slugging percentage is the best mark in MLB.
You’ll be unsurprised to learn, then, that the Cubs outfield’s overall offensive production is head-and-shoulders above the field:
2020 Team Outfield wRC+ Leaderboard
1. Cubs: 139 wRC+
2. Athletics: 133 wRC+
3. Mets: 130 wRC+
4. Blue Jays: 129 wRC+
5. White Sox: 122 wRC+
6. Dodgers: 121 wRC+
7. Braves: 118 wRC+
8. Astros: 114 wRC+
9. Giants: 109 wRC+
10. Yankees: 109 wRC+
When you’re 30% better than the 10th best team in baseball, you’re doing something right. And indeed, these three players are leading the Cubs offense.
Happ: .304/.420/.643 (178 wRC+)
Heyward: .299/.411/.563 (157 wRC+)
Schwarber: .227/.328/.513 (121 wRC+)
Of course, as you might expect, the Cubs defense isn’t rating out near the top of the field. Kyle Schwarber is an average-ish left fielder (albeit with a great arm), Ian Happ would be a great corner outfielder, but is just average-ish in center, and although Jason Heyward still looks excellent in right, the advanced defensive metrics are not showing him the love. It’s far too early to really believe in any of those numbers, though, and for the most part they’ve been just fine.
In fact, sometimes, they’ve even been excellent:
Don’t act like you’re not impressed. pic.twitter.com/yhGVOIvYer
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 19, 2020
Mind the Happ. pic.twitter.com/C8LBSJpqmn
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 2, 2020
A Gold-Glover in right! pic.twitter.com/DKZNbkqBIK
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) August 30, 2020
When you throw in the 7th best base running mark in MLB, the Chicago Cubs outfield (led by these three players, though others have obviously contributed over the course of the season) is tied with the Athletics for the most WAR in MLB at 3.9.
Seeing as the defensive metrics haven’t quite evened out yet while the Cubs outfield offense trumps the A’s by a healthy margin, I have absolutely no reservations about calling them the best outfield in Major League Baseball.
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September 02, 2020 at 10:20PM
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The Chicago Cubs Have the Best Outfield in MLB - bleachernation.com
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