As Estrada stars for Padres, Cubs’ Hoyer looks at what team might have missed
Granted, no one could have forecast this performance, but the Cubs are taking one on the chin with the success of reliever Jeremiah Estrada in San Diego.
A sixth-round draft pick of the Cubs in 2017, he spent six years with the organization, was released in November to clear room on the 40-man roster and has posted a 0.48 ERA for the Padres. He recently struck out 13 consecutive batters, the longest streak in MLB since at least 1961.
Estrada had a 6.75 ERA in 12 games with the Cubs last season.
“I do think with relievers, it can click at any time,” president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Tuesday. “There's a churning nature to it. Most team's bullpens are made up of guys they got from other organizations at down moments. The key is to constantly be looking to be opportunistic and grab good arms when you can.”
Hoyer is correct. The Cubs have turned castoffs like Mark Leiter Jr. and Julian Merryweather into top-notch relievers in recent years. But as Estrada rose through the system, the Cubs thought he might be doing exactly this as their closer of the future.
“Good for him. He's pitched really well,” Hoyer said. “Obviously, you have to be accountable and look and say, 'What did we miss or what tweak did we not look at?' There's no question relievers in general are volatile.”
Robert returns for Sox
Before Tuesday's game, the White Sox activated all-star center fielder Luis Robert Jr. from the injured list.
He took the field with the Sox for the first time since suffering a right hip flexor strain on April 5 in Kansas City. The move followed a five-game rehab stint in Triple A Charlotte.
“It’s difficult when you spend that amount of time without playing,” Robert said through a translator, according to whitesox.com. “You feel out of sync, not just with your offense but with your playing in general. It’s going to be a day-by-day thing trying to regain that rhythm.”
Robert struck out in his first at-bat, singled and scored in the fourth, then was at the plate when a rainstorm halted play in the fifth.
Around the horn:
Cade Horton, the Cubs' top pitching prospect, will be shutdown for three or four weeks with a subscapular strain. … Former Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta tossed out the first pitch Tuesday, with Kyle Hendricks playing catcher. … Left-hander D.J. Herz, traded by the Cubs for Jeimer Candelario last year, made his MLB debut Tuesday with Washington. …
Besides activating Luis Robert, the White Sox made several moves before Tuesday's game. The Sox placed Tommy Pham (left ankle sprain) and Dominic Fletcher (left shoulder strain) on the 10-day injured list; called up OF Zach DeLoach and OF Duke Ellis, and designated Zach Remillard for assignment.
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