Chicago Cubs: Is A Josh Vitters Callup On The Horizon?
With the passing of the 2012 MLB Trade Deadline, the Chicago Cubs are officially and completely into their rebuilding mode. Not that this is news to anyone, but the dumping of names that includes Ryan Dempster, Reed Johnson, and Geovany Soto proves that this is a new age on the North Side.
As well as the team has played of late, the focus will now turn to the future and seeing what kind of young talent will make its way to Wrigley at some point within the next couple of months. Right up near the top of that list of young talent is Josh Vitters.
Vitters is a name we’ve heard for a while with the Cubs, but he’s been labeled a disappointment for many already. The main reason for that is how long it has actually taken him to reach the Major League level, but you have to remember that he was drafted back in 2007, when he was just 17.
Unlike the situation in the outfield with Brett Jackson, there isn’t a position player already blocking Vitters. Luis Valbuena has been serviceable at third base for the Cubs, but he’s more of a guy you want off the bench than an actual starter. So when the time comes to call up Vitters, there won’t be any hesitation to do so.
It’s that latter part that is the question. When will we see Vitters in Chicago? The answer could be available very soon.
Vitters is having a fine season at the plate with the Iowa Cubs, hitting .298 with a .350 on-base percentage. He’s also flashed some power, with 15 home runs. This is his first action above Double-A, which is obviously why the Cubs are dragging their feet to call him up. They want to give him as much time as possible down there.
As far as his performance at the plate, Vitters is almost ready to make the jump to the bigs. He has a very solid bat and would be a nice addition to the lineup. The real question with Vitters is his glove. It’s always been something of a question of whether or not he’ll actually stay at third base, and he has struggled quite a bit with the leather at the hot corner in Iowa.
It’s certainly a possibility that we see Vitters in 2012. Luis Valbuena has fallen off mightily after a hot start, and with no one else that could fill in at third, calling up Vitters to give him some time up at the Major League level this year makes some sense. But given that this is his first year at the Triple-A level, do you let him play out the year and then give him a crack at making the team out of spring training next year?
With the Cubs in the full scale rebuild, this isn’t the first time we will hear this type of question regarding a top prospect. In fact, we’ll probably hear it in a matter of weeks with Brett Jackson, especially if Alfonso Soriano ends up traded. Stay tuned.
Buy Chicago Cubs Tickets | Buy Chicago Cubs Apparel
Leave a Rant
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!