Grading the 2024 Cubs: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not?

Fellow Cubs Fans and Superfans,

After a promising series win against the Giants at Wrigley Field, there's a small sense of optimism in the air. As devoted Cubs Superfans, we rode high through mid-April, only to watch our beloved team freefall through the end of April and into May. The start of June seemed bleak, but this recent series showed signs that our hitters might finally be emerging from their collective slump. The Cubs racked up 10 hits and 5 walks on Monday, 11 hits and 2 walks on Tuesday, and another 11 hits with 4 walks on Wednesday—resulting in 13-15 runners on base each game. This is a significant improvement from the 16 total hits in the St. Louis series last weekend.

While the bullpen remains our Achilles heel, today, let's focus on the hitters who are fighting to turn the season around. Inspired by the meticulous grading systems used by NFL analysts for draft picks, I’ve decided to break down the performance of our Cubs hitters into letter grades. This system not only highlights their season-to-date achievements but also leaves room for change as players improve and adapt.

Grade A Tier

No players in this category. 

Hence the losing overall record…

Grade B Tier

Michael Busch: B+

• Michael Busch has had quite the rollercoaster season. He came out swinging, batting .309 with an impressive 1.062 OPS in the first 20 games. Then, he hit a rough patch, slumping to a .184 average and a .592 OPS over the next 40 games. Lately, he's been on fire again, hitting .387 with a 1.053 OPS in his last 10 games. It's tough to rate his performance because of these ups and downs, but considering he's a rookie and still finding his footing, a B+ seems just right.

  

Cody Bellinger: B

• Despite his solid performance, Cody Bellinger's $27.5M salary raises my expectations. I may be saucy after he grounded out to the pitcher with the bases loaded and no outs on Thursday. The high cost of his contract affects his overall value too.

  

Mike Tauchman: B

• Mike Tauchman has played all outfield positions, but his performance has declined each month. He started the season strong in March/April with a .307 AVG and .955 OPS. However, his performance dropped significantly in May (.239 AVG, .623 OPS) and June (.233 AVG, .638 OPS) before his groin injury. His early-season success and versatility keep him at a B+, but the trend is concerning.

  

Seiya Suzuki: B-

• Seiya Suzuki's consistent performance in multiple metrics, including OPS, is marred by occasional defensive lapses such as dropping routine flyballs. This inconsistency affects his overall grade but not enough to drop him out of the B grade tier.

Ian Happ: B-

• Ian Happ has been a consistent performer, slightly below average in key metrics. He is entering a hot streak that typically lasts 10-14 games, which may boost his grade soon.

  

Grade C

Nico Hoerner: C+

• Nico Hoerner's above-average defensive metrics, particularly in UZR/150, contrast with his below-average offensive metrics. His defensive skills have been a significant asset to the Cubs, even if his bat hasn't been as impactful in 2024.

  

Dansby Swanson: C

• Dansby Swanson's reliable defensive performance is not enough to make up for his lack of production at the plate. He has had some good games in June but his salary is also a factor in this score. We all expect more when paying $26M per year. I don’t like that this contract runs through 2030. Hitting doesn’t get better after 32-33 years of age.

  

Pete Crow Armstrong (PCA): C

• Pete Crow Armstrong's defensive abilities in centerfield are outstanding, as reflected in his OAA metrics. His defensive prowess makes him a critical component of the Cubs' outfield, but his offensive performance hasn’t started to click in the Majors… yet!

  

Patrick Wisdom: C-

• Patrick Wisdom hits for power but struggles in clutch situations. Currently used as a late-inning pinch hitter, his lack of timely hitting is a significant drawback.

  

Christopher Morel: C-

• Christopher Morel has struggled both at the plate and in the field. His poor performance at 3rd base and lack of consistency in hitting has impacted his overall grade. He is only 24 years old. We have had the joy of feeding off his energy for 2 years now but we must remember that the average MLB player age is 28.7. We are still 1-2 years from his prime starting.

  

Grade D

Nick Madrigal (IL): D

• Before his demotion to Iowa and injury, Nick Madrigal's performance was underwhelming, especially in key metrics like batting average and on-base percentage. I don't expect him to hit for power, but he should be hitting above league average, and he hasn't. While he can cover both second and third base, his metrics were poor.

  Would you be surprised if I told you he was drafted fourth overall in the 2018 MLB Draft because of his hitting ability? MLB.com/Prospects in 2019 projected him to be "unfazed by advanced competition, using his controlled right-handed swing to spray line drives all over the field while striking out just five times in 173 plate appearances. He's small and doesn't have a lot of raw strength, but his ability to barrel the ball and his plus speed should produce a healthy amount of doubles and maybe 12-15 homers per season."

  So far, that hasn't been the case.

Miguel Amaya: D+

• Miguel Amaya has struggled significantly across multiple key metrics. His performance in OPS, OBP, and Batting Average indicates major areas for improvement. He’s young and learning. Those are the only reasons that he isn’t failing.

Grade F

Miles Mastrobouni: F

• Reasoning: Miles Mastrobouni has brought little to the major league team this year. Despite a few great plays at shortstop, his overall contribution has been minimal. I’m with the rest of the Cubs fans when I was disappointed to see him called up when Mike Tauchman was put on the Injured List.

Yan Gomes: F

• Yan Gomes, who was released by the Cubs yesterday, struggled considerably in OBP, Batting Average, and OPS. His struggles in getting on base and his defensive metrics also showed a significant decline since 2023. I wish we could have thrown you a nice retirement party!