The Chicago Cubs bolstered their pitching staff in the offseason with the additions of Jameson Taillon, Drew Smile and Brad Boxberger.
It will be even stronger if Kyle Hendricks can be ready by opening day.
Hendricks went 4:80 with a 4:80 ERA in 16 starts last season, but missed the last three months with a torn right shoulder. Hendricks is 87-61 with a 3.46 ERA in his nine-year career. He is also the last player left from the 2016 World Series champion team.
Getting Hendricks healthy as soon as possible would be incredibly beneficial for a much-improved pitching staff.
Hendricks reportedly played flat ground at the catch.
“I’m very focused on getting Kyle back to his best and not rushing it, not giving it up,” Cubs hitting coach Tommy Hotowy told the Chicago Sun-Times. “Because we all know what Kyle can do when he’s feeling great, when he’s healthy, when he’s locked in.”
Hendricks hopes to be ready by Opening Day, but the Cubs have options if he isn’t.
“Where we’re at now compared to where we were even a year ago, I feel like we’re starting to have more of a foundation of consistency from guys that we know can go out there and compete, win dance games.” Hotovi told the Sun-Times.
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