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JULY 2023
Young Jaguar
TOP CUBS PROSPECT KEVIN ALCÁNTARA SETTLES INTO LIFE IN AMERICA DESPITE PRESSURES OF EXPECTATIONS By: Brendan King
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ithout the help of all of his resources within the Chicago Cubs organization, South Bend Cubs outfielder Kevin Alcántara says this story that you are about to read would never have been possible to write. Now, to be fair, Alcántara is one of the top talents in all of baseball. His talent alone has shot him up the ranks as last year he was ranked as a Major League Baseball ‘Top 100’ prospect. Many know the story of Kevin Alcántara from the headlines. The ‘big piece’ coming back from the New York Yankees in exchange for Anthony Rizzo. That steals the show no doubt. But few know the true back story of just how exactly this tall and slender center fielder got to this point playing every day at Four Winds Field. Thankfully, we are able to tell that story because Alcántara has not only improved on the field, but in the classroom too. Recently over the last month, Alcántara was joined by his South Bend Cubs teammates Manuel Espinoza and Ezequiel Pagan as the three South Bend Cubs so far who have graduated from the Chicago Cubs English as a second or foreign language program. Along with their teammates, a ceremony was held in the South Bend clubhouse, and the three Cubs put on caps and gowns, and made their
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Kevin Alcántara warming up before a home game at Four Winds Field. Credit: Ethan Levy. graduation speeches. If you spoke with Alcántara at the beginning of this season, his currently English is already leaps and bounds to what it was in April, which is all credit to the Cubs class staff. Latin players have the opportunity to take these classes no matter which affiliate they are at, and class is usually in session at noon-sharp when they’re in town. No late slips here. “I feel happy to have graduated because not only do you feel great about yourself, you feel comfortable with everyone,” Alcántara said. “Your communication with your coaches, teammates, and friends makes you feel better. There were times at first where you don’t feel comfortable speaking with someone because of the language (barrier), but now I’m so excited because I can talk with everyone.” Check all of the boxes for off-the-field work ethic. And you can certainly check them for on-the-field too. Alcántara grew up in the Dominican Republic along with his family in Santo Domingo. It did not take very long for the now six-foot-six outfielder to realize that he could have a future in baseball. Most knew it just by just looking at him, including his dad, who has been his biggest supporter.
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CUBS CONNECTION GAME PROGRAM ... continued from previous page. Alcántara was six-foot-two when he was 12-years-old.
Alcántara smiling in the dugout pregame. Credit: Ethan Levy. “My neighborhood in the Dominican Republic in some places was a bad area,” Alcántara said. “But my dad told me to still go play baseball (around town). He supported me every day.” Of note for the future, as send this to the Chicago Cubs, Alcántara gave us an update on his younger brother. His brother is 13-years-old and is also six-foot-two already. In about three or four years it sounds like he will also be a hot commodity for teams to sign. Older brother Kevin has already worked through that signing experience, teams came calling around the time he was 16. “When I was 13-years-old my father had me playing against kids who were much older at around 17 or 18,” Alcántara added. “He would come watch me and say to scouts that his son is a better player already than the older kids.” It was the New York Yankees that came calling first. Alcántara said that it was his plate discipline shown at such a young age
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that intrigued The Bronx Bombers first. A distinct confidence also was shown by Alcántara that gave the Yankees everything they needed to know. In the United States, Alcántara could barely get a driver’s license at the time of signing with New York. Despite that, the Yankees paid him a clean one million dollars. Now, no more than four years later, Alcántara is a Chicago Cub. Literally. At just 20-years-old, he is on the Cubs 40-man roster. That can be a lot of pressure on a young player. Especially when the trade you were featured in was for a cornerstone player in the organization’s history like Rizzo. Still, Alcántara is solely focused on the future. “My first thought about going to the Cubs was how hot it was in Arizona when I reported,” Alcántara said. “It was 118 degrees when I landed and went to Mesa. But no, I feel great and so comfortable because the Cubs have supported me every day. It’s more cohesive here, it feels like home, and these players around me are my family."
Alcántara signing autographs for fans during Spring Training in Mesa, Arizona. Credit: Kevin Alcántara. This past year at Cubs Convention in Chicago, Alcántara made an appearance with many other Minor Leaguers, but he was the youngest one there. That didn’t intimidate him at all, it just refueled the tank for more. He is committed to getting to Wrigley Field,
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so much more than
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CUBS CONNECTION GAME PROGRAM ... continued from previous page. although he has never physically been inside The Friendly Confines.
Alcántara at the plate during a home game at Four Winds Field. Credit: Ethan Levy. “I have never been to Wrigley but I want my picture (on the scoreboard in left field),” Alcántara joked. “Being on the 40-man roster is one step. You don’t feel relaxed being on that list, it should make you want to work more.” In his first few Spring Training stretches with the organization, Alcántara has been
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brought under the wing of multiple new Chicago Cubs signings. This past year, he got to know Cody Bellinger and Dansby Swanson, he also shared a locker close to 2018 South Bend Cub Nico Hoerner. ‘The Jaguar’ as he is nicknamed, is as charismatic as any prospect that has ever passed through Four Winds Field. After all, for this interview that we did together, he came out to the dugout wearing his diamond filled and sparkling jaguar chain with a massive claw mark printed in the middle of it. Still, think of all the huge names that have played center field in South Bend on their way to higher points. Cole Roederer is as personable as a player that there is in the organization, Brennen Davis continues to be one of the most humble baseball players we’ve ever seen, Pete Crow-Armstrong is now a top-10 prospect ranked in all of baseball, and the list goes on. Adding Alcántara to that group just bolsters it further. But this dude has some swag that is incredibly unique. Like this story. As the South Bend Cubs played on Marquee Sports Network earlier this summer, Alcántara came out running from the first base side dugout with some brand new cubbie blue and silver chains
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CUBS CONNECTION GAME PROGRAM ... continued from previous page. wrapped around this neck. First of all, they tougher May with a .200 average. June though, looked heavy. Secondly, they were sparkling is when he put it all together. in the sunshine. The diamonds and sapphires In the month of June, he hit over .300, and were brand new as he ordered them to reprehe doubled his walk total from the first two sent the colors of the South Bend Cubs. This months of the year. This is something that is is something he does for every affiliate he a massive step for a young prospect. When plays with, ice out the team colors. their patience takes a few ticks up, the power “I make a chain for every season,” and run production will follow shortly after. Alcántara said. “But I only order a new one “My problem early was mental,” when I accomplish my Alcántara said. “It goals. So this one is wasn’t anything with for the fans, for South mechanics, and I Bend, and it reminds worked a ton in the me about my goals.” cage on my strike zone. All of this for At times it is difficult Alcántara has been a because you can think learning experience something is wrong every day. After playing with your mechanics. last season for Buddy When in fact all you Bailey and the Myrtle have to do is chill out, Beach Pelicans, hit .273 relax, read a book, and with 15 homers and now I’m much better 85 RBI. To start this with my patience.” year in South Bend, he Alcántara continues went through a chalto learn more as well as lenge that just about how older arms operate Alcántara high-fiving teammates as he returns to every single internaon the mound. In most the dugout after scoring. tional prospect has to. sequences, Alcántara Credit: Ethan Levy. Playing in the cold. is facing pitchers who It is not and never will be easy. Especially are two to four years older than him. And he the fact that Alcántara had to play center field talked to me about knowing that they want in the gusting chilly wind of April, in rain and to expose his weaknesses. It’s just a matter of snow. On a road trip to Midland, Michigan Alcántara turning it right around and sending to play the Great Lakes Loons, the wind chill those deficiencies right back where they came dipped to the 30s. That is not your ordinary from. ask for any player. That’s ‘The Jaguar’ mentality for you. He is But here’s the thing about it. If Alcántara as competitive of a prospect as we have seen, is going to be a great Chicago Cub at Wrigley but also as intelligent too. Field, he has to get used to cold springs. With those long legs in center field, plus The wind in South Bend will not compare his raw power, Alcántara is going to be a treat to the spine cold breezes coming off of Lake to watch as he continues to develop. And with Michigan in early April in Wrigleyville. development comes goal accomplishments, Even with he cold, Alcántara still managed which means more big diamond chains will to hit .256 in April for South Bend. As pitchers be ordered from his jeweler very soon. learned more about his tendencies, it was a
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A CLIMB VIA A SLIDE HOW CADE HORTON DEVELOPED A NEW PITCH AND SHOT UP EVERYONE’S DRAFT BOARD By: Max Thoma
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ne of the most common reactions among baseball prognosticators to the Chicago Cubs taking Cade Horton with the seventh overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, was that of surprise. It was a high-risk, high-reward selection. But the Cubs had been infatuated by what they saw from the Oklahoma Sooner pitcher in the NCAA Tournament. The Norman High School product saw his draft stock begin to shoot up when he developed a new pitch he hadn’t thrown before. In a moment that players all of ages and levels can learn from and appreciate, it came in response to a horrific outing. “So we go to Texas Tech, I give up eight runs in three innings,” said Horton. “And when we get back in the bullpen I’m like ‘yikes’ you know, ‘skip I feel like I need to learn a slider or cutter or something to get guys off the fastball.’ I felt like guys were sitting on one pitch and just hammering it when they got it. So I started throwing in the bullpen and kind of learned a cutter. And so one of my teammates saw that, and we go down to Arlington for the Big 12 Tournament, and I played catch with him in the outfield while they're taking BP and, you know, we're working on it. It gets to the point where I’m going to start throwing this in games” It's important to note that Horton’s
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performance at Texas Tech was the worst appearance of his college career. He had allowed eight runs in 3.1 innings en route to a 10-2 thrashing at the hands of the Red Raiders. On top of that it was his last time on the mound in the regular season, his first season after missing his freshman year altogether after having tommy John surgery. It was his ninth appearance of the year and he had just completed his first regular season in collegiate baseball with an ERA of 7.94. It just hadn’t gone the way anyone had expected for a kid who recruits loved out of high school.
Cade Horton during his final collegiate start against Ole Miss in the College World Series Championship Series. Credit: Oklahoma Athletics. Horton ranked as the number two recruit coming out of his home state of Oklahoma. Not only that he was one of the top two-way prospects and two-sport athletes in the entire 2020 high school class, nationally. The infielder/pitcher/quarterback went undrafted because he wanted to go play football and baseball for his hometown squad, the Oklahoma Sooners. He had pitched in the 2019 High School All-Star Game in Cleveland and he’d been crowned a 2019 Perfect Game All-American for his play on the diamond. But the homegrown kid required seasonending surgery in February of 2021 before the season even began and he actually opened the 2022 season as the starting third
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CUBS CONNECTION GAME PROGRAM ... continued from previous page. baseman; he didn’t actually throw in a collegiate game until coming out the bullpen for one inning on March 29, 2022 against Oklahoma State. So now here he is, a top-notch recruit with a rocket of an arm but an ERA of nearly eight. Then he found his pitch, simple as that, just in time for the Big 12 Tournament.
Horton pitching for Oklahoma at the College World Series in Omaha. Credit: Eric Francis/Getty Images. “So I throw it in the bullpen, then I go out in the game and use it and it kind of just evolves from then, you know, learning it that quickly with the help of my teammate, kind of is what took me to a new level,” Horton admitted. So just how much did his game step up? Well Horton went a career-long 5.1 innings in his first outing with the new-and-improved repertoire, allowing just one run on two hits, with a career-high nine
strikeouts in a win against Texas. This upstart Oklahoma team that was underappreciated all season long went on to win the Big 12 Championship; regionals were next. In his first action ever in the NCAA Tournament, the right-hander was tasked with throwing against a vaunted Florida Gators side in their own Gainesville Regional. Well, this time Horton set a new career high by tossing 6.1 innings and allowing just two runs, though he was tagged with the loss. Oklahoma snuck through Gainesville and set up a Super Regional battle against the number four team in the country in Virginia Tech. On this occasion Horton got the win, going six more innings, again allowing just two runs, and this time striking out eight batters and allowing just two hits for the second time in three starts. On to Omaha. You could argue that in front of the biggest crowds Horton has ever pitched in front of, with a massive College World Series audience watching ESPN on television too, Horton was at his pinnacle. Notre Dame scored two runs off the Oklahoma flamethrower, who picked up a new career high with 11 strikeouts, and only walked one batter. Next was a date with Ole Miss in the CWS Championship Series. Against the eventual champs, Horton went full on spellbinding with his performance, striking out 13 batters, walking none,
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CUBS CONNECTION GAME PROGRAM ... continued from previous page. and logging 7.1 innings. It came in a 4-2 loss but Horton, in his final collegiate outing, had shown the world a flash over five weeks of the new pitcher he’d transformed into. On the day of the MLB Draft, Cade Horton woke up early and threw a bullpen. Then he went home and hung out with his family. “I had my friends and family over and finally got the call, everything worked out, everything fell in place,” said Horton. “It was a special moment, one that I'll never forget. And you know, I'm just blessed to be in that position.” Talking to Horton in the South Bend Cubs dugout at Four Winds Field, I asked him what his reaction was when he found out it was the Cubs that had chosen him. “All I thought is, you know, the Cubs are a great organization and they're really good with pitchers. Plus, I get to play with PCA and Ed [Howard]. I was just ecstatic. I was really, really happy to be picked by a great organization.” Like most Cubs pitchers these days, Horton didn’t pitch the season after being drafted, and didn’t debut until the following season in 2023. But he picked up right where he left off in the CWS. The 21-year-old began the year in Myrtle Beach with the Low-A Pelicans. He pitched three times in April and accumulated 10.1 innings without allowing a run, giving up a mere three hits, and punching out 14 batters. 10 days into May he found himself pitching for the High-A South Bend Cubs. “Going to Myrtle was good for me, you know, getting my feet wet in pro ball,” Horton said. “I learned a lot down there. They got a good club, Buddy [Bailey], you know does a great job down there with everybody. And then getting promoted, it was really special. The first one, it kind of took some weight off my shoulders, and just made me go out there
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Cade Horton in his Midwest League debut at Wisconsin. Credit: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. and compete, take it one pitch at a time.” Horton contributes a lot of his success since his rise in the postseason last year to not just the slider, but to really emphasizing taking things one pitch at a time and just hitting his spots. The game is played one pitch at a time, and that’s how he operates. Cade gave up six runs in his South Bend debut and allowed three homers in 3.2 innings. It was a cold welcome to the Midwest League courtesy of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Since then it’s been an entirely different script, though one we’ve seen before. On May 24 against Dayton, Horton punched out eight batters and allowed two runs. His next start: nine strikeouts and no earned runs at Fort Wayne. He continued to set the bar high and then surpass himself with his next outing. He followed the stellar outing at Parkview Field with a tour de force at home versus Lansing. Against the Lugnuts, Horton dazzled and turned in the best pro-outing he’s had thus far. He went five innings for the first time and notched his first win, allowing only two hits and no runs, while walking zero and striking out 10, also a career best. The curveball improved at a rapid pace
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CUBS CONNECTION GAME PROGRAM ... continued from previous page. and still looks better almost week-to-week, and the changeup at least on the surface looks to be steadily progressing to boot. When Cade takes the mound it’s like nothing I’ve seen before in this league outside of maybe Eury Perez when he faced the Cubs once as a teenager with the Beloit Snappers. Perez is the number four prospect in baseball and pitching in Major League Baseball already at age 20. That’s the level of pure domination we’ve seen from Horton, who as of the halfway point in the season stands as a top-50 prospect in all of baseball according to MLB Pipeline. Not only have we seen dominance that leaves you nearly catatonic and having to bring a shovel out to get your jaw off the floor, but it’s almost demoralizing to the
Horton pitching at home during an Education Day game at Four Winds Field against Dayton. Credit: Ethan Levy.
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opposition how easy Horton goes about his business. It doesn’t look like he’s even sweating on the mound. He will strike out the side in order in the first inning and walk off the mound like he’s done it a million times before. It's a stoic, lethal stroll in the park. He exudes a quiet confidence that he gets from his father. “I would say my dad was my biggest baseball influence as a kid,” Horton said. “He didn't play baseball, but he kind of brought baseball upon me. And he's instilled the confidence that I have in myself from a young age.” The confidence is abundant and the talent boundless. You can never guarantee a prospect will have success at the big-league level, in fact, you can never even say with 100% certainty that a player will make it to the MLB. But I can’t imagine a world where Cade Horton doesn’t make it to the MLB and join the Chicago Cubs rotation. A man who pitched 22.2 innings in the regular season in his college career with a 7.94 ERA would have never sniffed the first round for most of baseball’s rich history. But it’s a new time. With modern day metrics and analytics, we may see more and more teams risking high draft picks on guys who have only shown a flash of their potential. That risk the Cubs took on Sunday, July 17, 2022 already looks like a winner. But the best is still to come.
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2023 SOUTH BEND CUBS COACHING STAFF Lance Rymel - Manager
Rymel returns for year two as Manager of the South Bend Cubs. In 2021 he was the Rookie League Mesa Cubs Manager. Later that year, he managed the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League and won the league title. This will be his eighth season as a coach or manager in the Cubs organization, where he also managed Single-A Eugene in 2019 following two seasons at the helm of the Cubs Dominican Summer League squad in 2017-18. Rymel began his coaching career in 2016 following a three-year minor league playing career as a catcher in the Cubs system from 2012-14. Rymel was selected by the Cubs in the 28th round of the 2012 Draft out of Rogers State.
Clayton Mortensen - Pitching Coach
Mortensen spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons as the pitching coach for Low-A Myrtle Beach and will begin his third season in the Cubs organization. Mortensen spent 2019 as the Pitching Coach for the Idaho Falls Chukars of the Pioneer League where his team won the 2019 Pioneer League championship. Mortensen was drafted by St. Louis in the first round (36th) of the 2007 draft and spent five years in Major League Baseball playing for St. Louis, Oakland, Colorado, and Boston.
Dan Puente - Hitting Coach
Puente returns as the hitting coach for South Bend. This marks Puente’s fourth season in the Cubs farm system. In 2021, Puente was the hitting coach for low-A Myrtle Beach. He has been a hitting and catching instructor at Elite Baseball Training since 2012, a technology-infused baseball and softball instructional company created by the Cubs Director of Hitting Justin Stone. Puente also served as an associate scout for the Houston Astros and from 2008-12 was the Manager of Youth Baseball Initiatives for the White. Sox. A former catcher, he was selected by Baltimore in the 12th round of the 2004 Draft and played two minor league seasons.
D’Angelo Jiménez - Bench Coach
D’Angelo Jiménez will continue to serve as the bench coach for the South Bend Cubs. He previously held the role of hitting coach for the DSL Cubs in 2021 and this will be his sixth season overall in the organization. Jiménez came up with the Yankees as a player and spent eight years playing in the MLB from 1999 to 2007, appearing with seven different teams. Primarily a Second Baseman, Jiménez would spend time at shortstop and third base.
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THE HOT CORNER 2022 MIDWEST LEAGUE CHAMPION LUIS VERDUGO RETURNS TO SOUTH BEND HUNGRY FOR MORE By Brendan King
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t the beginning of the 2022 South Bend Cubs season, the organization held their usual media day with the players. The purpose of this day has many angles. For one, it gives the local news and print media an opportunity to get to know the new flock of Cubs heading to Four Winds Field. And number two, it allows the team’s production crew to get their headshots, videos, and other needs that will be used through the year. 2022’s media day was no different than past years, with one exception. They were one Cub missing. Luis Verdugo was nowhere to be found. Not a lot was known about the young infielder at the time, who just finished up his first full season in the Chicago Cubs organization one year prior with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. When asking the players where Verdugo may be at, they did not have a hunch. So, the day ended getting all kinds of picture and video content from the rest of the new Cubs. A couple days later, Verdugo reported to South Bend. At just 21-years-old, Verdugo decided to drive the distance between his home of Mexico and South Bend, Indiana along with his mom. The trip was set to take
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about two days worth of driving, but with one issue. Halfway through their ride, they lost a tire. In the state of Oklahoma, the Verdugo mobile lost that piece of rubber, and they were stalled until they could get it fixed. Eventually, roadside assistance got them on their way, and Verdugo finally arrived at his 2022 home. What we found out pretty quickly was that Verdugo is as personable and warm of a personality that we have seen pass through this ballpark in the history of the South Bend Cubs. On the first practice day of 2022, he got his headshot taken, and away we went. Verdugo reminisced on that story as we sat together in the first base side dugout at Four Winds Field in June of 2023. After winning a Midwest League Championship with South Bend at the end of the 2022 season, Verdugo did not necessarily think that we would be having such a conversation, at least at Four Winds Field. But that’s the hand that has currently been dealt. After starting the year with the Tennessee Smokies at Double-A, Verdugo was
Luis Verdugo holding up the Midwest League Championship Trophy . Credit: Casey McDonald.
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JUNE
June 1: Pride Kickoff Party at The Lauber June 2: DTSB First Fridays: Kids’ Night Out June 2: SJCPL Summer Reading Club Kickoff Event June 3: Sunburst Races* June 3: Artopia: A Wonderland of Art, Music, & Theatre (Stockroom East)* June 4: U93’s Operation Duck Drop (East Race)* June 8: Shortcakes on the Blacktop June 9: Pulse FM’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory Movie Screening (Morris Performing Arts Center)* June 10: Alzheimer’s and Dementia Services Stand by Me Walk (Howard Park)* June 10: East Race Whitewater Festival* June 10: DTSB Outdoor Film Series (Gridiron) June 12: Back to the Bricks Promo Tour June 13: African American Legacy Award Juneteenth Luncheon (History Museum)* June 16-July 2: Guys & Dolls (South Bend Civic Theatre)* June 17-18: Leeper Park Art Fair June 23-24: John Mellencamp Live and in Person (Morris Performing Arts Center)* June 24: Bacon Around the Bend 5K (Family Justice Center)* June 24-25: Dino Weekend (Four Winds Field)* June 25: The Princess Bride: An Inconceivable Evening with Cary Elwes (Morris Performing Arts Center)* June 30: Symphony Under the Stars (Howard Park)
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July 1: Blackstreet and Ginuwine (Morris Performing Arts Center)* July 4: Independence Day Celebration (Four Winds Field)* July 7: DTSB First Fridays: Backyard BBQ July 7: Meet Me on the Island (Century Center Island)* July 8: Concours d’Elegance at Copshaholm* July 8: DTSB Outdoor Film Series (Gridiron) July 11-16: Mural Mania July 14: Pulse FM’s “A Night of Laughter” featuring Michael Jr, with special guests Brad Stine and John Branyan (Morris Performing Arts Center)* July 17-23: International Jugglers’ Association Festival* July 20: United Way of St. Joseph County Campaign Kickoff (Howard Park) July 22-23: Superhero Weekend (Four Winds Field)* July 28: Music in the Gardens (History Museum)* July 29: Vibes Music Festival*
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August 4: DTSB First Fridays: Totally 80s August 5: Michiana Gospel Fest (Howard Park) August 11: Meet Me on the Island (Century Center Island) August 11-27: Classics in the Courtyard (Pfeil Family Courtyard, SJC Public Library)* August 12: Michiana Music Festival featuring Smash Mouth with special guests LFO and Ryan Cabrera (Four Winds Field)* August 17: Buddy Guy: Damn Right Farewell Tour (Morris Performing Arts Center)* August 19: DTSB Art Beat’s 20th Anniversary – Presented by August 26: “Rock the Pink” Concert benefiting the Susan G. Koman Foundation (Morris Performing Arts Center)*
SEPTEMBER
September 1: DTSB First Fridays: Dog Days of Summer September 1: Beyond the Yard (Howard Park) September 9-10: Fusion Fest (Howard Park) September 9-10: The Color Purple (Morris Performing Arts Center)* September 16: Recover Michiana Fest (Howard Park) September 23: Out of the Darkness Community Walk (Howard Park)* September 30: South Bend Symphony Orchestra: Silk Road + Strauss w/ Joseph Gramley (Morris Performing Arts Center)*
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Downtown South Bend Architecture Walking Tours*: May 5 – October 6 (First Fridays) Howard Park Summer Concert Series: May 5 – September 1 (First Fridays) Yoga for EveryBODY: May 8 – September 27 (Monday - Wednesday) Cars & Coffee at the Studebaker National Museum: May 13 - October 14 (Second Saturday of the month, minus July) Purple Porch Co-op Market: May 31 – September 27 (Wednesdays) Latin Dance at Ironhand*: May 31 – September 27 (Wednesdays) Fridays by the Fountain: June 2 - August 25 (Fridays) East Race Rafting*: June 3 - September 17 (Saturdays and Sundays) DTSB Summer Fitness Series: June 10 - August 26 (Saturdays, excluding August 19 for Art Beat) South Bend Cubs Fireworks Series*: June 7, June 9, June 23, July 4, July 7, July 21, August 4, August 25, September 8, September 9 Wednesday Wine Walks*: June 14, July 12, August 9, September 13 (second Wednesdays) Howard Park Movie Nights: June 16, July 21, August 18 Summer Restaurant Weeks : July 24 - August 6 *These events may require tickets or advance registration.
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... continued from previous page. placed on the Development List, and later assigned back to South Bend. Ordinarily, a step back for a player would make them a little less cheerful when they return to the place they had dominated through last season. Not Verdugo. The now married and older third baseman sees this chance to play back in South Bend as a reset. Not just physically with his bat, but
Verdugo swinging at a ball during a regular season home game in 2022. Credit: Langston Johnson. also his mind. “Every new season is the most important season for me,” Verdugo said. “I think I was a little overconfident heading into this season, and I wasn’t able to control what I was doing. In the off-season I worked a lot on my swing, felt great, and then when I got to this season it was a feeling of ‘what’s going on?’ I am finding my confidence and that’s the focus right now” Last season, Verdugo became one of the most dominant contact bats in the Chicago Cubs organization. Along with his stellar defensive ability at third base, Verdugo shined
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in the season and became one of those guys you talk about in an organization who isn’t currently ranked as a top-30 prospect but should be one. Let’s reminisce a little on that legendary playoff run of 2022, shall we? Verdugo was a key piece to the puzzle at the plate, in the field, and especially as a voice and calming presence in the clubhouse. When I asked him about his 2022 teammates and the championship run, he gave about as long of an answer as an athlete could. You could see the sparkle in his eyes. “Last year’s team had incredible talents on the roster where you could point towards any guy all year and say that guy is going to get a hit,” Verdugo said. “There was just a natural competition between us where every single person wanted to get the big hit and finish the game winner. Nobody was lazy. Nobody said, ‘oh we got this because we are so good.’ None of that at all. That to me is why we won it. We
Verdugo throwing to the first baseman to make the play. Credit: Ethan Levy.
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... continued from previous page. just said that this is our time.” Ohio. That set up for a winner-take-all title In order to secure the Championship, game just outside of Cleveland. On a rainy South Bend had to win two separate decisive Wednesday night we may add. elimination games on the road. One in the Three home runs were hit by South Bend Division Series against Cedar Rapids, and of Cubs batters that night. The first, by Pablo course, the last in the Championship Series Aliendo. The second, a mammoth shot by versus Lake County. Owen Caissie. And the third, a dead-center Verdugo had impactful hits in both of drive by Verdugo. them. “That swing brought out a ton of Starting with that emotions,” Verdugo Game 3 win in Cedar said. “I didn’t know Rapids to punch their how to react because I ticket to Eastlake, knew I hit it hard but Ohio, to take on the it just kept carrying. Lake County Captains, Then as I was rounding it almost felt like first I just went ‘holy Verdugo delivered cow that ball’s gone! the knockout punch. Rounding third I said to Against right-hander the dugout we’re gonna Orlando Rodriguez, win, we’re gonna win, after an Owen Caissie we’re gonna win.’ sacrifice fly opened That home run was the scoring, Verdugo so important because delivered a two-run that other team was so double to make it 3-0 good and we needed to in the 1st inning. BJ keep hitting to win that Murray added a single game. They were good, as Verdugo scored, but we were better.” and South Bend never The memories of looked back that night. winning that title will “Coming back to be relived in the mind Verdugo celebrating his homerun with teammate South Bend now, all of Verdugo for the rest Owen Caissie during the Championship Game. the emotions from that Credit: Casey McDonald. of his life. That’s the run come back to me type of guy Verdugo is. now,” Verdugo said. “I start getting chills when You hear the word genuine tossed around a I think about it, especially when I saw my ring lot in the world, but Luis Verdugo is the type of for the first time when we in the auditorium human being where you know the emotions (at the Chicago Cubs Spring Training complex). he is giving you at any present moment are I was so happy to see everyone during that exactly what he is feeling. After securing his time too. Everything that we did last year just first ring with the Cubs, he pondered what the always reminds me of how great of a time future could be like. we had. It didn’t matter if it was the staff, or “It was one of the most incredible days I whoever, everyone was together as a team.” had in baseball,” Verdugo said. “It was my first Onto the championship the Cubs went. championship in the USA. I remember I was After falling in Game 1 at home to the Lake holding the trophy in the clubhouse, the first County Captains, South Bend won Game 2 in thing that came to my mind was imagine if
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... continued from previous page. this is the World Series Trophy. If a High-A Championship feels like this, imagine the Big Leagues.”
Verdugo and Fabian Pertuz holding the Midwest League Trophy. Credit: Casey McDonald. Verdugo then put the trophy down, handed it to more teammates, enjoyed a cigar with the broadcast crew, and partied the night away. “When we got our rings that was the turning point,” Verdugo said. “I saw my name on that thing, and we were all together again. I saw all the Cubs (2016) World Series pictures on the wall around there, and I started getting chills because I was thinking imagine if this is the Big Leagues. I started making a movie in my mind. I was so happy.” This next quote to me tells everyone exactly what they need to know about the 2022 Championship team. “That team had the biggest connection I’ve ever had in my baseball life,” Verdugo added. “Good person. Good teammate. Good worker. Everyone was fantastic.” That’s the be-all and end-all right there. Verdugo is the ultimate teammate, and he wants to see his friends and loved ones achieve success. But selfishly, at some point every baseball player needs to carve their own path in getting to the highest level. You better believe Verdugo is all over that.
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Both on the radio and on TV with Marquee Sports Network, I have said numerous times that Luis Verdugo is the best third base glove in the Chicago Cubs system. The way at times that he so effortlessly fields his position, and for sure makes every routine play, but also dazzles you with some catches and throws that look superhuman, Verdugo’s glove can be a major part of what gets him to Wrigley Field. Even though he looks so smooth at third, the road to playing at the hot corner everyday was quite bumpy. “I used to be so into playing shortstop and that was all I played,” Verdugo. “I didn’t want to get out of it. One year at (Low-A) Myrtle Beach, they told me I was going to move to third base. I said alright, but I wasn’t happy. After I while, I said let’s work at it. I struggled at the beginning, and I don’t like being bad at defense because that’s my strength. I started making it a game focus every time I practiced third base. Throw hard, move my feet fast, make it like a game during practice. And all of the sudden I started getting comfortable and got to a spot where I said I love third base.” Some of the best MLB shortstops ever made the transition to third base at some
Verdugo playing third base during a home game at Four Winds Field. Credit: Casey McDonald.
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CUBS CONNECTION GAME PROGRAM ... continued from previous page. point. Cal Ripken Jr. and Alex Rodriguez come to mind. Verdugo has gotten much stronger through the off-season, and you can still tell he has a slender build, but he now has the body of a third baseman. “If you make a mistake or an error it doesn’t matter because you always get another shot to pick up your team” Verdugo said. “Obviously I don’t like errors. I hate them. I get more mad if I make an error than I do if I strike out. That’s how I feel, but defensively you have to keep improving no matter what to be better at it.” Verdugo is and always has been wise beyond his years. As mentioned, he has more to play for personally now that he is married. Not that he didn’t before, as he was the first Verdugo family member to ever sign to play in the United States. His father played in the Mexican League, and now his brother is a prospect for the San Diego Padres.
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The motivators are in every avenue of Verdugo’s mind. His wife, his family, his country, his teammates, and more. “Having everyone around me supporting allows me to put my feet in the ground and work,” Verdugo described. “My wedding was a good thing for me to settle down and understand what it means to have something and someone to play for. I’m doing this for me, but I’m also doing this for (my wife), my family, and my brother.” Verdugo’s reset in South Bend doesn’t necessarily have an end date. It’s a matter of getting back to where he knows he can be. Don’t blink though. Because when he turns it back on and the green flag is back waving, he’ll be climbing the ladder again. For now, South Bend Cubs fans can be proud to know that someone that cares about them, just as much as they care about him, is playing over at third base every day.
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