Kris Bryant is having a MVP-caliber season for the Chicago Cubs but his true value for the team this season has been about his ability to play multiple positions. It has been nearly two months since Kris Bryant has played third base and that flexibility is reaping rewards for the Cubs’ offense.
Let’s not be mistaken, Bryant’s value for the Cubs is certainly on offense. Entering play on Wednesday, Bryant has a slash line of .307/.383/.575/.959 with 13 home runs and 38 RBIs. However, even with the offensive success, Bryant’s ability to play multiple positions has afforded Cubs’ manager David Ross the opportunity of playing the hot hand offensively.
Over the course of the past month, the Cubs have been plagued with injuries with the likes of Jason Heyward, Jake Marisnick, Matt Duffy, Nico Hoerner, and David Bote all spending time on the injured list. During that time, Ross has routinely penciled Bryant in the lineup as a starting outfielder.
The reason why Ross has penciled Bryant into the outfield is because of the offensive success that the likes of Duffy and, more recently, Patrick Wisdom have found at the Major League level.
Kris Bryant has made the case that is permanent position with the Chicago Cubs should be right field.
Prior to his back injury, Duffy was hitting .278/.377/.356/.733. Meanwhile, Wisdom has exploded on the scene since being recalled by the Cubs towards the end of May. After his home run against the Padres’ in the Cubs victory on Tuesday night, Wisdom is now hitting .375/.432/.1.025/1.457 with 8 home runs in his first 44 plate appearances this season.
Bryant’s ability to play the outfield has allowed Ross to play Duffy and, now, Wisdom at third base and thus providing the Cubs with their best offensive lineup. Reason being why that is the Cubs’ best offensive lineup is because Heyward has struggled this season.
Entering play on Wednesday, Heyward is hitting .170/.253/.319/.572 in 150 plate appearances. Offensive struggles have been no stranger to Heyward during his tenure with the Cubs but it would appear that he is now a liability on offense when he is penciled into the lineup.
Where Heyward has generally earned his keep in the Cubs’ starting lineup is in the field and the base paths. While Heyward is still an above average defensive right field, the gap between he and Bryant is minimal. Per Baseball Reference, Heyward has a range factor per game (Putouts + Assists/games played) of 1.73. Meanwhile, Bryant has a range factor of 1.56. Heyward is still the better fielder but the margin is minimal. Meaning, when factoring the offensive possibilities that Bryant affords the Cubs’ lineup when playing in the outfield, the case should be made that he should be the every day right fielder instead of Heyward.
With Duffy, Hoerner, and Bote all still on the injured, there is not an immediate need to supplant Heyward in right field permanently with Bryant. But once IL list clears, the best team that the Chicago Cubs can field is one with Kris Bryant in right field and Jason Heyward on the bench.
