As we enter Spring Training, the Chicago Cubs appear to have a completely healthy starting rotation.
There are many reasons to be enthusiastic about the Chicago Cubs’ impending season, even with the team’s mostly disappointing offseason thus far.
Having done an excellent job of reconstructing their farm system, many of their best prospects appear prepared to start making an impact in 2024.
The key plot point of the season will be determining which of these young talents has the potential to advance in their careers; if the Cubs can push for a postseason berth, it will just enhance the foundation they have already established.
Although the offseason is still ongoing and more deals may be made, the front staff made it seem as though they aren’t in a rush to bring in new players.
One big advantage Chicago has going into Spring Training is that, for the first time in a long time, their starting rotation appears healthy at the beginning of this phase.
Happy to be back with the team, Kyle Hendricks hopes to improve on his 2023 season, which was a turnaround.
Marshall Harris of CBS 2 News reported that he stated, “… Standing here now this time, being fully healthy, ready to go, having a normal spring ahead of me, it’s way better.”
The 34-year-old is presently the Cubs’ player with the longest tenure, having played for the team his entire Major League career.
He was a member of the squad that won the World Series in 2016, but during the past few years, injuries have severely limited his mobility.
But in the previous season, he was almost exactly what he used to be, with an ERA of 3.74 over 24 starts and an ERA+ of 120 over 137 innings pitched.
For this rotation, which is counting on Jameson Taillon to have his own breakout season, Justin Steele to keep improving, and Shota Imanaga to develop into an ace, having him healthy at the beginning of 2024 will be a huge advantage.
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