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Cubs prospect goes full ‘The Natural,’ smashes stadium light with towering home run

Eloy Jimenez did a spot-on Roy Hobbs impression. 

Dan Gartland

Cubs prospect goes full ‘The Natural,’ smashes stadium light with towering home run
Cubs prospect goes full ‘The Natural,’ smashes stadium light with towering home run /

Unlike Roy Hobbs, Eloy Jimenez was not stabbed by a mysterious woman in a hotel room after his tryout with the Cubs. But Jimenez does have something in common with the fictional lead from The Natural: they’ve both obliterated stadium floodlights with home runs. 

Jimenez, a 20-year-old outfielder, is the top prospect in the Cubs’ system and made the Carolina League All-Star Team as a representative of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. In Monday’s home run derby, he did this, which is still pretty cool even though he wasn’t bleeding through his jersey. 

It’s not quite as dramatic when you don’t have to round the bases (and when Glenn Close isn’t watching from the stands).

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Dan Gartland
DAN GARTLAND

Dan Gartland is the writer and editor of Sports Illustrated’s flagship daily newsletter, SI:AM, covering everything an educated sports fan needs to know. He joined the SI staff in 2014, having previously been published on Deadspin and Slate. Gartland, a graduate of Fordham University, is a former Sports Jeopardy! champion (Season 1, Episode 5).

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