Four Chicago Cubs Stars Included In Top 100 Player Rankings
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For the Chicago Cubs the starpower up in the middle of the diamond, as three of its four Top 100 selections in ESPN’s recent player rankings call those positions home.
That includes center fielder Cody Bellinger, shortstop Dansby Swanson and second baseman Nico Hoerner. The fourth Cubs player to make the list is pitcher Justin Steele, who is scheduled to start the Cubs’ Opening Day contest against the Texas Rangers.
Swanson is the highest-ranked Cub at No. 43. He’s coming off a Gold Glove season in his first year with the Cubs as he also batted .244/.328/.416/.744 with 22 home runs and 80 RBI, his third straight season with at least 20 home runs and 80 RBI.
He’s now a two-time NL All-Star and a two-time Gold Glove winner at shortstop, and he is capable of doing both again this season.
Bellinger is right behind Swanson at No. 48. The Cubs re-signed Bellinger last month to a three-year, $80 million deal filled with player options designed to allow him to explore free agency once again, as early as next offseason.
The Cubs were patient and waited out the market, getting back a player who was named a Silver Slugger in 2023 and slashed .307/.356/.525/.881 in 130 games with 26 home runs and 97 RBI in 2023, despite missing a month with an injury. He was also named the NL Comeback Player of the Year. His struggles in his last two seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers seem to be in the rear-view mirror now.
Hoerner, who plays second base, is No. 68. He was the Cubs’ first-round pick in 2018 and he’s blossomed into one of their most consistent defenders. He moved to second base full-time last season when the Cubs signed Swanson and he won his first Gold Glove after being a finalist the previous season.
Hoerner also did well at the plate, as he slashed .283/.346/.383/.729 with nine home runs and 68 RBI. That was his second straight season batting better than .280.
Steele came in at No. 77 and is new to the list after a breakthrough season with the Cubs in 2023.
Steele led the Cubs in victories, going 16-5 with a 3.06 ERA. He struck out a career-high 176 in 173.1 innings. He only walked 36. He pitched well enough in the first half to earn a selection to the National League All-Star Team and led the NL in home runs allowed per nine innings with 0.7. He also finished in fifth place in NL Cy Young voting.
