2024 Cubs midseason grades

The Cubs have had an up-and-down first “half” (really, 61 percent of the season has been completed at this point). They looked like world-beaters for a month, then awful for two months, and recently they’ve started to look pretty good again.

Those break down to the following records:

March 28 to April 26: 17-9
April 27 to July 3: 22-39
July 4 to July 14: 8-3

So which team is the real Cubs? The one that played two months’ worth of .361 baseball? Or the one that was close to first place most of April? Or the one that has the best record in baseball (8-3, tied with the Tigers) since July 4?

We’ll find out beginning Friday. In the meantime, here are my assessments of Cubs players’ performances so far this year. Some of them are not pretty.

Position players

Miguel Amaya: D

Amaya had a solid rookie season. He posted a .688 OPS backing up Yan Gomes last year.

This year has been a step backwards, as his OPS enters the break more than 100 points lower and he’s still not throwing out base stealers (nine percent last year, 13 percent this year).

Pitchers seem to love his game calling, though:

At age 25, there’s still time for Amaya to improve. Hopefully, his second half reflects that.

Michael Busch: B+

Busch has been as advertised, solid offensively, among MLB leaders among rookies in several categories and sporting a very good .823 OPS.

After a shaky start in the field, his defense has gotten much better. He might never win a Gold Glove, but he’s definitely very good there.

The trade bringing him to the Cubs was well executed.

His walkoff homer in the rain against the Padres May 7 was fun [VIDEO].

Nico Hoerner: C

As was the case with Amaya, Hoerner’s offense has taken a step back this year. He’s still drawing walks and has a decent OBP (.336), but that’s down from .346 in 2023.

Like most of the Cubs hitters, we hope for a better second half from Nico.

Dansby Swanson: D

Swanson’s year so far has been just above “disaster.” His hitting has dropped off, though has improved a bit lately. And his defense has been below the Gold Glove standard he set last year.

As is the case for just about everyone on this team, if the Cubs are going to make any moves toward the postseason, Swanson’s going to have to produce.

Christopher Morel: D

The experiment to try Morel at third base was a noble one. It might have worked! But it didn’t, and Morel’s best position appears to be DH. Only... he’s not hitting, as even with 18 home runs his SLG is under .400.

After a BABIP of .312 combined for his first two seasons, Morel’s BABIP this year is .218. That suggests some bad luck. Perhaps he can turn it around in the second half.

Ian Happ: B

Happ got off to a horrific start and everyone was like, “Trade him!” Which... if he’s playing poorly, how could you do that?

He’s been on a hot streak since late May — since May 22, he is batting .280/.384/.615 (45-for-161) with 15 doubles, 13 home runs, 43 RBI and 31 runs scored in 48 games. Plus, he’s playing Gold Glove-level defense again.

The Happ complaint department is closed.

Cody Bellinger: C-

Bellinger has missed time with two injuries: First, when he ran into the brick wall at Wrigley Field in April, and now he’s out after being hit in the hand and suffering a broken finger.

In between, there have been flashes of what we saw last year, but overall this first half has to be a disappointment.

At the time he went down with the latest injury, he hadn’t homered in 106 plate appearances.

I’m guessing he won’t opt out for next year.

Seiya Suzuki: B-

Also was injured early, and got off to a bad start. But as is the case for Happ, and also Suzuki did this last year, he’s gotten hot lately. Last 18 games since June 26: .288/.325/.603 (21-for-73) with four doubles, two triples, five home runs, 17 RBI and 12 runs scored.

He’s got to shore up that defense, though.

Mike Tauchman: B

The Cubs really miss Tauchman’s on-base skills and versatility. Hopefully, he’ll be back shortly after the All-Star break.

Pete Crow-Armstrong: D+

So if we were grading PCA on baserunning and fielding, he’d get an “A”.

But for hitting, he’s an “F”. He’s struck out in 26 percent of his plate appearances. I wish he’d try to bunt more for base hits, once he gets on base he’s a disruptor.

I still think he’ll be a good MLB player. It’s worth remembering that he’s just 22 and if he had played college ball, he’d have been a 2023 draft and likely playing Double-A right now.

His big day Sunday hints at better things to come.

Patrick Wisdom: D+

It’s hard to grade Wisdom because he barely plays at all, not even against certain LHP who he could probably hit. Of the Cubs’ last 22 games since June 21, Wisdom has played in just six of them and started twice.

I’m not sure what Craig Counsell is thinking here.

Miles Mastrobuoni: C-

Mastrobuoni has been given a specific role: Platoon third baseman vs. RHP. He seems to have taken to it; his defense has been solid and he’s begun to hit, a little. He did this last September, too, when he played more or less full time after Jeimer Candelario was injured.

It just might work.

David Bote: B-

In a fairly small sample size, Bote has hit well and played good defense.

The Cubs might have a useful third-base platoon here.

Alexander Canario: Incomplete

He’s just here occupying a roster spot. I don’t see Craig Counsell using him much, and he’s probably headed back to Iowa once Tauchman is ready to return.

Tomás Nido: Incomplete

He hasn’t hit much since the Cubs picked him up, but he has thrown out a few potential base stealers. It’s really too early to make any sort of judgment.

Nick Madrigal: D

Madrigal wasn’t hitting when he got optioned and then hurt at Iowa, and now the Cubs have useful replacements. There’s no timetable for him to return. I suspect Madrigal will be non-tendered after the season is over.

Pitchers

Shōta Imanaga: A

This grade would have been “A+” if not for two really bad starts that made his ERA jump all the way to ... 2.97, which is still really good!

He’s allowed two or fewer earned runs in 13 of his 17 starts and will be the Cubs’ All-Star Game representative.

Here are his nine K’s in his MLB debut in the home opener, April 1 vs. the Rockies [VIDEO].

Justin Steele: A-

Steele was injured on Opening Day and it took him a while to get back to his 2023 form after he missed about five weeks.

But over his last nine starts heading into the break: 1.48 ERA, 0.852 WHIP, .180 opponents BA, only two HR in 61 innings.

Here’s how he finished off his first career CG, July 5 against the Angels [VIDEO].

Jameson Taillon: A-

Taillon also missed some time early this year with a back issue, but since returning April 19 has been rock-solid. He’s allowed more than three earned runs in just one of his 15 starts, and over his last seven: 2.68 ERA, 0.939 WHIP, just five walks and 40 strikeouts in 43⅔ innings.

Kyle Hendricks: D+

This was a hard grade for me to give, all of you know how big a fan I am of The Professor.

He’s occasionally been Professor-like, as he was Friday against the Cardinals. But there have been a lot of games in which he’s been hit really hard.

To me, these are encouraging numbers. Since May 23, in 10 games (five starts), Kyle has a 3.86 ERA and 1.134 WHIP, and only three HR in 39⅔ innings. That’d certainly play in a fifth starter role. Hopefully he can keep that up the rest of the year.

I love this play that ended his seven shutout innings last Friday against the Cardinals — a perfect example of how his pitching can induce weak contact [VIDEO].

Hayden Wesneski: D+

He’s just maddening. You can see the talent, he throws hard and can get outs. But then there are all the home runs — 11 in 60⅓ innings is way too many

In addition, there are the times when he appears to overthink instead of just trusting his stuff. Perhaps a visit to a sports psychologist could help. I’d love to see him succeed, but it’s almost as if he doesn’t want to.

Javier Assad: B-

Sometimes he’ll look really good (six shutout innings vs. the Brewers May 5).

And then he’ll get pounded like he did Saturday by the Cardinals. Like Wesneski, he has home-run issues: Twelve home runs allowed in 85⅓ innings is too many. He might have come back too soon from the IL for Saturday’s game. I would guess the Cubs would put him at the back of the rotation after the All-Star break, to give him more rest.

Assad has talent, it’s just a matter of harnessing it.

Jordan Wicks: C-

Wicks began the year in the Cubs rotation, had a couple of good starts and some bad ones, then hit the IL with a forearm strain. He missed about six weeks, came back, had two decent outings but left the second one with an oblique injury.

There’s no timetable for his return.

Hector Neris: C

“Heart Attack Hector” is what I (and others) have dubbed him, because you never know what you’re going to get here.

His last seven appearances have been very good: Three saves, no blown saves, 11 strikeouts in six innings (24 batters faced).

But then there are the four blown saves, some of them spectacular meltdowns. He’s “only” allowed four home runs — seems like more, right?

Here’s hoping for a better second half.

Drew Smyly: B-

Smyly has thrown exclusively in relief this year (25 appearances) after moving back and forth from rotation to bullpen in previous Cubs seasons.

And in general, his outings have been good. Like just about everyone else on this staff, he served time on the IL. Smyly’s injury was a hip impingement. He’s thrown well since his return.

Mark Leiter Jr.: B-

Leiter was lights-out (or is that “leits-out”?) for most of the first two months, then a couple of bad meltdowns helped lead to an IL stint.

In three appearances this month since returning from the IL he’s gone back to “leits-out,” striking out six of the 10 batters he’s faced. The Cubs pen could use more of that.

Luke Little: B

Little got hit hard April 27 in Boston. But after that he began to throw really well. In 20 appearances after being recalled from Iowa May 15, he has a 1.59 ERA, 1.059 WHIP and 20 strikeouts and ZERO home runs in 17 innings.

Then he got hurt Friday night in St. Louis. Hopefully he’ll be back soon. Another hard-throwing young pitcher who seems on the cusp of something really good.

His walk rate is still a bit high (18 in 26 innings), so that’s something to work on.

Tyson Miller: B+

Miller has been a pleasant surprise since coming over from the Mariners in exchange for Jake Slaughter.

He doesn’t throw hard, but his motion and arm slot help make his delivery deceptive. He’s posted a 1.66 ERA and 0.692 WHIP in 20 appearances for the Cubs, with only three walks and 19 strikeouts in 21⅔ innings.

Really nice pickup by Jed Hoyer.

Porter Hodge: C+

Hodge has had several good outings, but when given a high-leverage setup role in Saturday’s doubleheader nightcap, he couldn’t get the job done.

Hodge has talent and throws hard (18 strikeouts in 16⅔ innings), so hopefully that experience will help him improve.

Jorge Lopez: B+

Another good pickup by Hoyer, when the Mets DFA’d him after he threw his glove into the stands and made some inopportune comments to reporters, which appear to have been mistranslated.

Lopez has been used sparingly, but he has closing experience and could help out in high-leverage situations.

Hunter Bigge: Incomplete

Bigge had a spectacular MLB debut against the Orioles. His second appearance, in St. Louis, wasn’t nearly as good.

But he’s got talent, he can hit 100 miles per hour, it’s just a matter of finding control and command. He seems to have the right mindset. Hoping for the best here.

Ben Brown: A-

Brown’s neck injury has kept him out over a month and there doesn’t seem to be a timetable for his return.

He showed flashes of brilliance, including seven no-hit innings against the Brewers May 28 in Milwaukee. This was a huge loss for the pitching staff and hopefully, he’ll be back sometime after the All-Star break.

Here are Brown’s 10 strikeouts in that May 28 game [VIDEO].

Keegan Thompson: B-

Thompson’s overall numbers (3.50 ERA, 1.222 WHIP) don’t look too bad, and most of his outings were good. A couple of really bad ones inflated those numbers, otherwise the grade would be higher. And now, like much of the staff, he’s injured.

Adbert Alzolay: D+

This grade might be a bit unfair, as Alzolay was likely injured when he was giving up all those home runs (six in just 17⅓ innings). The injury could date back as far as last September, too.

It does appear Alzolay could be close to returning. The Cubs could use the Alzolay who was so good last summer, before fading in September.

Julian Merryweather: Incomplete

Merryweather made just four appearances — all good ones — before hitting the IL with what was described as a “stress fracture” in a rib in his back.

He’s been working his way back on rehab assignment and could be back in the Cubs bullpen soon after the break.

Ethan Roberts: B-

It’s only four games covering six innings, but Roberts has again flashed the talent he showed in 2022 before he had Tommy John surgery. Could be a useful bullpen piece going forward.

Daniel Palencia: D+

Palencia has had several different callups to the Cubs this year, and has appeared in seven games with a 6.55 ERA and 1.727 WHIP. That isn’t good, nor are his eight walks in 11 innings. No home runs allowed, though.

Here’s another guy who has talent and could succeed if he could just control and command that 100 mile per hour fastball.

Yency Almonte: B

Almonte got off to a rough start, but threw well over his last dozen or so outings before going down with a shoulder injury that required surgery. He’ll miss the rest of the season. He’s under team control for 2025 so... maybe he’s a part of next year’s bullpen.

The following seven players also played in at least one game for the 2024 Cubs: Colten Brewer, Jose Cuas, Garrett Cooper, Yan Gomes, Richard Lovelady, Matt Mervis and Luis Vázquez.