Schwarber likely done with Cubs
But his comeback, heroics on North Side won’t be forgotten
The stout frame, once-bulky knee brace and powerful left-handed swing separated
Kyle Schwarber from fellowfirst-round picks
Kris Bryant and Javier
Baez.
But Schwarber has a special place in Cubs history— and not just because hewas one of three homegrown players whohelped lead the franchise to the 2016World Series title.
Whether itwas a storied comeback froma severe knee injury or a significantweight loss, fans identified with Schwarber’s efforts to clear hurdles and live up to his billing as theNo. 4 pick in the 2014 draft.
His mammoth home run that landed on the top of the right-field Budweiser sign at Wrigley Field during the 2015National League Division Series against the Cardinals and his production in the 2016 Series are forever etched in the minds of Cubs fans.
So are the swings and misses and occasional late jumps in left field that leave Schwarber, whowas non-tenderedWednesday, a victim of the Cubs’ retooling.
Sure, team President JedHoyer left open the possibility the Cubs could re-sign Schwarber, saying theywould “keep the door open.”
“I’ve also expressed if that doesn’twork out, (we appreciate) the affection and attitude for all he’s done,” Hoyer saidWednesday. “He’s always going to be a Cubs legend, no question about that, as he should be.”
Schwarber likely leaves with more than just the highs and lows that reflect the Cubs’ six-year run of achieving baseball’s zenith and subsequent unfulfilled expectations.
Schwarber’s human side alwayswas on display, whether he saluted fans after taking his position in left field before each home game or reluctantly speaking to reporters during his rehabilitation while teammates were running away with a 2016NL Central title.
Aday after tearing ligaments in his left knee in the third game of the 2016 season, Schwarber spoke with amixture of frustration and determination in a small room adjacent to the visitor’s clubhouse at Chase Field in Phoenix.
The sadness stemmed fromnot being able to use his rookie season as a springboard, especially after theCubs signed Ben Zobrist, JasonHeyward and John Lackey in pursuit of aWorld Series title.
The resolvewas fueled by finding away to contribute in 2016, no matter howlengthy and tedious his rehabilitationwould be.
Schwarber arrived late to aworkout before Game 3 of the 2016NL Championship Series, but hewas giddy while talking to teammates at Dodger Stadium.
An examination inDallas byDr. Daniel Cooper raised the possibility that Schwarber could return in a limited role if the Cubs advanced to theWorld Series.
That became a reality. Schwarber made the most of his designated-hitter role, hitting .412 against the Cleveland Indians despite not having facedmajor-league pitching in nearly seven months.
Success never inflated Schwarber’s head. His suspect defense, whichwas exposed in the 2015 NLCS, improved adequately thanks to extrawork and a 25-poundweight loss after the 2017 season.
Humble moments tested but never broke him. He lost leadoff duties less than two months into the 2017 season andwas briefly demoted to Triple-A Iowa.
Schwarber also accepted some lighthearted poking. The video board frequently played a snippet of him performing for the Purple Pizzazz choir group at Middletown High School in Ohio. A photo of Schwarber, a linebacker who received offers fromMidAmerican Conference football programs, missing a tackle on future Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller in his final high school game surfaced on the internet.
Schwarber’s greatest attributewas his ability to balance the most delicate situations. That neverwas more evident than during the truncated 60-game 2020 season after a shutdowncaused by theCOVID-19 pandemic when social tensions soared.
In lateAugust, Schwarber did his best to describe his tug ofwar in thewake of the Kenosha police shooting of Jacob Blake.
Schwarber established his “Neighborhood Heroes” programin 2017 as a tribute to first responders. The topic is close to Schwarber, whose father, Greg, was the former Middletown police chief and is part of a family with a long history of first responders.
At the same time, Schwarber’s wife, Paige, is biracial, and he counts his brother-in-law, who is Black, as one of his best friends.
“I’m not trying to pull a card. This ismy reality,” Schwarber said inAugust. “This is something I live every day. Iwant to be able to do the right thing and be able to hopefully showprogression in the fact I just hope one day that this will all come to end and both sides will be at peace and be able to be everyday Americans and live out the American Dream.”
In the eyes of some, Schwarber might have fallen short of expectations with the Cubs. But hewas drafted higher than projected, and the Cubs used their savings from his lower signing bonus on later picks who were bought out of their college commitments.
But his character, selflessness and signature moments deserve to be etched permanently in the Cubs’ six-year run of success.