A member of the Cubs infield might not be able to hide for much longer. Christopher Morel’s time at third base could be numbered in the Cubs infield. The team is just a few games into the season, and it is already apparent that Morel’s defensive issues at the hot corner might be unavoidable. Craig Counsell announced in the offseason that Morel would receive consistent reps at third base in the 2024 season and was quite happy about it. The Cubs new skipper made it known that he loved Morel’s energy and the production his bat can bring to the table is something he needed to have in his lineup daily.
Can Christopher Morel Hide at Third Base Much Longer?
The organization chose not to pursue free agent Matt Chapman this offseason. The former Blue Jay elected to ink a deal with San Francisco late in the free agency cycle. The front office felt like the infield had enough depth between Nick Madrigal, newly acquired Michael Busch, and Morel. Pairing these three with the middle infield of Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner seemed fair enough within the Cubs budget to make it work for the campaign.
A Short but Not Promising Sample Size
Morel made an error over at third base in back-to-back games in two ways. The first one came in the series finale against the Rangers. A throwing error for Morel began his defensive season on a sour note. The biggest issue with Morel entering the season trying to make it work at third is all in his arm. The strength is there, but the accuracy is not. This is something that the young fielder can’t hide.
Morel’s second error came the next day. In the Cubs home opener against Colorado, a liner from Kris Bryant went right through Morel’s glove. The little mishaps in the field can surely frustrate the coaching staff and fans with the young talent.
The Bat Still Plays
Out in a flash off the bat of Christopher Morel! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/0iuoXYUdRo
— MLB (@MLB) March 31, 2024
Even though Morel leads the club with two errors, his bat has not disappointed in the early going. In 17 at-bats, the 24-year-old leads the team with a staggering .412 batting average through the first four games. He also possesses an OPS of 1.118 and is slugging over .700. Morel clubbed out his first home run of the season in the finale against Texas. The three-run shot accounts for his RBI total so far this year. Morel even fired the Wrigleyville crowd up Monday afternoon with a Little League home run, breaking a scoreless tie in the sixth inning.
Christopher Morel electrifies Wrigley ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/JZRa1T1qqr
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) April 2, 2024
The Santiago, Dominican Republic native is known as a major energy guy in the lineup. Many fans link the passion he brings to those who came before him, like Willson Contreras and Javier Baez.
As long as Morel’s bat stays consistent and provides solid pop, there is a long-term way to work around his defensive inefficiencies. The minute his strikeout rate improves this season, and he hits a bump in the road or two, problems could arise. On the bright side, he only struck out one time in the first four games of the season. His discipline appears to be improving, and his ability to slug is apparent. The old saying is that as long as someone can swing the stick, there will always be a spot for them in the lineup. This phrase should ring true for Morel regardless of who the Cubs have in the minors. If the bat comes to play, there is no need to worry about hiding the youngster.
Main Photo Credits: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
