Chicago Cubs: 3 best DH options for the shortened season

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PEORIA, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 24: Josh Phegley #4 of the Chicago Cubs high fives Steven Souza Jr. #21 and Albert Almora Jr. #5 after hitting a three run home run against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of the MLB spring training game at Peoria Stadium on February 24, 2020 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

DH. Albert Almora Jr.. player. 9. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. OF. 2

The first pick of the Theo Epstein era in Chicago, Almora Jr. has been given the chance to earn the starting center field job the last two seasons and has failed to convince the Cubs he’s deserving of another shot in 2020. Especially with switch-hitting Ian Happ and his strong showing towards the end of 2019 after spending the majority of the year in Triple-A Iowa.

Almora’s a defense-first player at this point but has shown over the years to be an ok contact hitter, but he struggles to elevate the ball – leading to lots of groundouts. Almora was looking much better this past spring but after an awful 2019 season, Happ will likely see the majority of starts in center field.

And while Almora provides more defensively, especially towards the end of games as a substitute, his bat to ball skills are something the Cubs lack throughout their lineup and should get him some time at the DH in 2020.

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