Brandon Glick

They just can't stop winning. The Cubs could get their second straight sweep with a win over the Padres today.

There's more updates to the Chicago Cubs Players Project rounding out the database, including a trio of players who had strong legacies elsewhere before arriving in Chicago during the pandemic. What is the Players Project? It's a community-driven, wiki-style project focusing on Cubs players of all stripes. It's open to all North Side Baseball users, and we've had contributions from current players, past players, and players who never even made the major leagues but played in the Cubs’ farm system. Create your favorite player today! Welcome back to our Players Project updates, everyone! The database continues to be filled with notable Cubs players, whether they played their prime years in Chicago or came to Wrigley Field to ride off into the sunset before retirement. This edition of the Players Project round up features three players who many — including myself — probably forgot about after their brief cameos with the Cubs. We also ask that members of the community who are interested in the project join us in the forums to discuss what the future of it should look like! Jason Kipnis was one of the best second basemen of the 2010s, doing much of his damage for the Cleveland Guardians. Of course, as it relates to the Cubs, Kipnis was the starting second baseman for the opposition in the 2016 World Series. He was a huge thorn in the Cubs' side, slashing .290/.313/.581 with two home runs while playing all seven games. "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em" proved to be the mantra of his free agency, as Kipnis joined the Cubs on a minor league deal prior to the 2020 season. Of course, the Covid-19 pandemic then shut everything down for months, but Kipnis did make the 40-man roster once the season got going in July. It was a rather nondescript tenure, as the second baseman hit .237/.341/.404 in 44 games. Cameron Maybin had a long career after being selected tenth overall in the 2005 draft, filling the quintessential fourth outfielder role on numerous squads. During the 2020 trade deadline (which took place at the end of August), the Cubs acquired Maybin for infielder Zack Short. In 18 games (56 plate appearances), the forgotten Cubs outfielder slashed .250/.304/.365. He had more triples (one) than home runs (zero) and stole as many bases as walks he drew (three). Steven Souza Jr. is probably the least recognizable name here, though he did have a famous highlight in his rookie season with the Washington Nationals when he saved Jordan Zimmerman's no-hitter on the final day of the regular season with a miraculous diving grab. Needing more outfield depth in the wake of 2019 sensation Nick Castellanos' departure for the rival Cincinnati Reds, the Cubs signed Souza as a fourth outfielder in January 2020. Due to the pandemic schedule, Souza wouldn't make his debut with the team until July, though he did crack the Opening Day roster. He played in just 11 games for Chicago, slashing a pitiful .148/.258/.333 (58 OPS+) in 31 plate appearances. Of course, other entries, like Carlos González and Jerry Hairston Jr., continue filling up our database. The Chicago Cubs Players Project is open to all North Side Baseball users. If you're a Cubs history buff or just want to dive into the background of your favorite player, come on board! View full article

The Cubs toppled the previously undefeated Padres in their home opener. Can they repeat the feat today?

The Yankees debuted a new bat to grand results against the Brewers during MLB's opening weekend. Is this the tush push of baseball? Should they even be legal? View full video

Steven Souza Jr. is a former MLB outfielder who spent eight years in the big leagues, including 11 games during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign with the Chicago Cubs. Originally drafted in the third round of the 2007 MLB Draft by the Washington Nationals, Souza faced plenty of trials and tribulations on the way to the major leagues. In 2010, he was selected to the South Atlantic League All-Star Game, though he faced a 50-game suspension for taking performance-enhancing substances shortly after. Then, in 2011, he received a suspension from his own Class-A team due to misconduct. He actually considered leaving the organization to play college football, though he stuck with baseball long enough to make his MLB debut on April 13, 2014. He played sparingly that year — he actually earned International League Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year honors at Triple-A in 2014 — though he did have his career highlight on the last game of the regular season. Jordan Zimmerman took the start for the Nationals against the Miami Marlins and threw 8 2/3 innings of no-hit ball before the final batter of the game laced a line drive to left center field. Souza ensured that Zimmerman would enter the history books as the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter for the franchise following their move to Washington D.C. Souza's heroics didn't keep him in town long, as he was dealt to the Tampa Bay Rays that offseason in the ridiculously complicated three-team Trea Turner deal. He had his best seasons in Tampa, including a 3.9 WAR campaign in 2017, and was then traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks prior to the 2018 season. The outfielder ended up playing just 72 games in the desert as he tore multiple ligaments in his knee in spring training in 2019, which would ultimately lead to Souza being non-tendered by the team. That's where the Cubs come in. Needing more outfield depth in the wake of 2019 sensation Nick Castellanos' departure for the rival Cincinnati Reds, the Cubs signed Souza as a fourth outfielder in January 2020. Due to the pandemic schedule, Souza wouldn't make his debut with the team until July, though he did crack the Opening Day roster. He played in just 11 games for Chicago, slashing a pitiful .148/.258/.333 (58 OPS+) in 31 plate appearances. He was one of quite a few players who got truncated Cubs tenures because of the Covid-19 pandemic — Jason Kipnis, Cameron Maybin, Josh Phegley, José Martinez, and others are in that club too — though Souza was arguably the most disappointing because he was 1) signed prior to the season on a major league contract in free agency and 2) had an actual track record of MLB success, even if it was prior to his ACL tear. Also, that list of players who only played part of the 2020 season with the Cubs just gave me flashbacks back to that season... I am glad we are not in 2020 anymore, both for the sake of the Cubs and the sake of the world. Ultimately, Souza was designated for assignment in early September, not even making it to the postseason with the team. After being DFA'd by the Cubs, Souza got stints with the Houston Astros (minor leagues), Los Angeles Dodgers, and Seattle Mariners. Beyond his three seasons in Tampa Bay, Souza played in just 127 major league contests. He retired in the middle of the 2022 season. View full player

It's the Wrigley 2025 opener as Imanaga takes the mound. What could possibly go wrong against the *checks notes* undefeated Padres?

The Cubs exit their series with Arizona below .500 thanks to some bullpen mishaps, but at least their offensive stars are producing early. View full video

Cameron Maybin spent 15 years in Major League Baseball, including a brief 18-game appearance with the Chicago Cubs in 2020. Maybin began his career as the tenth overall pick in the 2005 MLB Draft out of high school. He rose quickly through the Detroit Tigers' farm system, earning numerous accolades on the way to becoming the best prospect in the organization. Two years after being drafted, Maybin made his debut in 2007 at just 20 years old. Fun fact: he hit his first career home run off Roger Clemens, becoming the first player to hit a home run off a pitcher who won a Cy Young Award before he was born. Then, following the 2007 season, Maybin was included as a centerpiece in the Miguel Cabrera blockbuster with the then-Florida Marlins. Besides Maybin, Andrew Miller, Mike Rabelo, Dallas Trahern, Eulogio De La Cruz, and Burke Badenhop were shipped out to Florida for Dontrelle Willis and Cabrera. He spent limited time with the major league club over the next three seasons before being dealt to the San Diego Padres for Ryan Webb and Edward Mujica. Maybin had the best few seasons of his career with the Padres, famously getting snubbed out of the 2011 Gold Glove Award in centerfielder for second-place MVP finisher Matt Kemp. Maybin signed an extension with San Diego for five years, though he was traded to the Atlanta Braves just two seasons into that deal. At that point, the center fielder became a true journeyman, spending short stints with the Braves, Tigers, Angels, Astros, Marlins, Mariners, and Yankees between 2015-2019. Prior to the 2020 season, he signed with the Tigers for the third time in his career, though due to the Covid-shortened season, he spent just 14 games in Detroit that season. During the 2020 trade deadline (which took place at the end of August), the Cubs acquired Maybin for infielder Zack Short. In 18 games (56 plate appearances), the forgotten Cubs outfielder slashed .250/.304/.365. He had more triples (one) than home runs (zero) and stole as many bases as walks he drew (three). In truth, there was little remarkable about his tenure on the North Side, though he did draw two postseason pinch-hit at-bats for manager David Ross in that disgusting two-game sweep against the Marlins. He also drew a walk-off on a hit by pitch against the Guardians. Those were the highlights. Like much of that 2020 campaign, Maybin's tenure with the Cubs has been almost lost to time and memory. For what it's worth, Maybin's time with the Cubs ended in carousel-like fashion. He signed a minor league deal with the team in February 2021 and spent spring training with the organization. Then, on March 27, 2021, Maybin was granted his release by the Cubs, making him a free agent, but he re-signed with Chicago on a new minor league contract the next day. Finally, the Cubs traded him to the Mets for cash considerations in May. He appeared in just nine games in Queens that season and decided enough was enough. He officially retired in January 2022. After retiring, Maybin became a broadcaster, earning color commentator roles for the Cubs (Marquee), Yankees (YES), and MLB Network. He now serves as a studio analyst and occasional in-game analyst for the Detroit Tigers. View full player

I hear a broomstick making noise in my closet. Is a sweep coming?

Would you prefer he be bald?

Justin Steele tries to lower his 8.00 ERA against the Las Vegas Sacramento A's. Is this the day they get back to .500?

A fascinating query. I hadn't considered this. Keep a close eye on the polls section in the coming days...

It's another late-night affair on the west coast, this time versus the Athletics of Oakland Sacramento. The Cubs really need to win this series.

Jason Kipnis spent ten years in Major League Baseball as a second baseman, including the 2020 pandemic season with the Chicago Cubs, Kipnis, a Glenbrook North High School alumnus, was drafted in the second round of the 2009 MLB Draft by the then-Cleveland Indians, one year after being drafted in the fourth round by the San Diego Padres. In rapid fashion, Kipnis quickly became one of the best prospects in baseball, earning consensus top-30 status after winning Minor League Player of the Year honors in Cleveland's organization in 2010. After representing Cleveland in the 2011 All-Star Futures Game, Kipnis finally got the call to the big leagues on July 22, 2011. Though he went about his work quietly, Kipnis was literally one of the best second basemen in baseball in the five-year stretch from 2012-16. In that time, he slashed .272/.346/.419 with 69 home runs and 110 stolen bases, accruing 17.2 WAR. He was also incredibly durable, playing an average of 145.4 games per season. He was an All-Star in both 2013 and 2015, receiving down-ballot MVP support in both campaigns as well. Of course, as it relates to the Cubs, Kipnis was the starting second baseman for the opposition in the 2016 World Series. He was a huge thorn in the Cubs' side, slashing .290/.313/.581 with two home runs while playing all seven games. He very well could have been named series MVP had Cleveland won the decisive Game 7, at least had it not been for that Rajai Davis home run. The Arizona State alum's career took a downswing from there, as he dealt with injuries in 2017 and never returned to All-Star form in the following seasons. After nine seasons with the Guardians, Kipnis had his option declined and was made a free agent in the 2019-20 offseason. "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em" proved to be the mantra of his free agency, as Kipnis joined the Cubs on a minor league deal prior to the 2020 season. Of course, the Covid-19 pandemic then shut everything down for months, but Kipnis did make the 40-man roster once the season got going in July. It was a rather nondescript tenure, as Kipnis hit .237/.341/.404 in 44 games. He was the team's primary second baseman that season, and fun fact, he hit third more often than anyone else in manager David Ross' lineup that year. That 2020 season was so, so weird. I don't remember much of that season, but I do remember that Kipnis was weirldly on fire in the early going. In his first four starts with the team, he had four extra-base hits, including two home runs. He only hit one more the rest of the way. Kipnis played the 2021 season in the Atlanta Braves organization. After being released, he spent the next year away from baseball. He officially retired from the game prior to the 2023 season. As a bit of fun trivia, he played in a Savannah Bananas game as an honorary Banana in 2024, getting a single in front of a sold-out Progressive Field in Cleveland. View full player

Matthew Boyd is making his Cubs debut today. Can the Cubs get back to .500 on the season under him?

This has been a pretty fun game so far with a lot of notable highlights, but that PCA throw remains in my head. That was unbelievable.

In the third game of this four-game series, Shota Imanaga looks to continue his strong start from Tokyo.

I'll give you all a hint: he managed three other teams.

Jameson Taillon toes the rubber for the first time in 2025 as the Cubs look to sneak back to .500 on the year.