Kyle Schwarber's Fast Start Should Not Change Cubs' Plan

Kyle Schwarber is doing exactly what a young baseball player’s bosses ask. 

Through one full game, at least.

Whether in spring training or during a surprise call-up during the season, Major League Baseball executives all say the same thing when it comes to prospects competing for a big league gig. They want the player to make their decisions difficult, meaning they want him to perform well enough that sending him back to the minor leagues becomes a challenge to sell.

Schwarber is on his way to doing that after his head-turning major league “debut” Wednesday against the Cleveland Indians. A game after technically debuting for an inning and striking out in his first official major league plate appearance because catcher Miguel Montero was ejected in the eighth inning Tuesday, the 22-year-old prospect shined with four hits in the Cubs’ 17-0 blowout win.

BTN.com's Brent Yarina complimented Schwarber on his performance:

The plan for Schwarber is already set as far as Chicago is concerned, and it seems reasonable, especially considering the organization's grasp on how to groom its prospects.

The Cubs brought up their No. 1 hitting prospect—Schwarber gets that designation because they have promoted so many position players over the past two seasons—to be the team’s designated hitter for five games while they visit American League parks in Cleveland and Minnesota.

After that, regardless of his performance, Schwarber will be heading back to Triple-A Iowa for his first stint at that level after wrecking minor league pitching since he was drafted fourth overall last June.

“This made sense, to get five straight games in an American League ballpark,” Cubs president Theo Epstein told reporters Tuesday. “This is a perfect pit stop for him on the way to Triple-A.” 

The reason for the quick visit has to do with Schwarber’s development as a catcher. He will not catch for the Cubs unless there’s an emergency, but the team wants him to soak up what he can from veteran catchers Montero and David Ross in this brief call-up.

“He'll really benefit from seeing what goes into being a major league catcher, seeing how much preparation there is, how to work with the scouting reports," Epstein told reporters. “All that pregame preparation. I think he'll benefit in that way.”

There is a catch, though. If Schwarber hits in this cameo the way he has in the minors—he has a career 1.042 OPS in 554 minor league plate appearances—he’ll actually be benefiting the Cubs as they try to run down the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central and make the postseason for the first time since 2008.

The decision is made, however. Schwarber is headed to Iowa. Then again, that was the same easy, no-mess plan the Texas Rangers had with third baseman Joey Gallo, keeping him up until Adrian Beltre was off the disabled list.

Then Gallo decided to pound five home runs, including one off Clayton Kershaw on Wednesday, and have an OPS north of .900 in his first 14 games, forcing the Rangers to consider options to keep him in the majors even after Beltre returns.

The difference with Schwarber is that he’s only had one good game. He could struggle in his next 20-25 at-bats. But even if he does not, he is a catcher. He plays a position that requires far more than just a potent bat, so when the organization says he has to go back to the minors for defensive growth, it isn’t just blowing smoke the way it was with Bryant coming out of spring training.

The Cubs play in the National League, meaning they don’t have a designated hitter (DH). If Schwarber plays, he has to catch.

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

The reason the Cubs could be tempted to keep Schwarber’s bat in the lineup beyond interleague games—because they are in playoff contention—is the same reason they have to send him down rather than give him meaningful major league innings behind the plate. They cannot afford for his inexperience as a catcher to impede their progress; otherwise, promoting Bryant and Addison Russell could become wasteful.

There cannot be any learning on the fly at that position, even if some of his teammates are mixed on that view.

“He belongs here,” Ross told reporters. “The numbers he was putting up in the minor leagues were crazy. I think we’re a better team with him in our lineup.

“Catching demands a little more knowledge or studying,” Ross continued. “Schwarber is definitely capable of doing that.”

It is only the middle of June. Schwarber will get the bulk of the catching innings at Iowa. He will be able to further develop, learn to call a game, receive and handle a pitching staff at a higher level.

When the Cubs think he is better prepared to do the job in the majors, another call-up this season, this time as the team’s catcher, will not be out of the question as the club makes its move for a postseason berth.

“The next time he comes up, it’s going to be under different circumstances,” manager Joe Maddon told reporters, “when things may be even hotter.”

All quotes, unless otherwise specified, have been acquired firsthand by Anthony Witrado. Follow Anthony on Twitter @awitrado and talk baseball here.