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Cubs Rookie Reliever is Contract-Worthy After Stellar Season

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Porter Hodge‘s stellar first season for the Chicago Cubs shows the rookie reliever is contract-worthy. In a bullpen that lacked both velocity and depth, Hodge was a much-needed midseason addition. Often overlooked in the chatter about Cubs rookies, Hodge has proven he belongs.

Porter Hodge: The Cubs’ Forgotten Rookie

Drafted Out of High School

The Cubs selected Hodge out of high school in Salt Lake City, Utah, in the 13th round of the 2019 draft. The young right-hander made his professional debut that season, making four starts with the Rookie-level AZL Cubs.

His potential began to show during the 2021 season, where he posted an over 27 percent strikeout rate in 50 2/3 innings. He ended the season with Cubs’ affiliate Myrtle Beach in Class A. Hodge posted a career-best 7-5 record and a 2.63 ERA with 141 strikeouts in 2022. He started 24 of his 25 games between Myrtle Beach and High-A South Bend.

Electric Stuff With Some Control Issues

Throughout his young career, it’s been Hodge’s strikeout rate that has attracted the attention of the Cubs front office. His 141 strikeouts in 2022 came in just 109 1/3 innings. Moving to Double-A Tennessee the following season, he posted a 28.5 percent strikeout rate, fanning 103 in 80 2/3 innings. The Cubs placed Hodge on their 40-man roster in November of 2023 to avoid the Rule 5 draft.

As good as he’s been, though, Hodge does have some control issues. He walked 55 batters in 2022 and 49 with the South Bend Cubs last season. This season he walked 19 in 43 innings pitched since being called up to the big league club in June. This inconsistent execution is a big reason for his below average chase rate (24.8 percent), walk rate (11.6 percent) and ground ball rate (40.2 percent).

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The Good Far Outweighs the Bad

Despite these control issues, Hodge proved himself more than contract-worthy in 2024. His three-pitch arsenal includes an above-average fastball (95.5 mph), a wipeout sweeper, and a splitter. He uses the latter pitch sparingly but effectively. Hitters batted .179 against him, striking out 31.7 percent of the time.

This led the 23-year-old to a 3-1 record and 1.88 ERA with 52 strikeouts and 0.884 WHIP while allowing just two home runs. Only Tyson Miller, who the Cubs picked up in May from Seattle, finished with better numbers (5-1/2.15 ERA/0.806 WHIP).

The highlight of Hodge’s season came September 4 when he combined with starter Shota Imanaga and reliever Nate Pearson to no-hit the Pittsburgh Pirates. All of this in a guy who has been basically injury-free his entire professional career.

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A Long-Term Contract Signing Looms

The 6’4″, 230-pound righty is still on a one-year contract making the league minimum. Save for the aforementioned Miller, Hodge’s numbers were better than any reliever who ended the season in the Cubs bullpen.

Last year’s closer, Adbert Alzolay, earned $2.2 million while spending most of the season on the injured list. The same goes for fellow relievers Yency Almonte ($1.98M), Julian Merryweather ($1.3M), and Keegan Thompson ($1.24M). Add that to a host of other pitchers all making about the same as Hodge while spending most of the season on the injured list, and it becomes clearer what this young pitcher is worth.

Taking into account his young age, his ability to dominate hitters, his versatility, and his durability, the obvious plan should be to sign Hodge to a multi-year contract. With plenty still to prove, Hodge should be comfortable with three to five-year terms and a sizable yet manageable salary.

Knock One Off the To-Do List This Offseason

That would leave plenty of room for the organization to acquire some of the additional talent they sorely need if they’re to compete for the division in 2025. As Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer said recently, “It has to make sense for the long term.” It’s hard to see how signing Hodge violates that principle.

The Cubs’ PBO understandably wants to capitalize on a stacked farm system that’s been years in the making. But as good as it is, the North Siders lack pitching depth, velocity, and durability. Porter Hodge based on his impressive rookie year, begins to solve those problems immediately. He’s made his case and made it well, which makes him contract-worthy.

 

Photo Credit: © Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

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