PHOENIX — The Cubs will find out if Jorge Soler can live up to his enormous potential in the aftermath of Kyle Schwarber’s season-ending knee injury.
A season that began with questions about how to divide the playing time in the outfield — and whether or not Soler would get lost in the shuffle — abruptly changed the moment Schwarber collided with Dexter Fowler.
“We got guys that are ready to step up,” said first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who gave Soler some words of encouragement in the clubhouse before Friday’s 3-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. “I know George is ready to prove himself.”
The Cubs have seen flashes of the raw talent they envisioned in the summer of 2012, when the Cuban outfielder landed a nine-year, $30 million contract before a new labor deal changed the international rules of engagement.
While the Cubs promoted infielder Munenori Kawasaki from Triple-A Iowa to take Schwarber’s roster spot — and there are still so many lineup combinations available to manager Joe Maddon — this left-field window is opening for Soler.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t say it’s critical,” Maddon said. “We have a lot of faith in this guy. I think it’s going to eventually show up. I don’t want him to go into it thinking it’s kind of a do-or-die moment for him at all.”
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Soler is still more comfortable playing right field, where Gold Glover Jason Heyward has the biggest contract in franchise history. Before Schwarber’s devastating injury, Soler looked like a logical trade chip once Theo Epstein’s front office goes shopping for pitching this summer.
It’s also hard to forget the way Soler turned it on in the playoffs last year — hitting .474 with three homers and a 1.705 OPS — or ignore his age-24 upside.
“He’s going to keep getting better,” Maddon said. “I’ve seen better overall focus out of him, because of the way he’s run to first base, because of his turns, because of his mental at-bats.
“I see how hard he works on defense with Davey (bench coach Dave Martinez). I’m fine with all that stuff. He’s going to be really good. And maybe it will happen sooner now.”