Levine: All-Star Voting Reminds That Cubs' Future Is Burning Bright
By Bruce Levine--
CHICAGO (CBS) -- With the prospect of more All-Star selections than any other club this season, the Cubs have a future that's burning bright.
We were reminded of this Monday, when the Cubs trotted out a lineup of eight position players who were 26 or younger. By the end of Tuesday, it's expected that three of those players -- Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Addison Russell-- will have been named All-Stars, as the official announcements come in the evening. Another member of that young core is Jason Heyward, who while struggling this season has been named an All-Star before.
"That is certainly going to be a good memory for us," Bryant said ahead of being named an All-Star for the second straight season.
It's possible the Cubs could comprise the entire National League starting infield in Bryant at third base, Russell at shortstop, veteran Ben Zobrist at second and Rizzo at first.
"It's hard to put into words how cool it will be," Bryant said of that possibility. "I think it would be just awesome. You see the history of the greatest players walking through the room like Ken Griffey Jr. and Pete Rose. I couldn't believe I was in the Home Run Derby with Albert Pujols. Having your teammates and friends there make it even more special."
The Cubs have put their number-one picks from the MLB amateur drafts between 2011-'14 on the field this season. It's the first time in franchise history that top picks in four straight seasons had been in the big leagues together.
Infielder Javier Baez was selected No. 9 overall in 2011 and is a versatile, regular contributor for these Cubs. He was headliner of the last draft of the Jim Hendry era.
Executives Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer took over in October 2011. They selected outfielder Albert Almora at No. 6 overall in 2012, took third baseman/outfielder Bryant at No. 2 overall in 2013 and chose outfielder/catcher Kyle Schwarber at No. 4 overall in 2014. Almora debuted this season, while Bryant continues to play at an elite level. Schwarber was lost in the first week with a season-ending knee injury but continues to be a key part of the team's future.
On top of that, Ian Happ, the team's first-round pick at No. 9 overall in 2015, was named the organization's minor league player of the month for June, during which he hit .422 with four homers and 21 RBis in 26 games at Double-A Tennessee. He may not far behind in his journey to reach the big leagues.
Up until this recent crop of draft picks, only seven former number-one draft picks of the Cubs had ever played in an All-Star Game. And of those, only three had actually earned that honor while they were Cubs -- Shawon Dunston in 1982, Kerry Wood in 1995 and Mark Prior in 2001.
The other top Cubs draftees did so with other clubs: Joe Carter with the Indians, Rafael Palmeiro with the Rangers, Jon Garland with the White Sox and Josh Donaldson with the Athletics.
The youth and sustainable future of this organization looks as bright as any in baseball, and the position player cache is at a peak for the Cubs.
"This is outstanding for the organization," manager Joe Maddon said of having so many young All-Stars currently and perhaps down the line. "What it does personally for you own self-esteem is very valuable. A lot of that is fan acceptance and peer acceptance within the industry. This is the game you wanted to play as a kid your whole life. Now you are an All-Star. That is pretty sweet stuff. So I feel every guy who is elected should get some kind of bump in confidence. They should, and I believe they will."
Under Epstein and Hoyer, the Cubs are on their way to sustainable success, with one of many keys being drafting quality young players and developing them well.
"What has been done organizationally the last several years, I take zero credit for," Maddon said. "It has been great scouting and development, great leadership in the front office and ownership. You will not be successful unless you have all of that in place. On the field, we have a bunch of guys who are skillful, thoughtful human beings. Every one who makes this team is very deserving."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
