Gavin Hollowell Deserves Another Shot With The Cubs
Dominating Triple-A with elite strikeout rates and a nasty sweeper, the right-hander's lockdown minor league metrics prove his shaky May season debut was merely a temporary fluke.
Video Transcript
What is up, Cubs fans?
And welcome back to Cubs Roundtable.
I'm Joey Polizzi, talking about all things Cubs.
And the Cubs have had to go through a lot of different pitchers this season.
It's only been two months, but they have had to go through so many different pitchers, you know, injuries to Cade Horn, Matthew Boyd, Ethan Roberts, Adbert Cabrera, Daniel Palencia, Hunter Harvey, Riley Martin.
These are all pitchers that have been on the injured list at one time during the season.
That has resulted in the Cubs relying on some unexpected pitchers, guys like Trent Thorton, and guys like Jordan Wicks, who's set to make his second start this weekend for the Cubs.
Luke Little has even got a shot in the big leagues.
But I think one pitcher who has gotten a unfair opportunity with the Cubs this season has been Gavin Hallowell.
Hallowell has only appeared in one game for the Cubs this season, despite all the injuries the Cubs have dealt with.
Hallowell was called up on May 7th, earlier this month, gave up two runs across one and two-thirds innings against the Reds on May 7th, and then was optioned to Triple-A just one game later to make way for Ethan Roberts, who was coming off the injured list.
But Hallowell hasn't got the opportunity, despite all the injuries, to show his potential in the big leagues.
You know, he threw 49 pitches in that game on May 7th, and it made sense for the Cubs to option him to get a fresh arm in Roberts, who was finally healthy back in the big leagues.
But I think it's time now for Hallowell to get another shot in the big leagues.
He has looked really good in Triple-A since being optioned down back there on May 8th, and has not allowed a run in six and two-third innings this month with the Iowa Cubs.
He has been really good, and the thing to point out about Hallowell is his swing and miss stuff.
Both his whiff rate and his strikeout rate rank in the top 10% of all Triple-A pitchers this season.
I think it's time to get him a shot in the big leagues because his stuff could play well in that Cubs bullpen moving forward.
But let me know what you guys think about Hallowell.
Should they promote him?
Let me know down below.
And as always, guys, go Cubs go.
