The Cubs have signed the power-hitting, left-handed bat fans have been waiting for all season. And by fans, I mean Iowa Cubs fans, as Zach Borenstein has agreed to a minor-league deal with the team. Sorry, no Bryce Harper...yet.
Borenstein, 28, was in the Mets farm system in 2018.
The left-handed hitter is listed at 6 feet tall, 225 pounds, and although he looks like power numbers should have been a given it wasn't until 2017, when Borenstein started to slug for a high percentage. Better late than never. In 2013, Borenstein hit 28 home runs at A-Ball, but averaged only 11 dingers in the next three seasons. However, the past two years Borenstein has hit 24 and 25 home runs at Triple-A, with a .924 and .834 OPS. Yet, there's a reason he hasn't reached the majors despite the increase in pop and that's Borenstein's strike out rate that's been at 30 percent. Not ideal. However, you do have to like the 81 walks in 2018, that led the Pacific Coast League. He was also named to the Triple-A All-Star Game last year. Borenstein was drafted by the Angels back in 2011, and he was part of a trade in 2014, when he was dealt to the Diamondbacks. Overall in the minors Borenstein's slashed .277/.355/.498, while mostly playing in left field. He'll most likely be at Triple-A for the Cubs and Borenstein actually has some local ties. He attended Buffalo Grove High School and went on to be a star at Eastern Illinois.
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