(670 The Score) We knew when the Cubs set their big league roster for this season that we were going to be observing some new characters in this ongoing drama, noting that the remaining familiar faces of the competitive phase were now supplemented by such veteran notables as Eric Sogard, Trevor Williams, Matt Duffy, Andrew Chafin, Jake Marisnick and Ildemaro Vargas, to name a handful.
But then the injuries began to occur and more reinforcements were called upon for immediate help. Even as the Cubs have clawed their way into first place in the NL Central, we've had to familiarize ourselves with new names and faces each day, so let's take some time to get to know them better. Here's some noteworthy information about a few of the replacements currently or recently contributing.
Tommy Nance, P: Undrafted out of Santa Clara University in 2015 ... played for the Frontier League's Windy City Thunderbolts ... slider and curve have both registered a spin rate of 2900 rpm.
Nick Martini, OF: Grew up a Cubs fan in Crystal Lake, IL ... was Big 12 Player of the Year at Kansas State in 2010 ... seventh-round draft pick of the Cardinals and has also been in the Athletics, Padres, Reds and Phillies organizations.
P.J. Higgins, C: Initials stand for Patrick James ... drafted by the Cubs in the 12th round (353rd overall) in 2015 ... attended Old Dominion University.
Rafael Ortega, OF: Signed as an amateur free agent by the Rockies in 2008, he has also been employed by the Rangers, Cardinals, Angels, Padres, Marlins and Braves ... hails from El Tigre, Venezuela, which translates to "The Tiger, Venezuela."
Patrick Wisdom, UTIL: First-round pick of the Cardinals in 2012 ... made his big league debut in 2018 at Kansas City ... posted a 139 OPS+ in 32 games that year ... full name is Patrick Ian-Cashel Wisdom.
Kohl Stewart, P: Selected No. 4 overall in the 2013 draft by the Twins, two spots after the Cubs took Kris Bryant ... earned a signing bonus of $4,544,400 ... was a top college football recruit and chose baseball instead of his commitment to football at Texas A&M.
As the season continues, it's possible that more reinforcements will be needed from the Cubs' minor league system, so let's get a preview of some other notables we may see soon at Wrigley Field.
Diego Villabuena, P: Was a top prospect in the Rangers' system before losing four fingers on his throwing hand in a devastating scrapbooking accident ... a product of the Cubs' dedicated pitching infrastructure, he has developed an effective thumb-only repertoire with unique action, particularly effective versus right-handers.
Tyler Tiley, IF: Grew up a self-hating White Sox fan in Mt. Greenwood, IL ... attended Voorhees JC on a bassoon scholarship while also playing baseball ... was named the Nationals organization's Prospect Most Likely to Just Be Kinda Meh in 2020 ... has an irrational fear of both bus and air travel and must be transported to games on a vintage Conestoga wagon.
Heath Birch, P: Undrafted out of Waxahatchee CC in 2019 ... has a 96-mph fastball that he tunnels with a 36-mph changeup ... communicates only via a series of high-pitched shrieks and guttural grunting sounds ... enjoys arson in his free time.
JK Croom, 3B: Full name is Jellybean Kickstarter Manchurian Octavious Ridenhour-Antelope Divestment Croom ... played independent ball for the East Huntington Vermin of the unaffiliated Wasteland League ... spent the 2018 season trapped in a sinkhole before being discovered by an Astros scout.
X5J-200B, SS: Conceived in a shadowy government lab, perhaps coincidentally following the illegal abduction of a handful of foreign robotics experts ... at his open scouting workout, ran the 60-yard dash in three seconds and recorded a standing broad jump of 74 feet ... was a Rule-5 pick from Cleveland in 2017.
Alexx Tolliver, OF: Drafted by the Yankees in the 22nd round in 2009 ... spent five years on a Mormon mission despite the fact that they're only supposed to last two years and despite not being Mormon ... slashed .302/.388/.540 over two seasons in the independent Root Vegetable League with the Middleburg Ennui and the Tarrytown Torture ... insists enthusiastically that Sammy Hagar was the better Van Halen frontman.
Ruff McManahan, 1B: Unaccredited College Player of the Year in 2019 at online-only University of School ... signed by Atlanta as a free agent in 2015 and was waived two days later after an incident at a hotel in Myrtle Beach involving a Shetland pony, an industrial-sized tub of roasted red pepper hummus, illegally obtained fireworks and former "Wheel of Fortune" host Chuck Woolery ... signed by Cubs in 2020.
Marco "Spanky" Hamm, defensive specialist: Hamm is just the latest prospect destined for development in the Cubs' "Shift Lab," a $45-million project in the initial phase of installation, designed to optimize a player's ability to move over a little bit one way or the other. Using Edgertronic cameras, KinaTrax technology and military grade infrared guidance systems, players throughout the entire organization will be ideally deployed as instructed to reposition a couple steps forward or backward and left or right.
Dan Bernstein is the co-host of the Bernstein & Rahimi Show on middays from 9 a.m. until noon on 670 The Score. You can follow him on Twitter @Dan_Bernstein.