CHICAGO (670 The Score) -- Like a cold April wind gusting in from Lake Michigan, it was a certainty over the last decade to hear Anthony Rizzo’s name announced as the Cubs’ first baseman on Opening Day.
But for the first time since 2012, the Cubs have a new first baseman in the Opening Day lineup. That man is Frank Schwindel, whose unique path in baseball led him to Thursday as the man who replaced Rizzo.
“He can’t be replaced,” Schwindel said. “But I’m going to step in and do what I can. I’m winning some fans over here and there. Just going to play some good baseball.”
Wrigley Field will still be filled with fans wearing Rizzo’s No. 44 on the back of their jerseys. He was more than just the starting first baseman for the Cubs over the course of the last 10 years. He was also the beating heart of the team. Now, he’s wearing the Yankees’ pinstripes as the Cubs move in a new direction.
Schwindel, 29, was an unlikely figure to be starting at first base for the Cubs this season. He was released by the Royals in 2019 after going 1-for-15 in six games with Kansas City. He spent the rest of that season in the Tigers’ organization before being granted his release. Schwindel returned to the big league scene with the Athletics in 2021, going 3-for-20 in eight games for Oakland before being designated for assignment.
Then came Schwindel’s chance with the Cubs, who picked him up off waivers last July 18. After the Cubs traded away Rizzo and other core players in late July, Schwindel stepped in at first base and slashed .342/.389/.613 with 13 home runs and 40 RBIs over 56 games and 239 plate appearances for Chicago.
“It was wild,” Schwindel said. “I think the big part of it was just proving I could hit at this level. I can play here. I belong here. It was fun. It felt good that they had confidence in me to keep throwing me out there. Just the fact that I played well, they trusted me, it was a good feeling.”
The Cubs enter the 2022 season believing Schwindel can sustain strong production at the plate. Not only is Schwindel set for an everyday role, he'll also be counted on in the middle of the order. Against the Brewers on Opening Day, Schwindel is hitting fifth.
And as the organization looks to build toward contention, Schwindel has a chance to secure a role in the long term if he continues to hit.
“Every time you see him, he seems like a kid that still loves to play baseball,” Cubs manager David Ross said. “What I appreciate most is his hitting from a manager’s standpoint. He can hit. His bat-to-ball skills are real.”
Schwindel feels his success of last season can be carried into 2022, but the projections are naturally skeptical. Fangraphs’ ZiPS predictive metrics predict Schwindel will slash .267/.305/.474 with 22 home runs this season.
Schwindel won’t let himself look too far ahead – not after moving from one organization to the next searching for his chance. On Thursday, all he could think about was hearing his name announced on Opening Day as the Cubs’ first baseman.
“Treat it the same way,” Schwindel said. “I didn’t put too much pressure on any given game. Just go out there and have some fun. There’s going to be good day, there’s going to be bad days. But just keep rolling.
“I think it’ll hit me when we’re out on the line doing introductions. Once that first pitch is thrown, we go.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.