CHICAGO (670 The Score) -- The Cubs saw clear potential in right-hander Tyler Chatwood when they signed him to a three-year, $38-million deal in December 2017. They took notice of his splits and success away from hitter-friendly Coors Field, recognized the promising strikeout rate and ground ball success, then bought in with high hopes.
Instead, Chatwood posted the worst walk rate in the majors last season with free passes issued on 19.6 percent of the batters he faced. The Cubs removed him from the rotation last July and filled the fifth spot with veteran left-hander Cole Hamels. Chatwood moved to the bullpen out of necessity to open this 2019 season, given the full rotation and the two years remaining on his contract. But the Cubs are finding they may have something with Chatwood working in relief.
In cleaning up his delivery and working closely with the Cubs' analytically minded pitching staff, Chatwood has seen his fastball spike from 93 miles per hour up to 97. He can throw a sinker at 96 and a cutter biting near 90. More importantly, Chatwood is throwing his pitches for strikes more frequently, with his walk rate down to 15.4 percent and his command improving.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon plans to use the Chatwood in more high-leverage situations moving forward.
"If he's throwing the ball where he wants to, he's a pretty valuable guy," Maddon said. "The ball has unusually good movement. There are not many guys who can throw that hard with that kind of life. And then he's got other stuff. The changeup, the curveball, the cutter, the slider. He's got weapons. We just had to get him back over the plate. I think we have."
Chatwood, 29, has a 4.11 ERA in 15 1/3 innings, including 9 1/3 innings of relief, but what he has done to inspire hope in the Cubs' brass goes beyond the numbers.
Chatwood has faced nine batters in defined high-leverage situations this season, according to Baseball Reference. He hasn't allowed a hit while striking out three and walking two. In defined medium-leverage situations, Chatwood has faced 18 batters, who have gone 2-for-15 with two strikeouts and three walks. His greatest struggles have been in defined low-leverage situations, allowing three homers, five walks and an opponents' slash line of .273/.368/.545 in that regard.
In other words, Chatwood has been better when the moments matter more. In Maddon's view, it's a reflection of his stuff rising to the occasion.
"You see the velocity really jumps up when he's pitching out of the bullpen for one or two innings," Maddon said. "That's really interesting. And now he's becoming a much better strike thrower on top of that."
Maddon has declined to name a Cubs closer for this season while the team works without the 34-year-old Brandon Morrow, who remains sidelined while rehabbing from elbow surgery last November.
While the Cubs remain hopeful Morrow can pitch again this season, he hasn't shown enough progress to bring comfort. Meanwhile, Pedro Strop didn't record an out in blowing a save in the Cubs' 6-5 loss to the Marlins on Monday. Carl Edwards Jr. worked a 1-2-3 inning Monday, but the Cubs haven't been able to confidently rely on him since 2016.
As the Cubs move forward with the hopes of contending for a World Series championship, they must have bullpen roles in order.
The emergence of Chatwood is something the team is eager to explore.
"The more we can rely on him to be that, the more we can utilize him late," Maddon said. "He's doing everything right right now. I think it looks pretty good."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
