Second Chance For Watkins

CHICAGO—Second baseman Logan Watkins learned one of baseball’s cruelest lessons over the last 16 months.

In fact, just how well he learned it might lead him back to the big leagues.

“We didn’t really know what to expect coming off of missing a whole year,” farm director Jaron Madison said.

After spending a combined 58 games in 2013 and 2014 in the big leagues, Watkins missed all of 2015 because of a ruptured Achilles tendon. At the end of that season he became a minor league free agent, and the Cubs re-signed him.

With the competitive Cubs prioritizing veteran depth in the organization, players with big league experience, such as infielders Munenori Kawasaki and Kris Negron, were signed to play at Triple-A Iowa—pushing Watkins to the bench.

“He’s been great about it. He’s handling it well,” Madison said. “He hasn’t pushed back at all about all the different positions and inconsistent playing time.”

Maybe that’s part of why the 26-year-old Watkins rebounded from the injury to hit .286/.336/.336 through 76 games while playing mostly second and third base.

A 21st-round pick from Goddard (Kan.) High in 2008, Watkins also had started at shortstop and at both corner-outfield spots.

“Last year was tough on him with the injury, but he came back and he’s fully healthy now,” Madison said. “He’s been kind of our super-utility guy at Iowa and done a really good job. He’s embraced the role, been a good teammate, and when he’s gotten the opportunities, he’s taken advantage of them.”

CUBBYHOLES

• President of baseball operations Theo Epstein refused to part with top-shelf prospects for pennant-drive help in the past, but he modified that strategy this year with the Cubs in need of bullpen help. Chicago traded first baseman Dan Vogelbach to acquire lefthander Mike Montgomery from the Mariners and then sent shortstop Gleyber Torres and outfielders Billy McKinney and Rashad Crawford to acquire lefty Aroldis Chapman from the Yankees.

• Keep an eye on lefthanded reliever Jack Leathersich, who debuted with the Mets last year before he had Tommy John surgery and then joined the Cubs on a November waiver claim. He returned to the mound in mid-June and reached Double-A Tennessee by late July. The Cubs consider him a possible key addition to the bullpen.