The Cubs were ready to release him at the end of spring training 2019. They thought they had better talent ahead of him in the outfield. But they offered him a chance to stick around if he'd immediately switch and become a pitcher.
The Kalamazoo Growlers may get more "pub" this week. The team announced a "Lifetime Ban" on Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred, with a subheading in the proclamation saying "Manfred is ruining baseball".
One thing you have to hand it to minor league teams is they promote really well, and they rarely miss an opportunity. That happened Monday morning as news was barely getting out that Kalamazoo's Derek Jeter was leaving the Miami Marlins organization.
This year, the Growlers will temporarily re-name themselves the Kalamazoo Mac-Daddies. The team's new mascot is an angry looking cheese macaroni noodle with a fork. So friggin' cool.