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Cubs Designate Duane Underwood Jr. For Assignment

By Steve Adams | March 2, 2021 at 12:19pm CDT

The Cubs announced Tuesday that they’ve designated right-hander Duane Underwood Jr. for assignment in order to open a spot on the 40-man roster for Ryan Tepera, whose previously reported one-year deal is now official.

Underwood, 26, was a second-round pick back in 2012 and has spent parts of the past three seasons in the Majors with Chicago. On the one hand, Underwood’s 5.20 ERA in that time is obviously an eyesore. On the other, Underwood has punched out 27.7 percent of his opponents against a strong 7.7 percent walk rate while averaging better than 94 mph on his heater. He whiffed a career-high 30.7 percent of opponents in 20 2/3 innings last year and also recorded a career-best 15 percent swinging-strike rate.

Home runs have been Underwood’s undoing, as he’s been tagged for eight round-trippers in just 36 1/3 big league innings (2.0 HR/9). That’s likely due in large part to a four-seamer that doesn’t miss bats at a prolific rate and has well below-average spin. Underwood decreased the usage of that four-seamer in 2020 and instead leaned into his curveball and particularly his changeup at career-high rates. The latter pitch was particularly encouraging, as evidenced by a huge 53.2 percent whiff rate from opponents.

At the end of the day, however, the results simply weren’t there for Underwood. He yielded four homers on that four-seamer, and opponents batted .342/.395/.712 on plate appearances ending in his heater. Still, the spike in changeup usage and the success he had with that pitch could pique the interest of another team. Underwood did give up one big fly on the changeup, but overall opponents batted just .190/.227/.381 on plate appearances ending in that pitch.

Underwood doesn’t have minor league options remaining, so he’d need to break camp with another club or else once again be designated for assignment. The Cubs have a week to trade him or attempt to pass him through outright waivers. If he goes unclaimed on waivers, he could return to Major League camp as a non-roster invitee to Spring Training.

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Chicago Cubs Transactions Duane Underwood

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32 Comments

  1. Luc 2

    4 years ago

    Lit

    Reply
    • Lloyd Emerson

      4 years ago

      Troll

      Reply
  2. DarkSide830

    4 years ago

    what is there to talk about? he’s a creep and is going to get fired. done, next topic.

    1
    Reply
    • The Oregonian

      4 years ago

      Wrong article?

      3
      Reply
      • DarkSide830

        4 years ago

        somebody brought up Callaway

        1
        Reply
    • Jorge Solar Power

      4 years ago

      Man don’t talk about my man Duane like that. I know his “5.20 ERA in that time is obviously an eyesore” but does he need to be fired? He is trying his best.

      Maybe he could star in OUT OF OPTIONS – A thriller about a fringe MLB player whose son (Duane Underwood Junior Jr. ) is kidnapped by an international drug cartel. With no help from the cops and time against him, Duane Underwood Junior has no choice but to take matters into his own hands, because he’s . . . Out of Options.

      4
      Reply
      • Cubsforever22

        4 years ago

        Idk why but this made me

        Reply
      • CubsWin108

        4 years ago

        Somehow this fits perfectly

        Reply
        • PeteWard8

          4 years ago

          Nice. All part of the plan.

          Reply
  3. mlb1225

    4 years ago

    Makes sense. You always want to make room on the roster for an MVP-caliber reliever.

    2
    Reply
    • Monkey’s Uncle

      4 years ago

      I hear that they’re going to just put him in the Hall of Fame ballot immediately, just to save time.

      Reply
  4. Monkey’s Uncle

    4 years ago

    Best Cubs “Junior” since Carl Edwards Jr. Or maybe Junior Lake.

    1
    Reply
    • SFGbreezy

      4 years ago

      Albert Almora Jr. ?

      1
      Reply
  5. mils100

    4 years ago

    A little surprised by this. Underwood has good stuff and a terrific curveball. The consistency hasn’t come yet but it could. He would be worth a look for quite a few teams as i think there is talent to unlock here.

    5
    Reply
    • rondon

      4 years ago

      He had plenty of chances to put it together. He and Dillon Maples both have been the poster boys of inconsistency. One day unhitable, the next, knocked all over the diamond. Good luck with that.

      2
      Reply
  6. Cubsforever22

    4 years ago

    Underwood always showed brief glimpses of his talent and potential. He sometimes would pitch three innings of relief looking unhittable then next time get tagged fir like 2-3 hrs in an inning. I hope he’s eventually able to harness and realize his potential, be it with the cubs pitching in AAA or another organization. Either way i wish him the best going forward.

    1
    Reply
  7. anthonyd4412

    4 years ago

    He has electric stuff and flashes of brilliance. I’m very surprised

    3
    Reply
    • Fred K. Burke

      4 years ago

      A little surprised by this move. Would have preferred to give him another go. Underwood is similar to Edwards Jr and Dillon Maples. These guys have live arms and good stuff but just can’t seem to put it all together. I wish Underwood the best.

      Reply
      • mils100

        4 years ago

        Edwards had 2 really good years for the Cubs. Maples is lucky if he can string 2 outings together without imploding. I’d still rather have Underwood around than Ryan, Norwood or Maples.

        Reply
  8. JoshHolt32

    4 years ago

    Another one of the Cubs once highly touted pitching prospects that didn’t really scratch the surface of projected potential – something about that organization can’t develop pitching

    4
    Reply
    • ABCD

      4 years ago

      Well, hopefully, Adbert establishes himself this season. He’s only three innings behind Underwood, the current Theo and Jed innings leader for Cubs’ amateur free agent signings.

      Reply
  9. cpdpoet

    4 years ago

    As an aside, I read about all these guys who toil in the minors and maybe, MAYBE get 100 ip or a few hundred pa’s. Most I don’t even recognize or their name rings somewhere and honestly….MAN AM I JEALOUS……..

    1
    Reply
  10. thebare54

    4 years ago

    Never given a chance

    Reply
  11. MortDingle

    4 years ago

    If he had TJ and he actually missed bats Dipoto would call him…

    Reply
  12. Ducey

    4 years ago

    Good pedigree, good stuff. Looks like the type of guy that goes to a new org, gets some new ideas, and unlocks his potential.

    Reply
  13. nentwigs

    4 years ago

    This guy is kind of an enigma.
    There are varying opinions.
    Some see a player with a big upside.
    While others see…..
    UNDERWOOD DEVILED HAM !!

    Reply
  14. Franco27

    4 years ago

    Why would anyone be surprised? He’s been with the organization for 9 years and career ERA is over 5. You only have so many roster spots.

    Reply
  15. Very Barry

    4 years ago

    Another Pitching failure from the Theo Epstein regime. Theo will get another baseball job. He needs to make sure that evaluating pitching talent and developing pitching talent are not among his job duties.

    Reply
  16. Cubs Dynasty

    4 years ago

    There are many Underwoods in the United States.

    Reply
  17. PutPeteinthehall

    4 years ago

    Below average spin rate. Fastball very hittable. There a reason he has not been effective. He needs to go to the Bauer cheat school. Probably end up a 50 save man. Lmao!

    Reply
    • quonset point

      4 years ago

      Hard to believe he’s only 26. Seems like he’s been with the Cubs forever.

      Reply
  18. sch1989 2

    4 years ago

    Would love if the Pirates took a chance on him.

    Reply

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