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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 Duane Underwood Transactions

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Comments

  1. Luc 2

    1 month ago

    Lit

    Like
    Reply
    • Lloyd Emerson

      1 month ago

      Troll

      Like
      Reply
  2. DarkSide830

    1 month ago

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

    1 Like
    Reply
    • The Oregonian

      1 month ago

      Wrong article?

      3 Like
      Reply
      • DarkSide830

        1 month ago

        somebody brought up Callaway

        1 Like
        Reply
    • Jorge Solar Power

      1 month 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 Like
      Reply
      • Cubsforever22

        1 month ago

        Idk why but this made me

        Like
        Reply
      • cubswin108

        1 month ago

        Somehow this fits perfectly

        Like
        Reply
        • PeteWard8

          1 month ago

          Nice. All part of the plan.

          Like
          Reply
  3. mlb1225

    1 month ago

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

    2 Like
    Reply
    • connfyoozed

      1 month ago

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

      Like
      Reply
  4. connfyoozed

    1 month ago

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

    1 Like
    Reply
    • SFGbreezy

      1 month ago

      Albert Almora Jr. ?

      1 Like
      Reply
  5. mils100

    1 month 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 Like
    Reply
    • rondon

      1 month 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 Like
      Reply
  6. Cubsforever22

    1 month 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 Like
    Reply
  7. anthonyd4412

    1 month ago

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

    3 Like
    Reply
    • Cubs GM

      1 month 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.

      Like
      Reply
      • mils100

        1 month 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.

        Like
        Reply
  8. Kennethk

    1 month 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 Like
    Reply
    • jocpedersonsmom

      1 month 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.

      Like
      Reply
  9. cpdpoet

    1 month 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 Like
    Reply
  10. thebare54

    1 month ago

    Never given a chance

    Like
    Reply
  11. MortDingle

    1 month ago

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

    Like
    Reply
  12. Ducey

    1 month 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.

    Like
    Reply
  13. nentwigs

    1 month 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 !!

    Like
    Reply
  14. Davro

    1 month 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.

    Like
    Reply
  15. Very Barry

    1 month 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.

    Like
    Reply
  16. Cubs Dynasty

    1 month ago

    There are many Underwoods in the United States.

    Like
    Reply
  17. RJNarvick

    1 month 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!

    Like
    Reply
    • quonset point

      1 month ago

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

      Like
      Reply
  18. sch1989

    1 month ago

    Would love if the Pirates took a chance on him.

    Like
    Reply

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