Cubs right-hander Hunter Harvey didn’t have Chicago on his radar.
“I’ve never been a big city person, so I’ve always liked being with the teams with cities that are as far I can get outside of it,” he told the Sun-Times.
But the Cubs worked to change Harvey’s mind. Harvey, a first-round pick in 2013, has dealt with a litany of injuries. Last year, he appeared in just 12 major-league games with the Royals because of a strained teres major and a strained adductor. But when healthy, Harvey has been one of the most effective relievers in the sport with a career 3.11 ERA.
The Cubs have shown an effectiveness at maximizing relievers and setting them up for future paydays — Brad Keller posted a 2.07 ERA in 2025. Despite knowing the Cubs’ reputation and success last season, Harvey still didn’t have the club high on his list.
“But then I had a phone call with [pitching coach Tommy Hottovy] and [vice president of pitching Tyler Zombro] in like December, and after the meeting, I talked to my agent and was like, ‘The Cubs just jumped way up on my list,'” Keller said. “I was very shocked.”
This pairing will benefit both sides. The Cubs’ bullpen needed a reliever like Harvey, who possesses a powerful fastball, after they lost Keller to the Phillies.
Closer Daniel Palencia helps in that department, as does right-hander Ben Brown, but Harvey’s experience and history of success were clearly attractive for the Cubs. The bullpen finished 21st in strikeouts per nine innings. Entering Tuesday, Harvey had thrown one scoreless inning.
Harvey said that over calls and Zooms, the model-driven Cubs showed him how they track players and how they could keep him healthy.
“I was mesmerized by it,” he said. “They were able to keep players healthy, and it really grabbed my attention because that’s kind of one thing I’ve been battling.”
Harvey has also dealt with elbow, right lat strain and right flexor pronator strain. It would be easy for Harvey to grow bitter over injuries derailing his career, but the veteran right-hander is pleased with the way his journey has turned out.
“I’ve learned a lot about my body,” Harvey said. “I learned about how to get through injuries. You know, it’s just, I guess it’s a step, a stepping stone in my career path.”
Happ’s power
Left fielder Ian Happ is a bit of a slow starter. In March/April throughout his career, he’s slashed .245/.351/.374 with a .725 OPS. His OPS increases in May (.793) and June (.800), dips in July (.729) before rising again in August (.858) and September (.810).
“It’s good to get zeros off the board,” manager Craig Counsell said.
Counsell said it’s important that Happ has gotten off to a good start because the club is lacking a right-handed slugger with right fielder Seiya Suzuki sidelined with a sprained MCL.
Suzuki update
Suzuki will go on a rehab assignment once the Cubs begin their six-game road trip on Friday. The club hasn’t decided if he’ll go to Iowa (Triple A) or Tennessee (Double A), and for how long the assignment will be.
On Tuesday, the club tested Suzuki’s ability to stop-start, one of his final required tests.