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By signing left-handed reliever Richard Lovelady to a minor-league contract and inviting him to Spring Training, the Chicago Cubs increased the depth of their bullpen. This is just another instance of the Cubs taking calculated chances on players who are trying to make a comeback.
The 28-year-old’s career began with a difficult outing before an outstanding 2021 campaign in which he recorded a 3.48 ERA over 20.2 innings. But a UCL sprain that required Tommy John surgery and cost him the whole 2022 season destroyed his career. A pronator strain in his forearm ended his 2023 return attempt with the Oakland Athletics and sent him back to the injured list.
Lovelady showed encouraging signs of health and preparedness for the 2024 season during his most recent bullpen session at Driveline Baseball’s training facility, despite these setbacks. The Cubs, who are actively looking to improve their left-handed bullpen options—an area in which they are severely lacking—may benefit from this.
Acquiring a pitching-friendly team like the Cubs, who are renowned for their Pitch Lab and creative player development strategy, might be the ideal setting for Lovelady to get back on track. Lovelady has an opportunity to demonstrate his ability to contribute at the top level because there aren’t many left-handers on the 40-man roster and there’s a competitive battle for bullpen positions.
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