If you are familiar with The Bigs, one thing for certain/two things for sure. We are everywhere & we gift the ill nicknames...for now let's stick with the latter. NL MVP runner up Javier Baez aka #ELMago is most notable and now his teammate David Bote has been supplied! We now refer to him as #NewMoney and it's not just because he initiated the talk as he signed a 5 yr/$15 million extension. The utility infielder adds even more depth, pop at the plate, great defense & carries himself like he wasn't in Triple A just a year ago.
I was in Colorado for his first appearance as a Cub on April, 21 2018. He got his first major league hit at Coors Field which is approximately 36 miles from his hometown of Longmont, CO. I was on my way to the airport heading back to Chicago when my Lyft driver asked what I was in town for. "I cover the Cubs and was in town for the Rockies series." His reply-"oh man one of your guys is one of my old high school players." I figured it had to be Bote because i'm pretty familiar with most of the guys backgrounds. He raved about how great of a kid and how hard of a worker he was. "He comes from a tight knit family and he was destined to make it," he told me.
When I got to the Cubs clubhouse for the next home game, I showed Bote the picture of my driver and he was amused. "Oh yeah I remember him...he's a good friend of my dads," he said.
Fast forward a year and a week later, Bote has become one of the teams best clutch players. His resume includes 3 walk-off hits including the famous 2 out 2 strike grand slam off of Washington Nationals pitcher Ryan Madson on August 12, 2018.
Last week was his 3rd walk-off hit, a single off of Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Archie Bradley to give the Cubs a 2-1 win. He didn't even have time for a clubhouse interview with the media as he headed straight to the airport for a flight to Colorado as his wife was scheduled to have her pregnancy induced that evening. Another gift to the family as Bote's wife Rachel delivered their 3rd child.
"I'm just super grateful...it's a huge blessing for my family. It's awesome to be a part of the Cubs organization. Being part of that first draft class...it's a cool thing." Peep the interview below...
*Last night he had a career game with 2 hrs & 5 rbis as the Cubs smacked the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-1. He is hitting .296 with 3 hrs & 14 rbis this season*