Cubs reliever Hunter Harvey didn’t have Chicago on his radar as a free agent during the offseason.
‘‘I’ve never been a big-city person, so I’ve always liked being with the teams with cities that are as far as I can get outside of it,’’ he told the Sun-Times.
But the Cubs worked to change Harvey’s mind.
Harvey, a first-round draft pick in 2013, has dealt with a litany of injuries. He appeared in only 12 major-league games last season with the Royals because of a strained muscle in his right (pitching) shoulder and a strained adductor. When healthy, however, Harvey has been effective, as his 3.11 career ERA entering this season shows.
The Cubs have been effective in recent seasons at getting the most out of short-term relievers and setting them up for future paydays (see Brad Keller in 2025). But despite knowing the Cubs’ reputation, Harvey still didn’t have them high on his list.
‘‘But then I had a phone call with [pitching coach Tommy Hottovy] and [vice president of pitching Tyler Zombro] in December, and after the meeting I talked to my agent and was like, ‘The Cubs just jumped way up on my list,’ ’’ said Havery, who signed a one-year, $6 million deal. ‘‘I was very shocked.’’
The pairing will benefit both sides. The Cubs’ bullpen needed a reliever such as Harvey, who has 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 attracted the Cubs, whose bullpen finished 21st in strikeouts per nine innings last season.
Harvey said that over calls and Zoom meetings, the Cubs showed him how they track players and 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 also has dealt with a strained elbow, a strained lat and a strained flexor pronator. It would be easy for him to grow bitter about injuries, but he 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, I guess it’s a step, a steppingstone in my career path.’’
Happ’s power
Left fielder Ian Happ traditionally has been a bit of a slow starter. In March/April in his career, he has had a .725 OPS. That increases in May (.793) and June (.800) and dips in July (.729) before rising again in August (.858) and September (.810).
That hasn’t been the case so far this season, though. In the Cubs’ first four games, Happ had a 1.080 OPS with three home runs.
Manager Craig Counsell said it’s important that Happ has gotten off to a good start because the Cubs are lacking a right-handed slugger with right fielder Seiya Suzuki sidelined with a sprained ligament in his right knee.
Suzuki update
The Cubs said Suzuki will go on a rehab assignment when they begin their six-game road trip Friday. They haven’t decided whether he’ll go to Triple-A Iowa or Double-A Tennessee or how long the assignment will be.
Before the game Tuesday, the Cubs tested Suzuki’s ability to stop and start. That was one of his final required tests.
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