Porter Hodge can raise bullpen's ceiling even as Cubs continue addressing position

Around this time last year, reliever Porter Hodge was working on refining his throwing routine, integrating things such as balance drills into catch play. He didn’t know it then, but the offseason would set him up for a wildly successful rookie season.

His 1.88 ERA in 2024 was the best of any Cubs pitcher who made more than two appearances. And he put up those numbers in high-leverage situations, collecting nine saves.

“Just staying true to myself and staying true to my work ethic,” Hodge said in August when asked about the key to his growth.

While the bullpen will continue to be a focus for the Cubs over the rest of the offseason, homegrown players such as Hodge, who turns 24 next month, will be the ones who can raise the ceiling for the group. Hodge’s emergence last season has inspired optimism.

“For a 23-year-old kid in his first experience in the big leagues, he carries himself like a veteran,” pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said late last season. “When I say that, he takes as good of care of his body as anybody that I’ve seen. . . . And then, just his consistency of who he is as a person. He’s very lighthearted. He likes to joke around. He likes to be laid-back. But then, when that [bullpen] phone rings and it’s his time to go, he becomes a different person. He goes out there and absolutely dominates.”

Already this offseason, the Cubs have traded for right-handers Eli Morgan and Cody Poteet. They signed veteran lefty Caleb Thielbar to a one-year deal. And they brought back lefty Rob Zastryzny by claiming him off waivers.

Most of the players they’ve signed to non-roster invite deals also are relievers. Right-handers Brooks Kriske, Phil Bickford and Ben Heller offer depth. (Catcher Carlos Perez also is among the players who have agreed to minor-league deals with invitations to major-league spring training.)

The Cubs also will count on the continued development of several young relievers. Before a lat injury ended his season in mid-July, towering lefty Luke Little showed how effective his stuff can be when he has a good feel for it. Right-hander Ethan Roberts returned from Tommy John surgery to carve out a regular role for himself by late August.

While Ben Brown (whose debut season peaked with seven scoreless innings against the Brewers before a season-ending neck issue) and top pitching prospect Cade Horton, also a right-hander, have the tools to be starters, they also could contribute out of the bullpen as swingmen.

Hodge himself is a converted starter. He made the switch midway through the 2023 season and now has shown the potential to develop into a closer.

In his major-league debut against the Braves last May 22, he struck out the side on 10 pitches, all fastballs — a sign of more good things to come. His cut-ride fastball continued to shine as he mixed in his slider, which generated a 51.8% whiff rate, according to Statcast. For good measure, he even threw eight splitters against left-handed batters.

Although he showed consistency and poise beyond his experience level from the beginning, he went on an especially impressive run toward the end of the season. From Aug. 4 on, he allowed just two runs in 19 appearances, with eight saves and four holds.

Asked about the bullpen’s turnaround in the second half, manager Craig Counsell immediately brought up Hodge.

“I’m not sure he was on the major-league radar in spring training,” Counsell said. “So he’s definitely taken some big steps forward.”

Coming in, Hodge’s expectations were about in line with those of the coaching staff.

“I didn’t expect to, definitely, be in situations like this,” he said. “I was assuming, hopefully, I would make it up here. But I definitely did not expect that, for sure.”

Oh, the difference a year can make.