Chicago Cubs: Craig Counsell lauds latest Cubs hero of the day
The Chicago Cubs sit atop the NL Central Division with the second best record in the National League and the third best record in all of baseball. And they’ve done this in the midst of an extraordinary run of injury-related bad luck plaguing their pitching staff.
More News: Chicago Cubs: Matthew Boyd offers excellent news on his recovery
Cade Horton is gone for the year, lost in just his second start of the season to an elbow injury requiring surgery. Matthew Boyd is on his second IL stint, this time recovering from meniscus repair surgery. Justin Steele has suffered a setback in his recovery from elbow surgery last year. Relievers Caleb Thielbar and Hunter Harvey are currently on the IL while Daniel Palencia, Phil Maton, and Ethan Roberts have spent time on the shelf as well.
Yet, through it all, the Cubs keep winning.
The team has fully embraced the “next man up” philosophy, which basically preaches the mindset of new heroes rising up as old heroes fall.
This positive mentality has been especially evident when it comes to pitching, with emergency call-ups stepping in to fill gaps left by injured 26-man roster stars.
Trent Thornton as latest “next man up”
More News: Chicago Cubs top prospect moved to left field, igniting speculation
Righty Trent Thornton has been one of those unexpected fill-in heroes. On Friday, he delivered an especially noteworthy performance in a tie game against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field, delivering 2 hitless shutout innings before the offense could put things away.
“We gotta talk about Thornton here tonight,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell insisted on telling reporters after his team’s 10-5 win over their crosstown rivals.
“We can’t ignore that tonight because that was a huge effort,” Counsell said. “You come in a tie game, first and second, nobody out. It’s not the ninth inning, so it doesn’t seem like a save, but that’s a save in a baseball game when you get out of that inning. Tons of emotion in that inning. Then you go out the next inning, basically face the top of the order, throw up a scoreless inning. That’s getting it done. That’s a big-time performance.”
The 32-year-old Thornton was signed by the Cubs this offseason to a minor league contract as a depth piece and part of a huge stockpiling of arms that now, after the string of injuries suffered by the staff, seems absolutely prescient.
A free agent gamble
Thornton had tore his left Achilles tendon while trying to cover first base with the Seattle Mariners last July and was coming into the 2026 season as a gamble of a free agent. Despite having a measure of success over the course of his 7-year major league career with the Mariners and previously the Toronto Blue Jays, the Achilles injury was a tough issue to look past. The Cubs front office, however, was happy to roll the dice on the spectacled hurler.
On May 6, Thornton was called up from Triple-A Iowa and has yet to allow an earned run in 4 games and 5 innings pitched. This latest outing against the White Sox places him firmly in the “next man up” Cubs class of 2026.
“It just feels like we’re talking about somebody different every night,” Counsell said back in April.
That quote still applies today.
The post Chicago Cubs: Craig Counsell lauds latest Cubs hero of the day appeared first on ChiCitySports.
Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chicago-cubs-craig-counsell-trent-thornton-hero-of-the-day/
Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.
"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
LION'S MANE PRODUCT
Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules
Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.
Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.
| Visits: | 1,805,508,795 |
| Stories: | 8,641,020 |
Whistler Blowers, Insiders
