Micah Hoffpauir

Micah Hoffpauir is a first baseman for the Chicago Cubs. But he doesn't have a chance to replace Derrek Lee at this point. Even giving him a day off is a problem. So Hoffpauir is learning to play the outfield. He has a good bat and can hit with power.

The Cubs could use his bat but there really isn't a position for him unless he is giving a regular position player a rest. So he plays the pitch hitter role or fills in where he can. Hoffpauir was first drafted by the Toronto Blue Devil Rays in 2000 but decided to continue his education. He was later drafted by the Cubs in 2002.

He was assigned to single A ball in 2003 and gradually moved up the minor league ranks to AAA. He bounced around the minor leagues between AA and AAA teams between 2005 and 2007. He had a right knee injury that slowed his progress but he had a good 2007.

He finally made it to the big club in May 2008 but didn't last long, mainly there wasn't a place for him at the time. Out of spring training Micah made the club and has been able to stay up all season even though he has been a bench player. He is left handed so he plays a good pitcher hitter role and from time to time gets a starting assignment to play the outfield or fill in at first base when Lee is out with his neck spasms. Basically, he replaced Daryle Ward as the perennial pitch hitter.

2010 was not much to sit on a fence and write home about for Micah Hoffpauir. He didn't stay with the team out of spring training so his pitch hitting role wasn't going to get him to the big leagues. He does well in AAA but can't stick with the big club because he has trouble with the breaking ball and the major league pitchers are found this out. He does have power but this hear he batted only .173 in 57 plate appearances and struck out 15 times. He is 30 years old and I'm not sure how long we will be seeing him.

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