Cubs hoping a healthy Hodge can regain stellar rookie form

CHICAGO -- As the Cubs continue to sift through the free-agent pool (the latest being right-hander Hunter Harvey) and explore trade talks for potential bullpen reinforcements, it is important to remember that some solutions might still be found in-house. One such possibility exists in the powerful right arm of Porter Hodge -- a high-leverage weapon not all that long ago.

“A Porter Hodge season, bouncing back,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said recently, “that’s going to be important.”

If Hodge does indeed piece together a strong bounceback showing in 2026 for the North Siders, the bullpen forecast would be much improved. Chicago stands to lose a considerable number of arms from its ‘25 cast this offseason via free agency and other moves, making internal options like Daniel Palencia and Hodge all the more crucial.

And while the 25-year-old Palencia enjoyed a breakout performance last season – emerging as the closer for a long stretch – it was Hodge who had a similar moment in ‘24. As a rookie that summer, the big right-hander came up from Triple-A Iowa and swiftly earned Counsell’s trust, earning late-game chances and picking up nine saves along the way.

Much like Palencia helped stabilize the ‘pen last season, Hodge stepped up when the group needed a boost one year earlier.

“No doubt,” Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins said. “He’s kind of the guy people aren’t talking about a ton, but he was doing what Daniel Palencia was doing two years ago. The stuff is in there.”

During the 2024 campaign, Hodge spun a 1.88 ERA in 39 games for the Cubs. The righty racked up 52 strikeouts against 19 walks, while allowing only 19 hits and just two home runs. He did so with a potent fastball, plus a dominant sweeper.

In ‘24, Hodge’s sweeper had a +9 run value, per Statcast. He held batters to a .070 average and .105 slugging percentage with that pitch, which generated a 51.8% whiff rate and a .184 expected weighted on-base average. Last season, that pitch had a -4 run value with a 27.4% whiff rate. Hitters had a .281 average, a .614 SLG and a .330 xwOBA against the offering.

Things started to really go south on Hodge in May, when he first dealt with a left oblique strain. That setback was followed by a right shoulder impingement in July. Both injuries necessitated time on the injured list and, between those stints, he saw a drastic drop in fastball velocity through June and July.

It was a series of dominos that contributed to a lack of command across the board and a dramatic spike in power production from opposing batters. Hodge allowed a 9% barrel rate in ‘25, compared to 3.3% in ‘24. His homer-to-fly-ball ratio jumped to 25% from 5.6%. He allowed nine homers overall (four off the fastball, four off the sweeper and one off a slider variation), per Statcast.

Hodge’s fastball velo was climbing through August (96.5 mph) and September (96.7 mph) and his first eight appearances in the final month included a 1.23 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings. That came before a rough outing against the Reds on Sept. 19 and another trip back to the Minor Leagues as the Cubs pushed toward the playoffs.

The goal for Hodge now is to build off some of the progress he started to display in September and look more like the dominant pitcher the Cubs had two seasons ago during Spring Training.

“It’s, ‘How can he be consistent with that stuff?’” Hawkins said. “When he’s landing his fastball, when he’s commanding it, he’s a really, really solid reliever who can get outs in the back half of games. That’s something he’s focused on this offseason.

“It’ll be really fun to see him come into camp and hopefully earn a spot on the club.”