The Cubs are headed to the postseason for the second consecutive year, after winning the NL Central. As this will be the first time that many fans across the Majors will be focusing on their roster, here's our attempt to learn the origins of starter Kyle Hendricks.
Kyle Hendricks, RHP
Born: Newport Beach, Calif.
DOB: 12/7/89
HS: Plano Capistrano (Calif.) Valley High School
College: Dartmouth College
Minors: Spokane (A-), Frisco (AA), Daytona (A+), Myrtle Beach (A+), Tennessee (AA), Iowa (AAA)
:: Before they were postseason-bound: Select a player ::
Path to Chicago: Was drafted by the Rangers in the eighth round out in 2011, and was acquired by the Cubs as a prospect in a 2012 Trade Deadline deal for Ryan Dempster.
Trophy case: National League Pitcher of the Month this August, NL Player of the Week for week of Aug. 7, NL Rookie of the Month in Aug. 2014, Cubs' 2013 Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
Famous feat(s): Hendricks led the Major Leagues in ERA this season. He took a no-hitter into the ninth inning against the Cardinals on Sept. 12, striking out seven in the Cubs' win.
You might not know: Hendricks is a rare Ivy Leaguer in the Major Leagues. He attended Dartmouth from 2009-11 before he was drafted as a junior, then graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics in 2013, when he was a Minor Leaguer. Tigers manager Brad Ausmus also went to Dartmouth.
Six degrees of Willie Aikens: The 2011 Spokane Indians, the Rangers' Class A Short Season affiliate that was Hendricks' first stop after being drafted, produced several up-and-coming Major League talents. In addition to Hendricks, Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor -- who was only 17 years old at the time -- and now-Phillies right-hander Jerad Eickhoff were on the team.
Unpunched ticket: Before he was taken by the Rangers in 2011 and before he went to Dartmouth, Hendricks was originally drafted by the Angels out of high school in the 39th round in 2008. Hendricks' father, John, had worked in their ticket office. But Kyle went for the Ivy League education.
"I told the Angels, 'Thanks, but it's going to be hard to pass up this opportunity,'" Hendricks told ESPN.com. "I figured college was the best place for me to be."
Golf hustler: Hendricks and the rest of the Cubs' starting rotation like to hit the links when they're not on the mound. "We've got a good staff as far as the golfing goes," Hendricks said to the Chicago Tribune, ranking Jason Hammel as the best golfer on the staff, followed by Jon Lester and Jake Arrieta, who "hits the ball a freakin' mile."
But Arrieta had a different take: "Kyle is the best by far. He's a sleeper. Doesn't play much and then he'll go out and shoot 2-over."