CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 23: Alex Bregman #3 of the Chicago Cubs stands on deck in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field on April 23, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images)
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The Chicago Cubs can hang onto hope of a return to the playoffs and a deeper run this season, but one of the biggest storylines surrounding the club has become the continued struggles of its newest star.
After signing veteran third baseman Alex Bregman away from the Boston Red Sox, the two-time World Series champion is enduring a disappointing first season in Chicago that has become increasingly difficult to ignore.
Bregman earned a $175 million contract to join the Cubs, but had slashed just .243/.327/.342 in his first 65 games, which would mark career lows across the board. And the frustration has been evident from Bregman himself.
"I've had plenty of opportunities with runners in scoring position and I need to be better," Bregman said, per MLB.com’s Zach Sweet. "Plain and simple. I need to be better for this team. They brought me here to play good baseball and I haven't played good baseball. I need to figure it out."
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Now it seems that other players around the league have taken notice of Bregman’s struggles, though they might not be as hard on the veteran infielder as he is on himself.
Speaking recently about Bregman's season, San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman offered a candid assessment of where the veteran currently stands.
"Breggy still hasn't found his footing, in his opinion, probably," Chapman told the Chicago Sun-Times’ Gordon Edes. "The list goes on. A lot of guys (are) not slugging, which is weird, because that is something I've never struggled with, right?"
Chapman was referring to his own rough start to the season as he slashed just .251/.337/.372 leading up to his comment. And other star third basemen like the New York Mets’ Bo Bichette and the Atlanta Braves’ Austin Riley have struggled as well, Edes noted.
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"That's the kind of guy you feel good paying money, because you know he puts the work in," Chapman added, per Edes. "That's why you signed the guy."
The comments carry added weight coming from Chapman, who signed a six-year, $151 million extension with the Giants and has long been regarded as one of the game's most respected veterans. While Cubs fans have grown increasingly anxious about Bregman's production, Chapman suggested his underlying process will eventually pay dividends.
That perspective mirrors what many around baseball have said about Bregman throughout his career. Even during difficult stretches, he has earned a reputation as one of the sport's most diligent workers and detail-oriented hitters.
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