The All-Decade Chicago Cubs Infield
Anthony Rizzo, First base
- Years: 2012-2019
- HRs: 217
- OPS+: 130
- All-Star: 2014-15-16
- Gold Glove: 2016, 2018-19
- Silver Slugger: 2016
Rizzo is the runaway choice at first base, where he has been the incumbent for most of the decade.
He arrived in a trade with San Diego for Andrew Cashner prior to the 2012 season and batted .285 with 15 home runs in part-time action as a rookie. By 2013, he was a fixture. Over the past seven seasons, Rizzo has averaged 152 games, never playing in fewer than 140.
He compiled four consecutive 100-RBI seasons between 2015 and 2018, falling off to 94 this year.
Since 2014, he has not produced an OPS below .846.
Ben Zobrist, Second Base
- Years: 2016-2019
- HRs: 40
- OPS: 104
- All-Star: 2016
Zobrist signed as a free agent prior to the 2016 season and for three seasons was a versatile tool in the Cubs lineup. He divided time at five positions, although each year making more appearances at second base than any other.
A .272 batter in 2016, Zobrist gilded his reputation by delivering the key hit in the seventh game of the World Series, for which he was named World Series MVP. He slumped in 2017, but in 2018 hit .305 with a .817 OPS.
Beset by family-related issues in 2019, Zobrist’s Cub tenure ended ingloriously although when available he still produced a .260 average.